GMS Junior Field Trip December 2024

GMS Field Trip
Marine Fossils and Geodes in Tennessee
Saturday, December 14, 2024

GMS (and Knoxville Gem & Mineral Society) field trips are always fun, but when there are three locations to visit during one trip, they are triple fun! We started our adventures with a cook-out the night before the trip at a local inn where practically the entire hotel was set aside just for us! We had a private patio with a grill and fire pit all to ourselves.

The following morning, we met at the first location where we looked briefly for fossilized coral. Members found nice specimens of Lithostrotionella, a Mississippian Period colonial coral. The distinctive hexagonal corallites were easy to spot, even in red clay, so it didn’t take long before everyone was happy.

Next, we went to another location to collect more Mississippian marine fossils, mostly crinoids. Crinoids are echinoderms, so their cousins include starfish and sea urchins. Some crinoids anchor themselves, while others swim freely. At the time of this writing, more than 5,000 species of extinct crinoids have been identified, while 650 living species are known. Often referred to as sea lilies or feather stars, crinoids are animals that look like plants. Even the terminology used to describe their anatomy is similar to plant terminology. Many of the species that lived in this area had long “stalks” called “stems” that were topped with a “calyx”, terms you might use for a flower. We were finding mostly fossilized pieces of stems, though members found a few calyxes too. Other finds included bryozoans, brachiopods, and encrinite, i.e., conglomerate rock composed of crinoid fossils.

After a quick lunch, we continued on to the third and final location for the day. There, we found an abundance of geodes, from walnut-sized to some as large as coconuts. Charles and I had a great time collecting small geodes that were already broken open. Charles always cleans them until they sparkle, perfect for grab bags. Other members found larger geodes and cracked them open on the spot, or saved them to open later. I saw some beautiful specimens that will be even more spectacular after they are cleaned. After the trip, attendees received links to Charles’ article about cleaning quartz (here) and a link to presentation he did on the same topic (here).

It was so easy to find geodes that everyone got their fill early enough to return to the inn for another cook-out! We enjoyed grilled hot dogs with chili, cheese, and coleslaw; baked beans; home-made goulash; potato chips; hot apple cider; cosmic brownies; and, of course, we toasted marshmallows on the glowing embers. As the day wound down, we sat around a fire pit enjoying some rockhound camaraderie, and watched as our marshmallow sticks were reduced to ashes.

Many thanks to property owners who allowed us to collect. Thank you to members who brought food for our cook-outs and shared their time with us. Thank you to the owner of the inn where we stayed. The rooms are beautifully decorated and comfortable, plus the patio was fully stocked for us. And of course, thank you to Charles Carter and Daniel Miller (Knoxville Gem & Mineral Society field trip chair) for arranging this multi-location trip!

Lori Carter on behalf of Charles Carter
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