Italo40 Posted September 10, 2020 Share Posted September 10, 2020 Dear members, here I want to present my latest hunting trip, in the south east of France. This region has been known for decades to geologists for the vas amount of outcrops of Cretaceous age. In fact, there's even a GSSP and a stratotype section. Since most of these areas are protected, I checked where I could collect fossils freely. A famous spot for collectors is Carniol, located 125 km (77 mi) north of Marseille. Here, Aptian (Early Cretaceous) clays crop out and fossils can be easily collected by hand or with a small tool. A view of the outcrop: Fossils are extremely abundant. You don't need to excavate, you can easily pick those exposed on the surface. Because of these, many are too fragmented or fragile, but there's no shortage of well preserved specimen! Ammonoids are the most common specimens. I have not been able to ID them yet, because of the lack of specific papers on Carniol. Here's two of the largest and best preserved specimen that I found: Belemnites are extremely common as well, but complete specimens much more rare. Here's a complete specimen: And here a large one! And now, all my finds together: you can see ammonoids, belemnites, gastropods and bivalves. The best-preserved fossils after a cleaning process: Finally, I'm not sure about these: Here's all! I sincerely hope that you enjoyed my post. I'd love to hear your comments and hopefully IDs. Besides, if you have any reading suggestion, they are more than welcome. Thanks, Fabio 10 Follow me on Instagram (@italian_fossilhunter). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClearLake Posted September 10, 2020 Share Posted September 10, 2020 That looks like a great spot and that first ammonite is a real beauty. Sorry I can’t help with ID’s but I’m sure someone will be along soon that can. Is pyrite common in some of those fossils? Some seem to have the appearance of some our Texas Cretaceous material that has pyrite in it, just curious. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Italo40 Posted September 10, 2020 Author Share Posted September 10, 2020 7 minutes ago, ClearLake said: That looks like a great spot and that first ammonite is a real beauty. Sorry I can’t help with ID’s but I’m sure someone will be along soon that can. Is pyrite common in some of those fossils? Some seem to have the appearance of some our Texas Cretaceous material that has pyrite in it, just curious. Thanks Yes, the majority of ammonites, gastropods and bivalves were indeed pyritized. Broadly speaking I noticed that these specimens were less well preserved than the not pyritized ones, but also less fragile. Belemnites, instead, were never pyritized. Follow me on Instagram (@italian_fossilhunter). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tidgy's Dad Posted September 10, 2020 Share Posted September 10, 2020 Nice finds. It looks to me that your mystery items are pieces of heteromorph ammonites. 1 1 Life's Good! Tortoise Friend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpc Posted September 10, 2020 Share Posted September 10, 2020 1 hour ago, Tidgy's Dad said: Nice finds. It looks to me that your mystery items are pieces of heteromorph ammonites. yes, I don't know the French Aptian species but similar to the later Cretaceous Glyptoxyceras we find here. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taj Posted September 10, 2020 Share Posted September 10, 2020 I would say Dufrenoya and Aconoceras for the best preserved ones .. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FossilDAWG Posted September 10, 2020 Share Posted September 10, 2020 I think maybe Hamites or something similar for the straight-shelled ammonites (the ones you are "not sure about"). Don 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ludwigia Posted September 10, 2020 Share Posted September 10, 2020 I've been there before. Great place to collect and there's even some shade there. A good reference for identifying your finds is Gero Moosleitner's "Fossilien Sammeln im Südfrankreich". I agree with Taj's appraisal with Dufrenoya and Aconeceras. 1 Greetings from the Lake of Constance. Roger http://www.steinkern.de/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coco Posted September 10, 2020 Share Posted September 10, 2020 @caterpillar Coco ---------------------- OUTIL POUR MESURER VOS FOSSILES : ici Pareidolia : here Ma bibliothèque PDF 1 (Poissons et sélaciens récents & fossiles) : ici Ma bibliothèque PDF 2 (Animaux vivants - sans poissons ni sélaciens) : ici Mâchoires sélaciennes récentes : ici Hétérodontiques et sélaciens : ici Oeufs sélaciens récents : ici Otolithes de poissons récents ! ici Un Greg... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Italo40 Posted September 10, 2020 Author Share Posted September 10, 2020 2 hours ago, taj said: I would say Dufrenoya and Aconoceras for the best preserved ones .. Thank you! 7 hours ago, Tidgy's Dad said: Nice finds. It looks to me that your mystery items are pieces of heteromorph ammonites. You are right, I didn't think of that 24 minutes ago, Ludwigia said: I've been there before. Great place to collect and there's even some shade there. A good reference for identifying your finds is Gero Moosleitner's "Fossilien Sammeln im Südfrankreich". I agree with Taj's appraisal with Dufrenoya and Aconeceras. I was so overwhelmed by the amount of fossils that I had to stop after just a couple of hours. If only I didn't live at 6 hours by car I'd go there every weekend, it was definetely one of the best collecting trips of my life. I really appreciate the book suggestion! 1 Follow me on Instagram (@italian_fossilhunter). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RuMert Posted September 11, 2020 Share Posted September 11, 2020 Some of them are very nice,cool site My sites & reports Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
herve Posted September 11, 2020 Share Posted September 11, 2020 2 J collecting only fossils since 30 years old,ammonites,heteromorphe ammonite,crabs,fish trilobit, sea urshins, mammals, etc...J am married . Sorry for my enghish Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
herve Posted September 11, 2020 Share Posted September 11, 2020 A litle part of my aptian collecting whith different place J collecting only fossils since 30 years old,ammonites,heteromorphe ammonite,crabs,fish trilobit, sea urshins, mammals, etc...J am married . Sorry for my enghish Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
herve Posted September 11, 2020 Share Posted September 11, 2020 2 J collecting only fossils since 30 years old,ammonites,heteromorphe ammonite,crabs,fish trilobit, sea urshins, mammals, etc...J am married . Sorry for my enghish Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
herve Posted September 11, 2020 Share Posted September 11, 2020 Sharks teef and vertebras ,corals J collecting only fossils since 30 years old,ammonites,heteromorphe ammonite,crabs,fish trilobit, sea urshins, mammals, etc...J am married . Sorry for my enghish Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
herve Posted September 11, 2020 Share Posted September 11, 2020 2 J collecting only fossils since 30 years old,ammonites,heteromorphe ammonite,crabs,fish trilobit, sea urshins, mammals, etc...J am married . Sorry for my enghish Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
herve Posted September 11, 2020 Share Posted September 11, 2020 1 J collecting only fossils since 30 years old,ammonites,heteromorphe ammonite,crabs,fish trilobit, sea urshins, mammals, etc...J am married . Sorry for my enghish Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
herve Posted September 11, 2020 Share Posted September 11, 2020 Hello Italo40 nice discovery,I live at 1hour of Carniol when its rain I go to this site but the another site are not rich. 1 J collecting only fossils since 30 years old,ammonites,heteromorphe ammonite,crabs,fish trilobit, sea urshins, mammals, etc...J am married . Sorry for my enghish Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caterpillar Posted September 11, 2020 Share Posted September 11, 2020 I will not add anything to what has been said. I just think the heteromorphs are Epanisoceras 3 http://www.paleotheque.fr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taj Posted September 11, 2020 Share Posted September 11, 2020 Now the question is : how do these little pyritic beauties stand the test of time ? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Italo40 Posted September 11, 2020 Author Share Posted September 11, 2020 5 hours ago, taj said: Now the question is : how do these little pyritic beauties stand the test of time ? That's a legitimate question and something I had not thougt about. I've found a few websites that suggest ways to preserve them, however I've no experience in the field. So, if anyone has any idea on the subject, they are most welcome Follow me on Instagram (@italian_fossilhunter). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taj Posted September 11, 2020 Share Posted September 11, 2020 There are many, many different recipes proposed for that . You will find on this website a full list of possible solutions ... the best for you will be the one you choose ! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Everhardus Posted September 12, 2020 Share Posted September 12, 2020 I clean my pyrite ammonites first. I used to do this with a steel brush on a Dremel, lately i abrade them. Avoid using water to clean them. Next i expose them to the fumes of ammonia. Just something i picked up. Not sure if it works but cant hurt either. I seal them off with Paraloid B72. At some sites pyrite seems more stable than others, all in all i have to dispose of around 3 ammo’s every year which is not much considering the amount which you can collect at these Southern France sites...... I keep these finds separate from each other in small plastic boxes. It’s a bit of a hassle but these pyrite ammo’s do look great ! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monica Posted September 12, 2020 Share Posted September 12, 2020 Wonderful molluscs, Fabio! Thanks for showing us! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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