Fall Fossil Hunt

This time of year, people eagerly seek out the colorful foliage fall provides. While you enjoy the scenery, keep an eye out for fossils. The Midwest was once a sea, and the sediments at the bottom preserved many of these prehistoric creatures. Both Kansas and Missouri have abundant fossils, and I usually find at least one when out in nature.

Keeping an eye out for the right rocks is key to fossil finding. If you are unfamiliar with different types of rocks, remember the colors light gray, black and sand. Rock colors can differ depending on what minerals and impurities are in them, but these are the most common. Limestone rock is often light gray to white in color and is ubiquitous in this area. Shale rock looks like flat sheets of dark gray to black. Sandstone is made of sand and looks and feels like it. A fossil hunt is also sure to turn up some chert, sometimes called flint. Chert is often peanut butter brown, gray or white. Fossils are less frequently found in chert, but Native Americans often used it for tools.

Finding fossils is relatively easy. Any exposed rock outcropping, rocky bottom stream or even a walk down a gravel road can lead to a discovery. Most fossils will be invertebrate sea creatures like crinoids (sea lilies), bivalves (clams), brachiopods, sponges, corals, bryozoans, trilobites and gastropods (snails). Rarely, terrestrial fossils, such as ferns and fossilized wood, are found. Crinoids are so abundant in Missouri that it is the state fossil. Kansas has a wide variety of fantastic fossils but no official state fossil. The Kansas Geological Survey has a nice online guide to fossils to help with identification (www.kgs.ku.edu/Publications/PIC/pic24.html).

While fossil hunting, be aware that it is illegal to collect fossils and artifacts like arrowheads from many public parks, sanctuaries and other public lands. Always get permission to hunt on private lands. If collecting is not allowed, take a rubbing or picture to preserve the memory just as well. Parks that have access to rivers and rocky streams are easy places to find fossils. Kaw Point Park and Richard Berkley Riverfront Park, along the Missouri River, are worth a look. Fossils can be washed up on the bank and the limestone riprap can also yield fossils. Other local parks with limestone cliffs such Firefighters Memorial off of 87th Street & U.S. 71 will usually have fossils, too.

Road cuts are often the most sought after places to look for fossils. Interstates 435 and 70, and U.S. 71 and 40 have such places along them popular with hobbyists. Be sure to avoid high traffic places and times. The Kansas and Missouri Paleontological Society (www.ksmopaleo.org) and the GeoKansas site (www.kgs.ku.edu/Extension/KSfossils.html) have field trip information on their sites that give specific locations along highways that yield fossils. If you would like to take a longer fossil hunting excursion, the book Roadside Kansas by Buchanan and McCauley details the Kansas geology major highways by mile marker.