Page 68 - The Restless Earth Fossils

Finding and excavating Fossils 67

Suddenly, the appearance of shells from an ancient sea or giant
bones may jolt the finder out of his or her present to contemplate
a long and mysterious past. Still, while luck plays a role, finding
fossils with regularity and confidence requires a more systematic
approach.
Geologists create color-coded maps that show exposed rock
layers along with information about rivers, roads, and the topogra-
phy, or “lay of the land.” Fossil hunters can find these geological
maps produced by the U. S. Geological Survey through the USGS
Web site or at local stores catering to hunters, hikers, and climb-
ers. (Maps are also available through state geological surveys.)
In all cases, the ages of rocks are color-coded, so, for example,
areas with Mesozoic rocks are shown in various shades of green,
Cenozoic rocks are yellow, and Paleozoic rocks are purples, blues,
and oranges. Curving contour lines give the height of the land
above sea level. When the lines are drawn close together, it means
the elevation changes quickly, which may indicate ridges and val-
leys where erosion may have exposed fossils. Geological maps also
contain information about rock orientation, as well as regional
gravitational and magnetic forces that might be helpful in plan-
ning roads, railroads, and finding important mineral deposits.
Learning to read maps, use compasses, and search for pos-
sible fossil-bearing sites can be more fun when done as a group
project. Many larger communities host rock or geology clubs or
amateur paleontology groups. National organizations include the
American Federation of Mineralogical Societies (AFMS), which
has various regional subgroups. Visiting their Web site will lead
you to more local organizations. Some of the paleontology groups
open to amateur participation often partner with museums. The
Western Interior Paleontological Association (WIPS) works with
scientists from the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, for
example, and the Paleontological Research Institution (PRI) can
be reached through the Museum of the Earth, which is based in
Ithaca, New York.
Members of local clubs often lead field trips to road cuts,
quarries, mines, riverbeds, seashores, and other areas where

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