GMS Field Trip

GMS Field Trip
Petrified Wood in Alabama
Saturday, June 20, 2015

The creek we visited on this field trip is a prime petrified wood collecting locale. A USGS bulletin from 1982 dates some of the wood around 6,360 and 7,520 years before present and wood found in a clay pod that was reworked into one level of the alluvium as around 27,740 years before present. Their conclusion was that radiocarbon ages on wood they studied indicate “at least one period of deposition and subsequent erosion during the late Pleistocene.”

For the rockhounds who came on the trip, regardless of the age of the wood, it was beautiful and a lot of fun to collect. That morning we were greeted by the owner of the hunting cabin we were using as our base camp. He explained some of the history of the area and very generously offered the use of his ATV’s to get to the creek and back. The ATV’s were definitely a boon because though the walk through the woods was pleasant, it was very hot and a pretty good distance to walk, especially on the return trip loaded with petrified wood!

The group went down to the creek to collect in the morning and returned to cool off and relax at the cabin in the afternoon. Mike Nagel helped me start charcoals in a grill, then Lawrence Parker finished prepping the grill and grilled up a pile of hot dogs for everyone. People brought lots of cold drinks, fresh fruit, chips, and desserts to share, so we had a wonderful lunch before heading back to the creek for more collecting.

Everyone I talked to found some petrified wood as well as some colorful gravel. There were some impressive logs collected, one with an opalized crust. New member Kim Fulk used a clever technique that involved goggles and lying in the water. He scanned the banks from underwater and brought out some incredibly nice logs, one of which was a root, possible acacia.

It was a super fun trip and there are many people to thank. Our host was so very gracious to invite us to his cabin and let us use his grill, coolers, refrigerator, and ATV’s. Just having a clean bathroom and an air conditioned respite were more than we could have hoped for. His grandson and the rest of his family were so welcoming and helpful we can’t thank them enough. The Montgomery Gem and Mineral Society was very kind to share their location with us and we plan to thank them with a special trip in our area. Field trip chair Charles Carter worked very hard to put the trip together. Everyone who attended the trip shared their food and camaraderie, too. It was a most enjoyable trip so hopefully we will do it again someday!

Lori Carter
On behalf of Charles Carter, GMS Field Trip Chair
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