Questions
Do I need to be trained in
paleontology or geology to participate as a member of the
Paleontological Society of Austin?
The short answer is no. The club includes members with widely varying
backgrounds and interests. Primarily we are amateurs. Many of us just
like getting out and collecting, experiencing the amazing diversity of
the fossil record in congenial company. Some of our members have
become well educated in areas that interest them and some have
even published papers and presented at professional conferences. But
the extent to which you want to dive into the literature is up to you.
Equipment - or What to Bring on a Field Trip
Generally you don't need a great deal of equipment to collect
fossils. Nor do you have to spend a lot of money. The only two pieces
of equipment that are specific to geology or paleontology would be a
rock pick and a chisel. Beyond that everything else is pretty much
an everyday item and you have a wide choice of how you fill the list.
The absolute minimum equipement list.
- Water, water, water
- Hat
- Sun screen
- Something like an old screwdriver to pry things loose
- Plastic bags
- Paper and pen to label fossils. It is critical to include location information.
A more typical starter kit is listed below. After you have gone on a few field trips and seen what others use you will have a better idea how to fill the list out to suit your own needs.
- Rock pick. This should be the one item you invest good money
in. Estwing makes a great line of products. You can find them in many
hardware stores. I strongly advise buying a good rock pick with full
metal handle, the long handled versions would be my choice. Wood
handles are known to break.
- Cold chisel. See the Estwing site or hardware store. Again a longer one is more useful.
- Safety glasses or full goggles.
- Containers for fossils. This depends a bit on where you go. In
general you will want small, medium and large zip lock bags. In some
spots divided plastic boxes, pill bottles, and/or cardboard boxes (soda flats
are very useful for large stuff) can be extremely useful. Be prepared
to pick up lots of small loose specimens as opposed to chiseling out
large fossils.
- Newspaper or tissue to wrap specimens.
- Paper and pen to label fossils. This is very important! You
may think you will remember where you found that fossil, but trust us,
you won't. And where you found it is critical to identifying it.
- 2" paint brush for dusting off fossils in the field
- Magnifying lens. 10X is most practical for the field.
- Backpack to carry everything - something extra sturdy, remember you will be carrying rocks.
- And just as if you were going hiking in Texas in the summer:
- Water, water, water
- Hat
- Sun screen
- Bug repellant
- First aid supplies
- TP
Beyond this there are all sorts of other items for collecting and comfort that can be very specific to what/where you are collecting and what you find makes for a pleasant trip.
You should also consider eventually buying geologic maps and fossil field guides to help inform you about where, what age and what fossils you are collecting.
You might consider joining the Fossil
Forum and doing a search for collecting gear. There have been
some very good discussions and it is probably the best online forum
for fossil collecting. There are lots of Texans on the list as well,
so you can get good local information.
Good Field Trip Etiquette
- Arrive on time or early. At the prescribed meeting time (often 8AM) you should be out of your car
standing with the field trip leader, signed in and ready to hear the day's schedule, directions and helpful pointers.
- Do your homework. Use one of the online mapping programs to determine travel time and directions
from your home. Take the map with you and leave at least 15-30 minutes early. This is critical when we are going
to quarries, private property or if the first stop is a meeting-point, not the collecting site. The field trip leader will
not wait more than 15 minutes beyond the scheduled time.
- Make sure you have the field trip leader's phone number. The number will appear in the field trip
notice. Bring a copy of the notice from the newsletter or e-mail blast so you have the information. That is the best
way to find the group if you do get delayed or lost. But do not count on it. Some of our remote sites have
poor cell reception. We have no way to guarantee you will get there if you miss the meeting spot.
- The first stop is not breakfast. Please do not expect the rest of the group to wait while you order food
or take care of business. If you need to do that, arrive 30 minutes early and then be ready to go at 8:00AM sharp!
- The field trip leader sets the schedule. Gather near the leader at the beginning of every trip and listen
carefully. The leader will describe where and when things will happen. That will include directions, plans for
breaks and everything else you need to know about how the day will unfold. If you are not sure about directions or
the schedule speak directly with the field trip leader. Do not count on hearsay.
- Do not ask the entire group to stop for unscheduled breaks. If you need to take a break during the day,
do it after you know where the collecting site is located. The field trip leader will usually schedule a break around
lunch but not between every stop. Follow the group to the site and then circle back for food or facilities. This is why
we suggest bringing your own food and beverages. Also being prepared with TP, or whatever else, for
"emergencies".
- Sign in and don't forget to report to the leader when you
leave. This is not critical, but he or she will greatly appreciate
those two things. Having everyone's name let's him know how well
attended the trip was and we like to list everyone in the follow up reports. Secondly, getting a chance to hear and see what you found that day
and being able to keep track of who is on site at the very end is just a good thing.
- Be prepared. Make sure you have the materials you need to collect safely. In particular, water, hat, sunscreen and food.
- Don't crowd the next guy. Please be courteous of your fellow collectors space. If someone says "Hey I
found a good one!" don't come rushing over and crowd into their collecting zone. Let them offer to share the space.
You can ask them where they found it and then move off to one side or the other, but don't just plop down next to
them.
Where I Can and Can't Collect Fossils in Texas
One way to be sure you are collecting legitimately is to join one of
the paleontological or geological societies in the state and attend
their field trips.
Where Not to Collect
In general, fossils may not be collected from
National Parks, State Parks, and US Interstate road cuts. Collecting on private
property is only to be undertaken with permission from the
landowner. Other Federal lands have varying restrictions, though
they in general limit amateur collecting without a permit to
invertebrate fossils. See below. Corps of Engineers' property typically requires permission
from the responsible manager of that property. This includes many
reservoirs in Texas.
Where to Collect
Every collector is responsible for determining legal access to any
collecting site. Typically these would include road cuts within the
accepted public right of way, navigable streams, fossil parks, private land with
permission of the landowner, and Corps of Engineers
properties with permission. Invertebrate collecting on BLM and
National Forest land is allowed.
BLM
regulations permit "the collecting of a reasonable amount of
common invertebrate and plant paleontological resources for
non-commercial personal use". Vertebrate fossil collecting on BLM
land is limited to qualified researchers and requires a
permit as described in the permitting section here.
National Forests have similar regulations,
though they seem to have a much more limited interpretation of "limited".
And for those of you collecting outside of Texas, the Fossil Forum is a great place to query.
Invertebrate vs. Vertebrate Fossils
Many of the rules regarding collecting fossils make a distinction
between vertebrate and invertebrate fossils. If you remember your
biology, vertebrates are animals with backbones - these include
mammals, dinosaurs, etc. In Texas 99% of what you are going to find
are marine invertebrates - things like clams, corals, and sea
urchins.
On federal lands where you may obtain permission to collect it is
normally the case that vertebrate specimens are excluded - if you find
them you are expected to report them, but not collect them. Make
sure you understand what you have agreed to.
For most amateurs, collecting a serious vertebrate specimen (a significant portion of
an articulated skeleton) is not
something you want to take on. Removing the specimen without damaging
it can take days or weeks. Capturing the scientifically important data
from the site requires special skills. Proper preparation can take
years. The approach to this
kind of find is something you would want to discuss with personnel at
a nearby university or museum.
Fossils vs. Artifacts
There is one final distinction that often causes confusion.
There is a huge difference between collecting archeological artifacts
and paleontological specimens. The laws on artifacts are much more
restrictive, for two good reasons.
- There are vastly fewer
archeological artifacts than there are fossils. As such, the
scientific importance of an archaeological site is typically much
greater in a relative sense than most fossil localities.
- Secondly, archeological sites may include human remains,
funerary and sacred objects, or other objects of cultural patrimony.
There are federal laws governing the collection of artifacts.
See in particular NAGPRA which
governs repatriation and forbids the sale of human remains and
culturally significant items.
There is also a
Texas state law concerning collection of artifacts. It is
important to realize that this law provides wide latitude to land
owners. "In fact, these sites and their contents belong to property
owners to manage as they choose." That being said, responsible
landowners should act as stewards for archeological sites on their
property.