Fossil Collecting – The How, Where and Why Approach
Fossil Collecting – The Why?You don’t need to have a qualification in palaeontology, geology or Earth sciences to enjoy the beauty of Ammonites or to be fascinated with the ancient arthropod Trilobites, fossil collecting is a hobby open to all, young and old. Naturally, you have to be very lucky or live in the right part of the world (probably both), to find dinosaur fossils, but there is still plenty of pleasure and enjoyment to be gained from finding evidence of ancient life and you never know, you might just come across your very own dinosaur!Collecting fossils is an inexpensive hobby, there really are no specialist tools required, although there are one or two items we would recommend purchasing, it opens up a whole world of discovery and can help enthuse and engage children in science subjects. For example, we know of many young, enthusiastic palaeontologists who have told their class mates in a “show and tell” session with their teacher, about the fossils they found whilst on holiday.Although the legislation affecting the collection of fossils and other ancient artefacts varies from country to country, within the United Kingdom you can still collect fossils and get to keep the pieces that you find. Naturally, there is a code of conduct with regards to fossil collecting, some simple rules to help keep collectors safe and on the right side of the law. It is also worth noting that if you do come across an unusual item, if you are not sure what it is then many local museums would be happy to be consulted over it. If you have found something really special, I remember a young boy who found a piece of dinosaur bone on holiday in the Isle of Wight (England), then it is often a good idea to donate the specimen to a museum. In this way, you can make an active contribution to the study of fossils and ancient life in your area, and your specimen can be properly prepared and perhaps even put on display for others to enjoy.Fossil Collecting – The Where?You don’t have to travel to the Hell Creek Formation (USA) or the Valley of the Moon (Argentina) to find good fossils. The first port of call for anybody starting out on their fossil collection is to visit your local library. There are plenty of good books on fossil collecting, helping to identify where you might go, what you might find and identifying your discoveries. Often there is a local geology society in the area, most parts of the UK have them and there are many active groups and societies elsewhere in the world. Some enquiries here, may lead you to being able to join a field trip or outing, where under the supervision of a guide and other enthusiasts your collection can get off to a flying start.Once you have undertaken some basic research and identified some places to visit you are almost ready to start exploring the wonderful world of geology. The best areas in which to find fossils are quarries, road cuttings, embankments, tip heaps from mines and other excavations, beaches and of course cliffs. Sometimes, even the beds and banks of rivers can prove a rich hunting ground. I know of a such a location not twenty miles from our offices, a river is slowly undercutting a series of strata that date from the Carboniferous Period. By examining, the cutting and the rocks surrounding it a number of plant fossils can be found. There are primitive ferns to collect and evidence of the great lycopsids such as types of Lepidodendron. This site is near to a large city, it is fascinating to think that where people walk or drive to work, was once a primeval forest teeming with life.It is essential that you obtain permission to collect fossils from the land owners involved. For example, before entering a quarry whether disused or still operating, you must always obtain permission and for these types of visit it is best if you never go alone. A supervised visit from the local geology group is the best option but you can take along a partner and as long as you observe some common sense safety rules you should be OK.At some sites, you may be asked to sign a waiver form, this is simply a form that releases the quarry or land owner from legal responsibility for your safety. Time spent with the quarry staff is often invaluable as they will help direct your search, informing you of the best locations to look for fossils. If collecting on farm land it is essential to contact the land owner to gain permission and to observe the country code. Stick to the edges of fields, never leave litter, avoid livestock and always close gates behind you.At coastal sites, heed the warnings from locals about dangerous cliffs. You do not need to clamber over cliffs and beach heads to find fossils. Let the elements such as wind, rain and tides do the work for you. Fossils are most likely to be found on the beach, not in the cliffs. Fossils are eroding out all the time, if the cliffs are eroding producing fossils then rock falls could be common and the last thing you want is rock debris falling on your head. Soft mud and clay surrounding the fossil gets washed away by the action of the sea leaving them sparkling clean for you to find. It is much safer to collect on the beach and much more rewarding. Make note of any signs and notices at the location and obey them. If they ask you not to collect fossils at a particular site – don’t.Fossil Collecting – The How?Specialist equipment is not really required to go on a fossil hunt. The main requirements are patience and a keen eye. However, we have some suggestions to help make your collecting more enjoyable, comfortable and successful. First of all, consider your own comfort and safety, a warm and bright jacket (so that you can be seen easily), is essential. A pair of strong, comfortable walking boots are required along with other clothing such as thick socks, waterproofs (especially waterproof trousers) and don’t forget your rucksack. Most outdoor and camping shops can equip you relatively inexpensively. As for other equipment, you don’t necessarily need a geology hammer but one would be useful. It is not a good idea to use an ordinary hammer. The steel in geology hammers is especially hardened and this helps the hammer withstand the force of being hit against rock. If you do decide to become a “rock splitter” looking for the nodules that might contain an Ammonite for example, then a couple of geologists chisels and some safety spectacles will be needed. The rest of the equipment you will need is relatively simple, a magnifying lens (x10) is best for most situations, a notebook to record your findings, a map, brushes, newspaper to wrap your specimens in for transport home and some plastic boxes to keep them in. I tend to take a camera with me, not necessarily to photograph my finds but simply to take some views of the countryside to help me remember my trip and recall where I went in case I visit the site again.Fossil Collecting is a very enjoyable hobby, it is quite cheap and gets you out into the countryside and open air. It is amazing what you can find when you do a bit of research and visit a fossil rich location. One further purchase we would suggest would be a good, pictorial fossil identification handbook. Two would be ideal, a cheap paperback version to take with you and a larger, more detailed volume back home to use as a reference.We would heartily recommend this hobby, it is a great way to learn about planet Earth and to get young people outdoors. You don’t even have to travel that far in most cases. I had a neighbour who started their collection when they found some pieces of Ammonite and Belemnite amongst the gravel on their own driveway!