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TRMS Field Trip Report

Saturday, Feb 7, 2009

APAC Quarry, Tulsa , OK

    Saturday morning found thirty-four members of TRMS, BAPaleo, and guests preparing to search for fossils at the APAC quarry northeast of Tulsa . The weather was promising, with near seventy degree temps predicted, along with some rather stiff southerly winds. As we gathered near the gate and waited for our guide and hosts, there was much anticipation of the collecting opportunity that awaited everyone.

    This site is known to produce some nice crinoid fossils, as well as rugose corals, brachipods, and bryozoa. This day was no different. During the course of about two and one-half hours, the constant thunk of specimens hitting the bottom of buckets could be heard, along with the ring of rock hammers striking stone as participants scrambled about on piles of waste rock in search of fossils.

    Folks scattered out over the collecting area, which is away from the processing areas of the plant, and near to a storage lot for larger aggregate. The rock in this area is not suitable for processing as there is a shaley layer and unconsolidated sediments in places. However, these conditions lend well to matrix-free fossils as well as specimens in matrix along contact zones and in the limestone layers as seen in the photo above.

    I found that there was an abundance of rugose coral specimens in one area, while another area would have crinoid stems, or small brachipods in quantity. Some collectors chose to search almost exclusively for matrix free specimens, or larger, more prominent specimens.

    Others found fascination with the smallest of fauna.

    On occasion, this site will turn up a decent Crinoid head, or at least parts of one. I managed to find this specimen, originally in a rather large piece of matrix. I was able to cobble it down to about a ten pound matrix piece, and will work on it more at home to expose more of the fossil. I expect what is visible to be the majority of what is available in the piece, but it will still make a rather nice specimen once it is cleaned up. The specimen is a bit larger than a quarter.

© 2009 Virgil G Richards

Field Trip Coordinator

TRMS – 2009

 

Additional Photos

 

NEXT FIELD TRIP

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2009

TECUMSEH , OK

CLAYSTONE GEODES

Jack Kovnas holds up two nice sized claystone geodes.

                                                                        

 

 

© 2009 - DANCES-WITH-SNAKES.COM        

VIRGIL G. RICHARDS

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