Fossil Collecting

There are some excellent and very informative field guides to fossils from organizations like Chicago's Field Museum of Natural History and the Audubon Society. Field guides are compact and rich...

When most people think of fossils, they automatically think of dinosaurs. However, a fossil is the preserved remains or imprint of any animal or plant from the past which is found in the ground...

Knowing where to find fossils is part of the work of paleontologists. These scientists study fossils through knowledge of geology and biology. Amateurs also hunt for fossils as a hobby, collecting...

Leaf, flower, and fish fossils from the Miocene era lakebed site in Clarkia, Idaho are extremely fragile upon collection. How can you properly care for your discoveries?

There's something exciting and romantic about a fossil dig site; maybe it's the chance of discovering something unknown. However, a real dig site involves a lot of hard work and careful planning....

Almost everyone is interested in fossils. The trick is, however, how to find fossils. If you don't know where to look, it is easy to come home empty handed. However, if you have a plan and know...

Fossils are some of the most useful things in the geologic record for telling the ages of rocks. However, the rocks can also help to tell the ages of the fossils. But, to tell how these relate to...

Contrary to the antics of Fred Flintstone and company, no human ever employed a wooly mammoth as an automatic dishwasher or enjoyed a Brontosaurus Burger during a backyward barbeque. In fact, the...

The term 'ashes to ashes, dust to dust' aptly describes the way most living creatures submit their physical forms to nature's recycling program. However, under the right conditions, plants and...

When most people think of fossils, bones come to mind. Yet, fossils occur in many other forms, such as teeth, horns, eggs--even casts of manure. Paleontologists use a variety of methods to...

Collecting fossils to sell appeals to amateur and professional paleontologists alike. In fact, many trade shows where collectors can purchase or sell fossils are visited by members of the...

There are many variables that can determine the price of a fossil. However, it's also important to remember that no two fossils are exactly alike. This makes knowing how to price a fossil even...

If fossils could talk, they could tell us exactly where they came from and how and when they ended up becoming fossilized. Unfortunately, this isn't the case. However, fossils do leave certain...

You've worked long and hard to locate, identify and catalog your fossil collection. It would be a pity not to be able to share your finds with others. However, if you keep your fossils in a cigar...

Fossils allow us to step back in time to study the world and its inhabitants. You can start with the basic tools and add to them as your hobby grows.

Fossils can be shells, bones, teeth, footprints, leaves, seeds, tree parts, or any remains of long-ago plants and animals.

Follow the Fossil Collector's Code when collecting your treasures - get permission, use the right equipment, do it safely and leave some for others.