Fossil Section Front Steps Dig
August 8, 2016

In the August Fossil Section meeting we had a unique opportunity to collect fossils from a bucket of material donated by GMS member Al Klatt (collected by Chuck Ferrara). The material is from the SMR Aggregates pit in Sarasota, FL, and according to Chuck the fossils are from the Tamiami formation, also known as the Pinecrest beds, upper Pliocene 1.3 to 2.8 MYO, phase 8-9-10. For more information about the fossils found there, please see an excellent description of the site at the Fossil Forum here and a superb field trip guidebook (pdf) written by SEGS members here.

There were so many fossils in the sediment that we had enough to have a second session to go through them! Trying to beat a setting sun and a brief rainfall, we didn't identify everything we collected on the spot, but we will have fun with identification later. As and additional treat, we had ice-cold watermelon left over from a recent field trip and some fruit that Margaret brought. The watermelon was donated by the Roswell Lions Club and was a refreshing end to an enjoyable Fossil Section meeting.