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Fossil Hunting: Getting Started

Most fossils are preserved in sedimentary rocks, such as sandstone, shale, and limestone. Sedimentary rocks can be exposed at the surface at natural outcrops (e.g., stream banks, cliffs) or artificial exposures (e.g., road cuts, dams, etc.). Geologists find fossil localities by examining geological maps and determining where sedimentary rocks of particular ages and depositional environments are located. Once possible locations have been identified, the next step is to acquire landowner permission—if the sites are located on private land.

Basic Tools:

rock hammer
chisels, paint brushes (to brush away loose sediment)
tape measure
foil
old film canister (for small items)
camera
field notebook and pen
hand lens 10x magnification
sample bags
backpack
maps (topographic and geologic)
toilet tissue (to wrap small, fragile fossils)
Sharpie (a permanent marker)

Collecting and storing tips:

On the Virginia Coastal Plain, most of the fossils occur in unconsolidated sediment. As you are collecting the fossils, clean them off and put them in a sample bag. If the fossils appear too fragile to handle, dig them out of the outcrop, leaving sediment around the fossils, and wrap them in foil. Record where you found them and take notes on what the outcrop looks like so you can identify how old your fossils are. Recording this information can also be used later as a reference. When cleaning the fossils, use a little bit of water and gently scrub with a tooth brush. If you have a fossil that broke or fractured, you can glue it back together with Elmer's glue. After cleaning the fossils, you can begin to identify them. You can also write up labels for your fossils and store them in trays or boxes. Avoid stacking them on top of each other or placing them in areas with big changes in temperature