DMC Field Trip
GMS is the founding member of the
DMC field trip program of the SFMS

DMC Field Trip
Knoxville Gem and Mineral Society
Saturday, December 6, 2014 & Sunday, December 7, 2014

The Knoxville Gem and Mineral Society hosted a 2 day DMC event. The first day we had two tours and the second day we had two collecting trips.

Day 1

Tour 1: The first tour was to the Gray Fossil Site and Museum in Gray, Tennessee. Dr. Michael “Mick” Whitelaw did a presentation about the history, geology, and paleontology of the site. A behind the scenes tour of the prep lab was the envy of other visitors who peered curiously at us as we examined the lab. A graduate student (sorry – forgot his name!) described the meticulous process they use to extract, catalog, clean, and reconstruct fossils from the site. We even had a chance to see the actual dig area.

The Gray Fossil site was discovered during road construction in 2000 and it wasn’t long before the significance of the find saved it from being paved. Based on extensive research of the area, it appears the site had several large sinkholes 4.5 to 7 million years ago. The sinkholes provided a rich environment for a diverse flora and fauna. The site has yielded a bizarre variety of animal and plant fossils including alligators, fish, salamanders, rhinoceroses, camels, tapirs, beavers, and even red pandas! Microfossils are carefully extracted from bags of dirt. Using microscopes to search the dirt, researchers find tiny bones, teeth, and even pollen.

Tour 2: The second tour was to Bristol Caverns in Bristol, TN. Mick described the geology of the area and correlated it back to the Knox Limestone and Sevier Shale we observed at the Gray Fossil Site. All through the caverns he pointed out many geological features. It was an unusual opportunity to see the geology from below.

Day 2

Location 1: The first collecting location was at a lake. Attendees braved some brisk breezes to search for double terminated quartz crystals. We gained a few inches in height and a little weight as mud accumulated on our boots, but it was worth it as everyone found some nice crystals. One area also had some cephalopod fossils!

Location 2:At the second collecting location we looked for Middle Ordovician graptolite fossils. The graptolites are easily located by splitting soft shale and are well preserved.

Many thanks to the Knoxville Gem and Mineral Society for another successful DMC trip!

Lori Carter
On behalf of Charles Carter, Field Trip Chair
The Georgia Mineral Society, Inc.