 |
The Georgia Mineral Society, Inc. 4138 Steve Reynolds Boulevard Norcross, GA 30093-3059 |
GMS Field Trip
If you have any questions about field trips send email to
Crinoid stems!
GMS Field Trip
Mississippian Fossils in Tennessee
Saturday, November 21, 2015
So many place to go, so many things to do! We started with fossilized coral. There was an abundance of coral and a large area to search, so everyone found some nice specimens right away. Then we found some small shells, possibly some sponges, and even built a fort!
At the next location, people found crinoid stems as soon as they stepped on the beach! There were so many crinoid stems that members were able to contribute enough for half of a 5 gallon bucket that will be used for grab bags! Chunks of pretty blue agatized stems will be excellent cutting material. And there were several calyxes found. Mickey McClain found the first one I saw, Todd Nims found his within a few steps onto the beach, Charles found a nice specimen, and Alan Miller found an absolutely stupendous calyx under some leaves!
After a quick lunch and potty break we were off to location 3. The weather caught up with us there so we had to work quickly. Many nice geodes were found. Nat and Caroline found some porous, iron rich rocks that they used to make paint. They scraped the rocks with slate, then used little shells filled with water to wet the scrapings and make the paint. Nik built a boat and launched it as a warning beacon. Mickey and Lizabeth McClain collected a huge bag of tiny geodes for grab bags plus the Nims helped me collect some too. Eli was the best helper of the day!
Despite the wind that blew an end to the day, everyone was able to collect lots of fossils and geodes. We had a great time and appreciate all of the efforts of Knoxville field trip chair Daniel Miller and GMS fields trip chair Charles Carter to set up so many locations in one trip!
Lori Carter
On behalf of Charles Carter, GMS Field Trip Chair
e-mail:
Location 1: Coral and Other Fossils
Photos by Lori Carter
An abundance of coral and room to spread out
Photos by Lori Carter
Sweet dogs Ruby and Jasper joined us this time too!
Photos by Lori Carter
Fossilized coral, a brachiopod, possibly a sponge, and Eli's favorite
Photos by Lori Carter
The Nims made a fort out of fossils
Photos by Lori Carter
Zak had lots of rocks to show off
Location 2: Crinoid Stems and Calyxes
Photos by Lori Carter
Lots of shoreline to search
Photos by Lori Carter
Mickey Cecil found fortification agate!
Photos by Lori Carter
Mickey McClain found the first calyx of the trip!
Photos by Lori Carter
Alan Miller worked under a tree and found a superb calyx
Photos by Lori Carter
Charles found a nice calyx too
Photos by Lori Carter
Nat found a branch that was gnawed by a beaver -- so cool!
Photos by Lori Carter
Eyes on the ground
Todd Nims' sharp eyes earned him these tiny calyxes
Caroline found a nice stacked stem specimen and used a shell to protect another find
Everyone contributed so much that we now have half of a 5 gallon bucket of crinoid stems for grab bags!
Location 3: Geodes
Photos by Lori Carter
We had to work quickly -- look at that sky!
Caroline and Nat made paint from iron rich rocks
Zak made his own game with a big stick
Eli's favorite shell
Hurry! the storm is coming!
Nik made a ship and launched it as a warning beacon
I have it on good authority that this is the kind of mushroom where smurfs live
Click below for field trip policies
Copyright © Georgia Mineral Society, Inc.