Amateur fossil collector

Hi,

This is going to sound pretty amateurish to a lot of you... My boyfriend and I collect fossils several times a week. We find tons of horn corals, and of course brachiopods. We find a lot of gastropods, etc. But, we never find any good trilobite specimens. The area we search in, is Caesars Creek in Waynesville, Ohio. Apparently, people come from all over to search here, and everyone else finds trilobites gallore. We have read all kinds of fossil books, and have examined trilobite specimens, and we definitely know what all the different types look like. So, we can't figure out why everyone finds them except us. Any tips? What should we be looking for? We have noticed that one side of the Caesar Creek spillway has a relatively large amount of gastropods comared to the rest. Another area seems to have a lot more brachiopods. How can we recognize which areas will be more likely to have trilobites? The park rangers just tell us to look closely, which we do. While we love the things we do find, both of us would love to find a trilobite. They are beautiful! I'd also love to find ammonites, but am told the only good place to find them is Morocco. This isn't quite an option. Are there any areas in the midwest US to find ammonites?

I apolgize for these newbie questions, I'm sure a lot of people here are professionals, or close to it. We've been fossils hunters for many years, but really don't have extensive fossil education!

Thanks in advance,

The trick to finding trilobites at Ceasar's Creek is a simple one....

First of all, you need to know that the trilobites that you find intact will generally be small. Also, two varieties of trilobites are common there. Flexicalimene , and Isotelus.

To find the nice , whole trilobites, you just pick a spot and sit down, then start looking for the tiny little brachiopods they call 'zygospira modesta'. They are a bit smaller than a pea.

Looking for those tiny little brachiopods will help you visually cue your brain in your search for trilobites.

Most of the trilobites you will find there will be under 1 inch long, and they are usually enrolled like a pillbug does when you poke it...

I can assure you that once you get the ehang of it, you will always find trilobites at Ceasar's Creek. I've found over 20 in a single day there. And I know of people who have found more. Typically, an experienced collector will find 5-6 trilobites by just being patient and carefully looking at the ground for them.

Fragments of extremely large Isotelus Maximus will be found scattered all over the place, but for the most part, those arent' worth bothering with.

I can give you more specific information on exactly how to find them , but you really should email me for that, because I don't want to post that bit on the net for fear that the site might be exploited unduly.

As to your search for Ammonites, there really aren't a lot of good ammonite /ammonoid localaties east of the Mississippi river.

However, Teaxas , Oaklahoma , and Kansas has many , many superb localaties for Carboniferous goneatites.

Also, the Pierre Shale of Wyoming and the Dakotas offers a number og superb locations for collecting ammonites.

I have some of the Morrocan fossils, they are nice, but a lot of material just as fine as the Morracan fossils can be found in the U.S..

Good Luck in your quest for Trilobites!

Glen E. Gardner, Jr.

: Hi,

: This is going to sound pretty amateurish to a lot of you... : My boyfriend and I collect fossils several times a week. We find tons of : horn corals, and of course brachiopods. We find a lot of gastropods, : etc. But, we never find any good trilobite specimens. The area we search : in, is Caesars Creek in Waynesville, Ohio. Apparently, people come from : all over to search here, and everyone else finds trilobites gallore. We : have read all kinds of fossil books, and have examined trilobite : specimens, and we definitely know what all the different types look : like. So, we can't figure out why everyone finds them except us. Any : tips? What should we be looking for? We have noticed that one side of : the Caesar Creek spillway has a relatively large amount of gastropods : comared to the rest. Another area seems to have a lot more brachiopods. : How can we recognize which areas will be more likely to have trilobites? : The park rangers just tell us to look closely, which we do. While we : love the things we do find, both of us would love to find a trilobite. : They are beautiful! : I'd also love to find ammonites, but am told the only good place to find : them is Morocco. This isn't quite an option. Are there any areas in the : midwest US to find ammonites?

: I apolgize for these newbie questions, I'm sure a lot of people here are : professionals, or close to it. We've been fossils hunters for many : years, but really don't have extensive fossil education!

: Thanks in advance,

: mjoann

The Morocco fossils are polished pieces of ****. Crafted as mall-trinkets for the non-collector.

Try the vast marine mudstone formations in: North Dakota, Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, Wyoming, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. Get a good geology road-guide book (I recommend the 'Roadside Geology of

Possibly just bad luck. You might also try the now rather overgrown road cuts on the road from Waynesville to Xenia. There is a large one on the West side of the road a couple of miles South of the Green County line that has just the faintest trace of a trench about 8 feet above road level someone dug about 20 years ago apparently going after either large Isotelus or flexicalymene. Both seem to be present there, but I didn't come up with much in several attempts.

Anyway, look for enrolled specimens from 5mm up to maybe 20 mm. the Flexicalymene will be round, the Isotelus flat. The specimens derived from limestone are grayish. The relatively rare specimens weathered out of the shales will be reddish brown.

Thanks to everyone who offered advice. It turns out we weren't looking in the right area. Yesterday, we were determined to find a trilobite. We found all kinds of partials and a few that may possibly be dug out of rocks. And I found two whole flexicalymene as well as two almost complete specimens within less than two hours. Considering all the fragmnets we found yesterday, I feel really silly for missing them all along! I am quite proud of my first two trilobite finds. Thanks!