FOSSILS!!!
By Carmela
@Carmelanirel2 (8084)
United States
November 6, 2016 8:01am CST
As some of you know, I took two semesters of Geology and one was a field Trip class, where we actually took trips to various places to go fossil hunting,
My daughter was famous for getting the best fossils, and I probably was famous for getting the worse. lol
So, fast forward to Sukkot and the park where we camped out. I have seen fossils, but didn't pick them up, because for one, they were not anything special and for two, I didn't think it was allowed...until I went to the camp store. I saw this book on fossils and then a paragraph that explains that we are allowed to take fossils for our own personal collection. 
Yeah, that was exciting, except like I said, I am not good at finding the good fossils.
This first picture (I will share the other one on the first reply) is a horn coral, it was in a large stone, so I didn't pick it up, but took a picture instead. I did look for trilobites, but of course I found none and suspected if my daughter was with me, she would have found a whole one. lol
However, since this park is not far from us, you can believe that on any hikes we take, I will be looking for that special fossil. 
Yeah, that was exciting, except like I said, I am not good at finding the good fossils.
This first picture (I will share the other one on the first reply) is a horn coral, it was in a large stone, so I didn't pick it up, but took a picture instead. I did look for trilobites, but of course I found none and suspected if my daughter was with me, she would have found a whole one. lol
However, since this park is not far from us, you can believe that on any hikes we take, I will be looking for that special fossil. 12 people like this
13 responses
@much2say (53958)
• Los Angeles, California
6 Nov 16
Oh wow - that's interesting the campsite has fossils - I can't even think where we'd find fossils naturally out here. I assume there must be a lot at that park for them to allow people to take them? I'd like to find some undiscovered dinosaur fossil !
!2 people like this
@much2say (53958)
• Los Angeles, California
7 Nov 16
@Carmelanirel2 I just quickly looked it up. It seems I will have to take the time to dig around some more . . . I did find one somewhat locally, but this is info that is a decade old. It says you need to wait after a good rain to find fossils - well it doesn't seem to rain much at all these days. I know the kids would love to do this!
1 person likes this
@Carmelanirel2 (8084)
• United States
7 Nov 16
@much2say Love your pun, " I will have to take the time to dig around some more . ." 
Yes, it is better after a rain, probably because the rain not only softens the soil, but washes away soil causing some fossils rise closer to the surface.
Yes, it is better after a rain, probably because the rain not only softens the soil, but washes away soil causing some fossils rise closer to the surface.1 person likes this
@Carmelanirel2 (8084)
• United States
7 Nov 16
Well, if a park was created without taking out a lot of soil, then as the soil weathers away, then fossils are sure to be underneath. 
There are a lot in the park, which is why they allow it. Have you searched online for places where you could find fossils? I'm sure there are some there that is not common here.
There are a lot in the park, which is why they allow it. Have you searched online for places where you could find fossils? I'm sure there are some there that is not common here.1 person likes this
@changjiangzhibin89 (16533)
• China
8 Nov 16
It is an added bonus that you could do some fossil hunting on the campsite.I don't know the first thing about fossil,but remember you have mentioned the trilobite fossil in your previous post.
1 person likes this
@changjiangzhibin89 (16533)
• China
9 Nov 16
@Carmelanirel2 That is great! She is lucky to find those precious fossils,which certainly piques her interest in paleontology.
1 person likes this
@Carmelanirel2 (8084)
• United States
9 Nov 16
@changjiangzhibin89 Yes, and she gets narrow glance (in good humor) from her instructors who have not found the state fossil before. I can see them sticking by her when she goes fossil hunting. lol
1 person likes this
@Carmelanirel2 (8084)
• United States
8 Nov 16
Yes, that "hard to find" fossil, the trilobite. If you recall, I have the rear end of a trilobite (and because it was the back of it, someone else had to identify it) and that my daughter found not 1, but 2 whole trilobites and then a few months ago she found this fossil that is the state fossil and both college instructors have not found one. That shows how fortunate she is in finding fossils and why she is going into paleontology.
1 person likes this
@koopharper (7477)
• Canada
6 Nov 16
Sounds like you really enjoyed yourself. We've had a lot of fun searching for fossils and artifacts in the past.
1 person likes this
@koopharper (7477)
• Canada
7 Nov 16
@Carmelanirel2 We enjoyed the feast but we were mostly with just us. We did visit a group meeting on the first day but it really was too far of a drive to go back. We knew probably about half the group from other places.
1 person likes this
@Carmelanirel2 (8084)
• United States
8 Nov 16
@koopharper We live closer to anyone where they camped out this year, so actually did go home about 3 times to get another load (my son wanted his bike) and to do some shopping in the area. One woman lives over 3 hours away, but she also had a really nice RV so it probably made her stay more comfortable than those camping in tents or even our popup camper, because we didn't know how safe the heater was and we froze a couple nights.
1 person likes this
@Carmelanirel2 (8084)
• United States
7 Nov 16
Hi @koopharper, it is fun and I'm looking forward to more hunting. Did you have a nice Sukkot? This year was my first year I observed it with other people, that was so amazing!!!
1 person likes this
@Carmelanirel2 (8084)
• United States
20 Nov 16
I remember finding what I thought was "sea shells" in rocks, because I didn't know any better. However, a seas shell in Ohio is unlikely and after taking 2 geology classes I now know what I was finding are brachiopods.
1 person likes this
@Carmelanirel2 (8084)
• United States
21 Nov 16
@simone10 Nope, an animal. I have my notes from class, but no time to look for them, so I searched and found this.
Fossil Brachiopods Description: Brachiopods are marine animals that secrete a shell consisting of two parts called valves. Their fossils are common in the Pennsylvanian and Permian limestones of eastern Kansas. Brachiopods have an extensive fossil record,
1 person likes this
@simone10 (54189)
• Louisville, Kentucky
21 Nov 16
@Carmelanirel2 What are brachiopods? Some kind of plant?
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118459)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Nov 16
I used to love fossil hunting when I was a small boy! Well, to me it was fossil hunting, but there aren't really a whole lot of fossils in south Florida along the beach! haha
1 person likes this
@Carmelanirel2 (8084)
• United States
8 Nov 16
Wouldn't there be ocean fossils? Sure, you probably wouldn't find a trilobite, let alone a whole one, but if I recall, the ocean is packed full of fossils. (Plus you may have a sunken ship full of treasures nearby, I will not see that in Ohio) 
1 person likes this
@Carmelanirel2 (8084)
• United States
9 Nov 16
@moffittjc Oh, that's sad. If you ever travel up north, I suggest you find a place to go fossil hunting, I think you would like it.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118459)
• Gainesville, Florida
10 Nov 16
@Carmelanirel2 I would definitely enjoy doing something like that!
@marguicha (215481)
• Chile
6 Nov 16
I searched for fossils when I was a kid. We went to the seashore and there was a place that had been part of the sea million of years ago. There we could find fossil shells.
1 person likes this
@Carmelanirel2 (8084)
• United States
6 Nov 16
Yes, the ocean is a great place for fossils, but unfortunately, unless I am mistaken, that is too far south for whole trilobites, and if one made it there, the waves would break the fossil up. That is my goal, to find a whole trilobite, like my daughter did. Here is a rock with many of the corrals and probably brachiopods, which I have a ton of.
2 people like this
@marguicha (215481)
• Chile
6 Nov 16
@Carmelanirel2 I suppose there are different sorts of fossils depending on where you search.
1 person likes this
@Carmelanirel2 (8084)
• United States
7 Nov 16
@marguicha I found that out when I took that class. The further away from the source, the more likely the fossil will be broken, which makes sense that when the glaciers moved taking the fossils, they would get broken.
1 person likes this
@OreoBrownie (3755)
• Commerce, Georgia
11 Nov 16
That's wonderful you and your daughter went to college together. Sounds like you enjoyed it.
1 person likes this
@Carmelanirel2 (8084)
• United States
11 Nov 16
Yes, it was fun. I started first, taking online classes, then she started taking classes on campus. It wasn't until a semester or two later when I had to take my classes on campus and we both needed the math and science for our degree that we took a couple together. I got my degree last year and because she changed her degree, she needs more math, so she still has I tihnk another year to go.
@Carmelanirel2 (8084)
• United States
7 Nov 16
I know, it is fun, especially when one finds a fossil he or she has been trying to find for a while.
@Carmelanirel2 (8084)
• United States
9 Nov 16
It could be, I haven't studied footprints, but I know that is a horn coral for sure and the other one is packed full of corals.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325854)
• Rockingham, Australia
9 Nov 16
It's funny how some people are really good at finding whatever. My husband plays golf with a small group of friends and one of the group always finds three or four golf balls every time they play while the others just lose them. :)
1 person likes this
@Carmelanirel2 (8084)
• United States
9 Nov 16
My kids were always finding golf balls across the street. They would collect them and give them to the neighbor. (could have been his, I don't know) lol
1 person likes this
@Happy2BeMe (99399)
• Canada
6 Nov 16
Sounds very interesting. All the best to you on the search for that special fossil.
1 person likes this
@Carmelanirel2 (8084)
• United States
7 Nov 16
It will be a long journey since it is usually my daughter who makes the find.. However, if I do find something, you can be sure that I will share about it everywhere. 
However, if I do find something, you can be sure that I will share about it everywhere. 1 person likes this
@CoolPeace (1566)
• Miami, Florida
9 Nov 16
That is great you are not that far from the park and get a chance to go back .
1 person likes this
@Carmelanirel2 (8084)
• United States
9 Nov 16
Well, it isn't walking distance, but close enough that sometimes we drive to that area to do some shopping. Of course I would have to plan it out too, go when it recently had rained and take my muck boots, preparing to get dirty.
Of course I would have to plan it out too, go when it recently had rained and take my muck boots, preparing to get dirty. 1 person likes this
