Mark K
Cave Dweller 
Member since April 2012
Posts: 2,816 
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Post by Mark K on Dec 31, 2012 16:20:31 GMT -5
Often when I go to Montana, I will go to Stratford hill and dig up some fish scales and ammonites. One thibg that puzzles me though is that if there are millions of these fossilized fish scales, where are the remains of the rest of the fish?
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,602
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Post by jamesp on Dec 31, 2012 16:44:42 GMT -5
Pics man pics
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Mark K
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2012
Posts: 2,816
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Post by Mark K on Jan 1, 2013 18:48:16 GMT -5
Don't have any pics of the fossils right now.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,602
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Post by jamesp on Jan 1, 2013 19:39:30 GMT -5
I looked em up foxtail.Never seen such.And all kinds of them.Real interesting.
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Fossilman
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Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,718
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Post by Fossilman on Jan 2, 2013 9:13:37 GMT -5
What kind of ammonites? I hunt for ammonites too,in Montana,usually around the Melstone area,in the "beartooth" formation.....
I have some from a quarter size to a dinner plate size..
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Mark K
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2012
Posts: 2,816
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Post by Mark K on Jan 2, 2013 20:24:10 GMT -5
What kind of ammonites? I hunt for ammonites too,in Montana,usually around the Melstone area,in the "beartooth" formation..... I have some from a quarter size to a dinner plate size.. You and I must talk. They are mid to low quality flattened types. The good ones I find are usually outside Glendive. The problem is that idiots smash the concretions apart as they take them out of the ground. This smashes the majority of the ammonites. I try to get the entire concretion out in as few pieces as possible and then take them apart carefully at home. |
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Fossilman
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Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,718
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Post by Fossilman on Jan 4, 2013 14:10:14 GMT -5
Well most of my finds are from the Melstone area...I have hunted the south Glendive area,but enjoy the central areas better,less oil activity and traffic.... Most of my ammonites are the "Placenticears meeki" in the Bearpaw formation....From quarter,dollar,saucer and dinner plate size....The bigger ones are usually a foot or two under the surface, most are unmolested and whole! The broken ones(surface finds) I collect too,some I can repair.The ones I can't will make good cabs and repair parts... This is one that I rebuilt out of three broken ammonites(Made one out of three)....Its alot of work!!!!!  This is my Favorite ammonite,complete and unmolested!  The ammonite in the center was my first ammonite find,it was buried about a foot and a half in the shale!  I still have one ammonite at my friends place in Montana.He will work it for me on the polish(I have no equipment yet).. Here is where it lays,as I found it.....  Close up-see the whiter part of the ammonite,thats all that was showing of it as I walked by it. I noticed it right off the bat!Stopped to dig it out of the shale and claim my prize!!!(Notice the rock cropping around the fossil,thats how you find them)..Its like the protective egg(rock) for the ammonite.  |
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Mark K
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2012
Posts: 2,816
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Post by Mark K on Jan 4, 2013 17:59:14 GMT -5
You don't have coordinates you would share, do you?
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Fossilman
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Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,718
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Post by Fossilman on Jan 4, 2013 21:13:26 GMT -5
If you have the Rockhounds guide to Montana,it shows all the places to hunt fossils in the Melstone areas........
I worked in that area in the oilfield and got to know the land owners and people in that area.
Just find out who owns what land and tell them what you are doing on their land,most let you fossil hunt it,if your not going to sell the fossils for profit..
What for rattlers too(lots there)...
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,602
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Post by jamesp on Jan 4, 2013 21:59:30 GMT -5
Frankenammonite Fossilmen LOL- amazing reconstruction Fossilman .Cool field pics.
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The Dad_Ohs
fully equipped rock polisher
Take me to your Labradorite!!
Member since September 2012
Posts: 1,860
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Post by The Dad_Ohs on Jan 4, 2013 22:27:44 GMT -5
Often when I go to Montana, I will go to Stratford hill and dig up some fish scales and ammonites. One thibg that puzzles me though is that if there are millions of these fossilized fish scales, where are the remains of the rest of the fish? Fish lose their scales as they grow, same way people lose skin, and animals shed fur... the scales fall to the floor and over time are fossilized. also when eaten smaller chunks of skin wll fall away and whatever makes it to the bottom will sometimes get buried and viola' scale fossils!! |
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