How to Find a Fossil Site for Digging
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 where you are going, finding fossils becomes easier. Here's how to find a fossil site for digging.
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Instructions
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Consult a book or geologic map about your area of interest. It is essential to learn about the geology of the area you are interested in if you are looking for fossils. Many places in America have rocks which are barren of fossils. Books will give you tips on some places to start and geologic maps will show you areas in which fossils may be found.
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Ask around about places in which you can find fossils. People that live in the area you are interested in will probably know more than anyone else. Ask a local rockhounding club or a local college professor if fossils have been found in the area.
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Study the geology. If you know all of the different types of rocks in your area, you will be able to determine the more promising sites to dig for fossils. For example, a sandstone formed in an ancient river would be more promising than a mountain made of granite.
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Scout around the area that you are interested in. Look for places in that area where rocks tend to collect to see if there are any promising fossils. Rocks often collect in stream beds and landslide piles called scree slopes. If you find interesting fossils in these places, you may find more fossils upstream or up the hill.
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Try to identify the source of the promising fossils. If your fossil is embedded in a rock, you should try to identify the rock layer in which that fossil rich rock came from. If your fossil is not part of another rock, try looking in some layers of rock upstream or uphill of your location for promising fossil layers.
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Record information about your fossil site in your notebook. Once you find a promising fossil site that you would like to dig in, make sure that you write down as much about it as you can so you can find it again.
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Tips & Warnings
Fossils are usually only found in sedimentary rocks, such as limestones, shales and sandstones.
Fossils are usually somewhat rare in a given layer of rock. Often a lot of searching is necessary to find them.
A GPS (global positioning system) can be useful when finding fossil sites. When you find a promising fossil site, use the GPS to record the precise latitude and longitude of the site. This will make it easier for you to find the site again in the future.
