May 21, 2005 - Cretaceous Fossils, Montgomery Co, AL
Submitted by Vicki Lais on Fri, 05/20/2005 - 22:00.
This
month, BPS members headed to Montgomery county to collect in the
late Cretaceous. Another beautiful day for being in the
woods,
and playing in a creek. This year, the creek was down, way
down,
so moving from shore to shore was much easier than our last
trip.
A number of nice echinoids and ammonites were found, a variety of
shells including gastropods, and a few shark teeth. Most of
the
ammonites at this site are not collectible due to their fragile
nature. Later in the day, members headed south to another
creek
for more collecting.
A few of the diehards ended up at "The Swamp", a really cool "hamburger joint" on the Alabama river in Selma. The owner is an engineer and designed the building to "float" when the river rises. Normal water level is about 80 feet, and in their 1st year of business it rose to about 120 feet - the restaurant floated!
(Pictures courtesy Dr. Jan Novak and Vicki Lais.)
How to spot echinoids. Basically, just look down!
View of the echinoids, in matrix. Many of them are weathered out, and can be found where the water has washed them into the numerous "holes" in the shoreline.
A weathered out echinoid.
Seeking out echinoids in the rocky terrain.
Nancy found a good spot to just sit and collect for awhile.
Ammonite in matrix. Most of these cannot be removed as they easily break into small rubble.
Bobby has found a very nice ammonite.
Closer view of the ammonite.
Large limestone shelf where ammonites can be spotted.
Jeff scanning the terrain for interesting finds.
Worm tubes.
Richard is attempting to excavate one of the fragile ammonites, with Greg providing guidance.
Leisa has been way down the creek, checking out a shoals area.
That afternoon members headed to a creek further south. This is a small feeder creek leading to the main creek.
This ammonite still has some color!
An unknown object, looks pretty interesting, though.
Ammonite sutures.
Crab in matrix.
Claire, you did it again!
Laid back on the river after a long day! Thanks, Nancy, for leading us to this out of the way spot for supper!
By special request, the bar stool . . . Thanks Richard!
A few of the diehards ended up at "The Swamp", a really cool "hamburger joint" on the Alabama river in Selma. The owner is an engineer and designed the building to "float" when the river rises. Normal water level is about 80 feet, and in their 1st year of business it rose to about 120 feet - the restaurant floated!
(Pictures courtesy Dr. Jan Novak and Vicki Lais.)
How to spot echinoids. Basically, just look down!
View of the echinoids, in matrix. Many of them are weathered out, and can be found where the water has washed them into the numerous "holes" in the shoreline.
A weathered out echinoid.
Seeking out echinoids in the rocky terrain.
Nancy found a good spot to just sit and collect for awhile.
Ammonite in matrix. Most of these cannot be removed as they easily break into small rubble.
Bobby has found a very nice ammonite.
Closer view of the ammonite.
Large limestone shelf where ammonites can be spotted.
Jeff scanning the terrain for interesting finds.
Worm tubes.
Richard is attempting to excavate one of the fragile ammonites, with Greg providing guidance.
Leisa has been way down the creek, checking out a shoals area.
That afternoon members headed to a creek further south. This is a small feeder creek leading to the main creek.
This ammonite still has some color!
An unknown object, looks pretty interesting, though.
Ammonite sutures.
Crab in matrix.
Claire, you did it again!
Laid back on the river after a long day! Thanks, Nancy, for leading us to this out of the way spot for supper!
By special request, the bar stool . . . Thanks Richard!
Thanks to the Geosciences Department at the University of West Georgia for providing web space for the great pictures you see on this page!