July 31, 2004 - Monroe Co, AL
This
month BPS
members headed to Monroe
County in South Alabama, where we collected in the Lisbon Formation and
Gosport Sand. Steve and Gilbert took their boats, so we spent
the
day scouting several miles along the riverbanks. Due to rain
earlier in the week, the water level had risen 6-8 feet since the
scouting trip, so the ledges were mostly underwater, and our collecting
was restricted to the upper reaches. Numerous gastropods,
turritella and trace fossils that appear to be burrows of some kind
were found, also a few shark teeth, echinoids, and even a piece of
permineralized wood were found. Some of the bivalves were
complete and hardened. Many of the turritella and other
shells
found in the Gosport Sand were so fragile that it took careful digging
to keep the shells from dissolving as they were touched. When
broken open, a number of the "burrows" had shells inside
them.
Wildlife was also spotted, including an alligator and alligator tracks,
numerous herons, and Steve spotted the largest water moccasin he had
ever seen in his many years in the outdoors, startled him so much he
threw his fossils in the river beating a path back to the
boat!
Sorry 'bout that, Steve!
Members participating in this long trip were Greg, Jan, Steve, Leisa, Gilbert, Carolyn, Vicki, Nancy and Miss Daisy.
(Photos courtesy Nancy Kenfield, Steve Corvin, and Vicki Lais)
![rocks along rivers edge that contain fossils](/system/files/images/04_jul_vl_shore.jpg)
Along the shoreline.
Greg and Steve, getting ready to check out this landing.
![hunting fossils on riverbank](/system/files/images/04_jul_vl_gm_sc.jpg)
![hunting fossils on riverbank](/system/files/images/04_jul_vl_scouting.png)
Shells in matrix. Sand is wet, and shells will disintegrate at the slightest touch. Careful excavation is essential.
![fossils in riverbank](/system/files/images/04_jul_vl_sand1.jpg)
![fossils in riverbank](/system/files/images/04_jul_vl_sand2.jpg)
At slightly higher elevations, the shells are dry and hard. Leisa found these.
![fossils found in riverbank](/system/files/images/04_jul_vl_shell2.jpg)
![fossil gastropods and bivalves](/system/files/images/04_jul_vl_shells.png)
A representative sampling of shells in this locality.
![fossils shells in riverbank](/system/files/images/04_jul_vl_banks.png)
Shell impressions.
![fossil shell impressions](/system/files/images/04_jul_vl_shells.jpg)
![fossil shell layer in riverbank](/system/files/images/04_jul_vl_banks2.png)
Shell layers in the bank.
Turritella found by Steve.
![fossil turritella](/system/files/images/04_jul_sc_turr5.jpg)
Sand dollar found by Steve.
![fossil sand dollar](/system/files/images/04_jul_sc_star2.jpg)
![bivalve and shark teeth](/system/files/images/04_jul_sc_teeth4.jpg)
![fossil sand dollars](/system/files/images/04_jul_vl_sandollar.png)
Nice collection of sand dollars found by Steve.
![fossil oyster](/system/files/images/04_jul_sc_shell6.jpg)
Large boulders, appearing to be trace fossils, perhaps burrows.
![fossil burrows](/system/files/images/04_jul_vl_burrow.jpg)
![fossil burrows](/system/files/images/04_jul_nk_burr1.jpg)
Many of the burrows had shells inside.
![fossil shells inside fossil burrows](/system/files/images/04_jul_nk_burr3.jpg)
![collecting fossils in riverbank](/system/files/images/04_jul_vl_gmnk.jpg)
![fossil tooth](/system/files/images/04_jul_vl_tooth.png)
Tooth found by Steve.
Gilbert after a long hard day on the river.
![hunting fossils in riverbank](/system/files/images/04_jul_vl_gilbert.jpg)
![chalk bluffs where fossils are found](/system/files/images/04_jul_vl_bluffs.png)
A view of the bluffs, mostly grown over now.
![getting boat out of river](/system/files/images/04_jul_vl_goodbye.png)
End of another great collecting day!
On the way down, some of us apparently took a wrong fork in the road.... that sign was deceiving.
![fake interstate sign](/system/files/images/04_jul_vl_zsign1.jpg)
Members participating in this long trip were Greg, Jan, Steve, Leisa, Gilbert, Carolyn, Vicki, Nancy and Miss Daisy.
(Photos courtesy Nancy Kenfield, Steve Corvin, and Vicki Lais)
![rocks along rivers edge that contain fossils](/system/files/images/04_jul_vl_shore.jpg)
Along the shoreline.
Greg and Steve, getting ready to check out this landing.
![hunting fossils on riverbank](/system/files/images/04_jul_vl_gm_sc.jpg)
![hunting fossils on riverbank](/system/files/images/04_jul_vl_scouting.png)
Shells in matrix. Sand is wet, and shells will disintegrate at the slightest touch. Careful excavation is essential.
![fossils in riverbank](/system/files/images/04_jul_vl_sand1.jpg)
![fossils in riverbank](/system/files/images/04_jul_vl_sand2.jpg)
At slightly higher elevations, the shells are dry and hard. Leisa found these.
![fossils found in riverbank](/system/files/images/04_jul_vl_shell2.jpg)
![fossil gastropods and bivalves](/system/files/images/04_jul_vl_shells.png)
A representative sampling of shells in this locality.
![fossils shells in riverbank](/system/files/images/04_jul_vl_banks.png)
Shell impressions.
![fossil shell impressions](/system/files/images/04_jul_vl_shells.jpg)
![fossil shell layer in riverbank](/system/files/images/04_jul_vl_banks2.png)
Shell layers in the bank.
Turritella found by Steve.
![fossil turritella](/system/files/images/04_jul_sc_turr5.jpg)
Sand dollar found by Steve.
![fossil sand dollar](/system/files/images/04_jul_sc_star2.jpg)
![bivalve and shark teeth](/system/files/images/04_jul_sc_teeth4.jpg)
![fossil sand dollars](/system/files/images/04_jul_vl_sandollar.png)
Nice collection of sand dollars found by Steve.
![fossil oyster](/system/files/images/04_jul_sc_shell6.jpg)
Large boulders, appearing to be trace fossils, perhaps burrows.
![fossil burrows](/system/files/images/04_jul_vl_burrow.jpg)
![fossil burrows](/system/files/images/04_jul_nk_burr1.jpg)
Many of the burrows had shells inside.
![fossil shells inside fossil burrows](/system/files/images/04_jul_nk_burr3.jpg)
![collecting fossils in riverbank](/system/files/images/04_jul_vl_gmnk.jpg)
![fossil tooth](/system/files/images/04_jul_vl_tooth.png)
Tooth found by Steve.
Gilbert after a long hard day on the river.
![hunting fossils in riverbank](/system/files/images/04_jul_vl_gilbert.jpg)
![chalk bluffs where fossils are found](/system/files/images/04_jul_vl_bluffs.png)
A view of the bluffs, mostly grown over now.
![getting boat out of river](/system/files/images/04_jul_vl_goodbye.png)
End of another great collecting day!
On the way down, some of us apparently took a wrong fork in the road.... that sign was deceiving.
![fake interstate sign](/system/files/images/04_jul_vl_zsign1.jpg)