Ammonite quarry

[RuMert]

Hi all!

This is a small trip report from a quarry by the town of Mikhaylov, Ryzan Oblast, situated in 200 km from Moscow. The place is very well known among the public interested in fossils, especially ammonite collectors. There are 4 quarries in a tight group, operated by different companies. Mikhaylov quarry is the most famous of them.

The experience is very similar to that of other Callovian - Oxfordian quarries (in my previous reports), but ammonites suddenly take the place of gastropods! Pretty exciting, isn't it? Unfortunately there are not many spoil piles as Jurassic overburden is also used in production and taken to the plant. Another difference is that the site is overwhelmingly Callovian with little Oxfordian part. The ammonites are pyritized. What we see is usually the center of big specimens and small ones, large complete ammonites are preserved as imprints.

We had prominent paleontologists in our group and the permission to visit most of the quarry. This trip took place in summer.

Edited November 28, 2021 by RuMert

[RuMert]

The quarry with its plant

 

 

Edited November 29, 2021 by RuMert

[RuMert]

The spoil piles and some ammonites found (Callovian). Unfortunately weather-worn

 

 

 

 

 

Edited November 28, 2021 by RuMert

[RuMert]

Ammonites found in the layer immediately worked on by excavators had the best colors and quality. We had a short time to examine it while the workers were on lunch

 

 

Edited November 28, 2021 by RuMert

[hadrosauridae]

heartbreaking!  What happens to all that materials being removed?

 

Glad you were able to save a few.

[RuMert]

Then we proceeded to a small Oxfordian outcrop inside of the quarry. A couple hours work yielded me just one small Cardioceras Everything is bright reddish-pink on extraction, afterwards becoming pinkish-grey

 

 

 

Edited November 28, 2021 by RuMert

[RuMert]

Day's finds. These are mostly Callovian ammos of Kosmoceras, Brightia and Funiferites genera

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited November 29, 2021 by RuMert

[taj]

excellent trip and report ! 

[RuMert]

And some typical Oxfordian finds I've shown you before.

 

 

This is definitely a place to visit more, of which I'll keep you informed. Thanks for reading!

Edited November 28, 2021 by RuMert

[RuMert]

21 minutes ago, hadrosauridae said:

What happens to all that materials being removed?

They are somehow used in cement and brick production

[nala]

Very nice finds and report! 

[R0b]

Interesting report thanks for sharing

[Mark Kmiecik]

Great report. Beautiful fossils!

[Nimravis]

Great report, pictures and finds.

[RuMert]

Thank you everybody

[Jeffrey P]

Looks like an extraordinary day of excellent finds. Love the pink colored ones. Congratulations and thanks for sharing. 

[pachy-pleuro-whatnot-odon]

Quite spectacular, to find such amounts of such beautiful ammonite specimens! What a contrast to my recent trip to Liesberg!

[fossilhunter21]

Awesome report! Those are some amazing finds!

 

-@fossilhunter21

Edited November 28, 2021 by fossilhunter21

[RuMert]

4 hours ago, pachy-pleuro-whatnot-odon said:

What a contrast to my recent trip to Liesberg!

You can't get the best out of a site in a single trip . My main target were Oxfordian ammonites but I found only one. We both need to revisit

Edited November 29, 2021 by RuMert

[Everhardus]

Nice, thanx !

[Euhoplites]

Amazing location. Digging in clay is fun 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Very interesting and I love those ammonites. 

[Fossildude19]

Excellent report and finds, as always! 

[RuMert]

Thanks again

[BudB]

Very nice finds. And great photos, as always.