GMS Field Trip

GMS Field Trip
Lower Devonian Fossil Location in Tennessee
Saturday, May 21, 2016

Trip 2 of the epic trip was at a quarry in Tennessee. This location is known for the quantity and quality of Lower Devonian and Upper Cretaceous fossils.

We awoke to mostly clear skies and a beautiful moon. By the time we left for the quarry, we were surrounded by a thick blanket of fog. But that didn't slow us down (except when we were driving to the quarry). After signing in, everyone donned their hard hats and safety glasses. A quarry employee explained all of the safety rules, boundaries, and potential dangers. Then we caravaned into the quarry.

Though it was incredibly foggy and we had only a few hours to collect, we were loaded up by the time we had to leave. Charles and I collected almost a gallon bag of brachiopods for grab bags. There weren't as many trilobites as there have been in the past, but Al Klatt found a huge trilobite to make up for that. The specimens of the day were crinoids. Al found a gorgeous calyx and I saw several specimens of crinoid stems with great detail and branching. There was even an unidentified specimen that has been tentatively identified as a conularid, possibly the first ever found at this location!

Lori Carter
On behalf of Charles Carter, GMS Field Trip Chair
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Click here for more information about the May 2016 epic trip