This is THE BEST road cut I have found for brachiopods in southeast Minnesota so far! Houston
Hwyl 44. about 3 miles west of Spring Grove.
county, I believe, about 4 miles east of Mabel on Hwy. 44, or 3 miles west of Spring Grove on Hwy. 44–whatever. It is directly across from a big quarry, the only quarry on that road.
It is fossilized all the way through and I have gotten cephs out of it, but I think of it as a brach cut because it is so prolific with them!
Closer view of cut.
I’m thinking this is some kind of shale, almost muddy and very grey colored.
For brachiopods literally pouring off and out of the road cut go about 3/4 of the cut toward the
Looking west from the most prolific parts of the road cut.
east and you will hit the Motherload of brachs! Best to go when the grass is short, but whatever.
This is just plain FUN! I filled my backpack with hash plates, also called death beds, of brachs,
Brachs falling out of the rocks!
bivalves and bryozoa. The colors range from reds to greys to almost an irridescent opalish color! Beautiful to coat and make necklaces out of!
Note arrow and Strophomena
The shells are gorgeous! And you can pick them up “pre-prepped” just in need of a swoosh in water! I love it!
Brachiopod Strophomena planoconvexa – Love these little guys!
There’s quite a variety of brachs. Not being at all familiar with Ordovician brachiopods, I could count at least 10 species!
I have never gone here without getting at least two Strophomena planoconvexa brachiopods.
Beautiful Strophomena planoconvexa!
Actually, it is the only place I have found them so far!
There are some bigger plates if you can lift them. 
I haven’t even unpacked my backpack yet, but you will hear why in the next post!
Hash plates, brachs and Strophomena!
It’s probably a sin to have this much fun and not spend anything but gas! LOL 🙂
