2013 Ordovician Eurypterid Megalograptus National Fossil Day Logo
What in INCREDIBLE HUNT! We had eleven cars and well over twenty people attend! From science teachers, to STEM school students, retirees, rockhounds, and fossil hunter newbies who were excited to learn a new hobby. We all met at the park behind the Kwik Trip in Lewiston. Unfortunately, Kristina woke up sick and the kids were crabby, so she had to take off early. And Mark Bishop from Niagara Cave couldn’t make it due to being short handed for guides at the cave. So it turned out to be just me trying to ID all the fantastic finds.
Ceph & Recept.
Unfortunately a lot of my pictures didn’t turn out. 🙁
But the day was stunningly gorgeous with clear blue skies and temps in the 60s.
One gentleman brought a “What’s this?” large cephalopod and a receptaculitid for ID.
However, I have to say that some of the fossil finds I absolutely drooled over! Beautiful, three dimensional bryozoans, an 18″ ceph cast with some of the cephalopod found in it, horn corals by the dozens, trilobite parts (Not that I am any good at IDing them!), incredibly detailed receptaculitid cross sections, lots of complete brachiopods, hash plates filled with beautiful specimens, and even a complete receptaculitid (Fisherite/Sunflower Sponge)!
At least an 18″ ceph!
Lots of bryozoans!
Ancient Clam Borings?
Complete Recept!
And the enthusiasm, sharing and friendliness was overwhelming!
They were breaking rock with a vengence and climbing into brush and leaning over small cliffs for the best finds!
Put me to shame, as I’m a walk along and pick them up fossil hunter. 😀
We ended up doing five sites and even found a new one! Which I will post.
The site where Whitewater Park and the U of M bring their students on #9 going toward Rochester.
Other side of that cut where the complete recept was found.
And the end of the day smiles were all there!
I did ask for suggestions on how the hunt could be better and will take note next time:
ID sheets like one lady had from Whitewater State Park.
Examples of the fossils we will be finding to start with.
A map of the sites.
And Beer LOL!
WONDERFUL HUNT!
THANK YOU ALL!
