Baja Fossil ID
7 messages in this thread
First of all, let me quickly introduce myself as I am new to this forum: I live
in the southern California area and have recently revived my interest in
collecting fossils, mainly due to the fact that my travels take me to some very
interesting collecting sites in Baja California.
On my most recent trip (two weeks ago) to the Loreto/Mulege area on the Sea of
Cortez, I unexpectedly came across a very rich marine deposit that I am
interested in determining the date of, if possible.
This deposit was located on a bluff above the beach and contained mostly
pecten-type scallops, sand dollars, and large (15cm across) clams in a hard
"concrete-like" sandstone.
In case you haven't guessed, I'm quite the amateur and I don't know if it is
possible to make any meaningful identification with the data I have provided.
Any help would be greatly appreciated…
Thanks!
Greg
PS I'm interested in hearing from anyone who collects fossils in the southern
California area, if you do, please drop me a line, maybe you could suggest some
good sites?
Sounds like a great find! If you sent each of us a sample, I bet we'd help
identify it! 🙂
John,
There certainly was enough material to go around, I could let you know where it
is – if you don't mind 100-degree heat, rattlesnakes, scorpions, and a 600 mile
drive on a crumbling, narrow, two lane highway (don't forget to bring a boat!).
<ggg>
My research has led me to conclude that the "scallops" and sand dollars were
from a deposit laid in the late pleistocene. The nice clam was pliocene. Now
all I need to do is identify them! Any help on a "charity" basis? <g>
Best Regards,
Greg
Greg,
Take a trip to the library and borrow a copy of INDEX FOSSILS OF NORTH
AMERICA by Shimmer & Schrock. If the don't have it try an inter-library loan.
You can identify just about anything with that book.
Joe Hayes
I'm sure there would be volunteers… except we've all been trying to find a
good way to easily digitize images of fossils for uploading and critique…
Late Pleistocene? Like last week? 🙂
John,
<<Late Pleistocene? Like last week? :-)>>
Aye Carumba! I thought we were in the "Holocene". Quite frankly, I have a hard
time telling the difference between the Miocene and Halloween! <gg>
I got my info from a book on Baja geology, I guess I've got some more homework
to do.
Mea Culpa…
Greg