February 18, 2006 - Pennsylvanian Fossils, Bibb and Shelby Co, AL
Another trip not put off
for "rain, nor sleet, nor snow
etc."
Near-freezing temperatures, 100% chance of rain, an overcast sky and
icy drizzle to begin the day were all on the menu at the BPS field trip
in February to strip-mine sites in Bibb and Shelby county. To
give you an idea of what we decided to brave, our host at our first
stop, an active coal washing site, didn't show up until we called him,
because he thought that nobody in their right mind would be out
there! Well, you know, as Nancy remarked, "Once you start
finding
things, you forget how cold you are!" And this from somebody
wearing a "Teenage ninja fossil-hunter suit." Of course, all
were
outfitted in attractive hard-hats, an MSHA requirement for visits to
active mining sites. Just try keeping those on while bending
over
to find bits and pieces of neat stuff!!! Next time, we should
bring little elastic strings to hold them on! Perhaps we
should
have been wearing them on the parts of our anatomy most-often turned
towards the sky!
So, there were the most hard-core of the BPS'ers, happily
finding
plenty of plant fossils. Our first site was at a coal washing
facility, where a variety of plant
material was found, including numerous stem impressions, casts,
and parts of tree ferns. Excited cries, of "Wow, look at this
one!" made
it hard to leave for the next site, an abandoned mine a few miles back
in the woods, but, the word that we could lose the hardhats, among
other attractions, won the gang over.
The second site was in the boonies, even for that
area of the
state, way down a long dirt road through the woods, through a locked
gate, near where a prison used to house people who were busting rocks
against their will, so to speak. This second site was very
prolific, and members found tree ferns, calamites, and a few tree fern
seeds.
Some very nice specimens were found, including new "doorstops" for some
members.
It was decided to move on to a third site, but the road was
too muddy
for us to drive up to it. This must be a good place, though,
because at
least one nice specimen was found near the entrance: a beautiful little
silhouette of lacy fern leaves from so very long ago.
One more stop, to look at a site containing remains of bark
impressions
and calamites casts. There were some nice tree fern specimens in very
fragile, easily
crumbled rock. A number of fossils were in rocks too large to lug home,
and our hands were too frozen, anyhow! Then we finally
decided it
was time to think about
heading home for hot baths, hot laundry, hot food and a nice,
long rest. Maybe our next trip will be graced with sunshine
and
gentle breezes!
--Edited by Vicki Lais
(photos
courtesy Vicki Lais)
Some of the
group on top of a spoil pile.
Greg
demonstrating how to get the fossil out safely without taking home
the entire rock.
Small balls of iron ore used in
the ironmaking process. These apparently date to the 1940's
and
50's when coal mines in the area were in full force and trains carried
various materials between the mines and the steel plants.
Bill
searching for more fossils.
At our second
site, many of the rocks were red rather than
gray.
This was due to the rocks being "burned" at some time in the past,
perhaps with a smouldering coal fire.
Nice "tree
fern" seed fossil found by Greg.
Leisa helping identify the fossil Ryan has found.
Ryan has
found a nice fossil.
A closer look
at the calamites Ryan has found.
Stigmaria
(roots of a Lycopod, possibly Lepidodendron)
Nice fern,
possibly Sphenopteris.
Calamites
stem cast.
Probably
Stigmaria, a lycopod root.
Calamites
stem cast.
Tree fern
outer stem covering and fern-like leaves, probably
Sphenopteris.
A hash of
leaves and stems.
Calamites
stem cast.
Nice
calamites stem.