June 23, 2007 - Eocene Fossils, Covington Co, AL
The
weather was unbearably hot for this June BPS trip to a river in
Covington County. Maybe
it was the heat, but we had a smaller than normal turnout.
The
water at this Eocene age site was extremely low, and our usual
collecting-holes were sometimes totally flushed clean, and sometimes
filled with silt. Very odd. However, we still
found some
nice specimens and quite a bit of petrified wood, including what
appears to be a seed pod. The group scattered along the
riverbank
and
settled down in their chosen collecting spots, making
life a little hard on the photographer, but we still got some nice
pictures.
Unlike previous years, we were the only collectors that day. It appeared that some "cleanup" work had been done along the riverbank, because it was smooth and un-marred by the holes and trenches dug by commercial collectors in previous years. The landowner asked that we DO NOT DIG at this site, and hopefully, the word has gotten around (BPS never dug here, anyhow). Screening is ok, but NOT digging holes in the banks. Since a number of our members have been appalled in the past at what appeared to be irresponsible digging by people who didn't even know they needed permission to collect here, this was welcome news.
We found ray teeth, shark teeth, sting-ray spines, brachiopods, drumfish mouth plates, and some mystery pieces. Stay tuned! The river was a wonderful place to cool off on such a hot day, so BPSer's took full advantage. Several members camped out overnight (thanks for the A/C, Leisa!), and broke out the canoes the next day in hopes of spotting some more collecting areas. We found some shark and ray teeth, a live turtle badly wanting out of the hole it had fallen into, and had a very pleasant trip UP the river, but did not find the treasure hole we were seeking. So, obviously, we have to go hunting again, right guys?
Unlike previous years, we were the only collectors that day. It appeared that some "cleanup" work had been done along the riverbank, because it was smooth and un-marred by the holes and trenches dug by commercial collectors in previous years. The landowner asked that we DO NOT DIG at this site, and hopefully, the word has gotten around (BPS never dug here, anyhow). Screening is ok, but NOT digging holes in the banks. Since a number of our members have been appalled in the past at what appeared to be irresponsible digging by people who didn't even know they needed permission to collect here, this was welcome news.
We found ray teeth, shark teeth, sting-ray spines, brachiopods, drumfish mouth plates, and some mystery pieces. Stay tuned! The river was a wonderful place to cool off on such a hot day, so BPSer's took full advantage. Several members camped out overnight (thanks for the A/C, Leisa!), and broke out the canoes the next day in hopes of spotting some more collecting areas. We found some shark and ray teeth, a live turtle badly wanting out of the hole it had fallen into, and had a very pleasant trip UP the river, but did not find the treasure hole we were seeking. So, obviously, we have to go hunting again, right guys?
--Edited by Vicki Lais
(Photos courtesy Claire Smith and Vicki Lais)
![fossil members group picture](/system/files/images/07_06_vl_group598.jpg)
The group picture, hey, what can I say? We were late, hot, and hungry!
![riverbank fossil collecting site](/system/files/images/07_06_vl_bank601.jpg)
Very low water level today.
![collecting fossils in river](/system/files/images/07_06_vl_group603.jpg)
Members hunting for the best collecting spots - the river is quite shallow here.
![fossil wood and seed pod](/system/files/images/07_06_vl_wood607.jpg)
Jan found several pieces of petrified/ permineralized wood, and what appears to be a nice seed pod.
![collecting fossils in river](/system/files/images/07_06_vl_jan608.jpg)
Jan heading downstream, surveying areas that are normally covered with water.
![collecting fossils in river](/system/files/images/07_06_vl_group609.jpg)
![collecting fossils in river](/system/files/images/07_06_vl_group614.jpg)
![fossil teeth](/system/files/images/07_06_vl_teeth615.jpg)
Sample of the fossils found at this site.
![collecting fossils in river](/system/files/images/07_06_cs_kevin454.jpg)
![collecting fossils in river](/system/files/images/07_06_cs_group455.jpg)
![fossil shark teeth](/system/files/images/07_06_vl_teeth617.jpg)
![fossil drumfish mouth plate](/system/files/images/07_06_vl_fossil618.jpg)
Drumfish mouth plate.
![fossil collecting site](/system/files/images/07_06_cs_bank456.jpg)
![falls at fossil collecting site](/system/files/images/07_06_cs_falls458.jpg)
The river is low enough to expose this small waterfall, where, rumor has it, Claire and Becky engaged in a water battle.
![collecting fossils in river](/system/files/images/07_06_vl_marthavicki619.jpg)
![collecting fossils in river](/system/files/images/07_06_vl_walker620.jpg)
![fossil seed pod](/system/files/images/07_06_vl_seed625.jpg)
Good view of the seed found by Jan.
![fossil wood](/system/files/images/07_06_vl_wood629.jpg)
Wood found by Jan.
![fossil shark and ray teeth](/system/files/images/07_06_vl_teeth630.jpg)
That evening at camp, we spread out our finds for the day.
![fossil shark and ray teeth](/system/files/images/07_06_vl_teeth631.jpg)
![fossil brachiopod - shells](/system/files/images/07_06_vl_shells634.jpg)
![canoe trip collecting fossils in river](/system/files/images/07_06_vl_canoe637.jpg)
![fossil ray tooth](/system/files/images/07_06_vl_ray641.jpg)
![fossil shark and ray teeth](/system/files/images/07_06_vl_teeth660.jpg)
(Photos courtesy Claire Smith and Vicki Lais)
![fossil members group picture](/system/files/images/07_06_vl_group598.jpg)
The group picture, hey, what can I say? We were late, hot, and hungry!
![riverbank fossil collecting site](/system/files/images/07_06_vl_bank601.jpg)
Very low water level today.
![collecting fossils in river](/system/files/images/07_06_vl_group603.jpg)
Members hunting for the best collecting spots - the river is quite shallow here.
![fossil wood and seed pod](/system/files/images/07_06_vl_wood607.jpg)
Jan found several pieces of petrified/ permineralized wood, and what appears to be a nice seed pod.
![collecting fossils in river](/system/files/images/07_06_vl_jan608.jpg)
Jan heading downstream, surveying areas that are normally covered with water.
![collecting fossils in river](/system/files/images/07_06_vl_group609.jpg)
![collecting fossils in river](/system/files/images/07_06_vl_group614.jpg)
![fossil teeth](/system/files/images/07_06_vl_teeth615.jpg)
Sample of the fossils found at this site.
![collecting fossils in river](/system/files/images/07_06_cs_kevin454.jpg)
![collecting fossils in river](/system/files/images/07_06_cs_group455.jpg)
![fossil shark teeth](/system/files/images/07_06_vl_teeth617.jpg)
![fossil drumfish mouth plate](/system/files/images/07_06_vl_fossil618.jpg)
Drumfish mouth plate.
![fossil collecting site](/system/files/images/07_06_cs_bank456.jpg)
![falls at fossil collecting site](/system/files/images/07_06_cs_falls458.jpg)
The river is low enough to expose this small waterfall, where, rumor has it, Claire and Becky engaged in a water battle.
![collecting fossils in river](/system/files/images/07_06_vl_marthavicki619.jpg)
![collecting fossils in river](/system/files/images/07_06_vl_walker620.jpg)
![fossil seed pod](/system/files/images/07_06_vl_seed625.jpg)
Good view of the seed found by Jan.
![fossil wood](/system/files/images/07_06_vl_wood629.jpg)
Wood found by Jan.
![fossil shark and ray teeth](/system/files/images/07_06_vl_teeth630.jpg)
That evening at camp, we spread out our finds for the day.
![fossil shark and ray teeth](/system/files/images/07_06_vl_teeth631.jpg)
![fossil brachiopod - shells](/system/files/images/07_06_vl_shells634.jpg)
![canoe trip collecting fossils in river](/system/files/images/07_06_vl_canoe637.jpg)
![fossil ray tooth](/system/files/images/07_06_vl_ray641.jpg)
![fossil shark and ray teeth](/system/files/images/07_06_vl_teeth660.jpg)
![heron](/system/files/images/07_06_vl_heron602.jpg)