Details on Finding Oyster Fossils: here
Geologic Period: Pleistocene Period, around 83-49 ka
More on the geology and vertebrate fossils found in the area: (scientific paper)
Tag: fossils for kids
Where to Find Marine Fauna Fossils near Coalinga, CA
Fossil Sand Dollars, Clams, and Coral.
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Where to Find Fossils at Portola Hills, Lake Forest
Marine Fauna found and a great explanation of the local geology in the area!
Fossils on the beaches of Capitola, CA
- Whale Skeleton bones
- Macoma sp. Shells
More information on fossils in Capitola, CA: link here
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Fossils Found at Mountain View Park
Submitted March 30, 2020.
A variety of bivalve fragments (look like clam or scallop shells); one spiral shell.
Fossils generally found around bases of trees or other bare dirt areas, especially after recent landscaping or rainfall.
Fossils Found at Elk Grove
Submitted July 24, 2019.
Found coming up from the surface of ash and fine rock deposits in Elk Grove. Unsure what they might be.
Fossils Found at Half Moon Bay
Where to Find Fossils at Surfer’s Knoll
Geology: Very similar to that of other Ventura fossil sites such as:
Coal Point: link
Rincon Point: link
Ojai Trails: link
Sespe Wilderness: link
Paleontology: Black fossil bone about 14-15 inches long, which was found in a layer of sand that was cut into by the waves, was submitted on November 18th, 2016.
Other: If you have any input that would help identify the fossil, feel free to contact us and we will update this find.
Ultimate Guide to Finding Fossils at Point Loma
Geology:
Point Loma is part of the Point Loma Formation, near the coastline of San Diego. According to the second citation, “The massive, ungraded sandstones in the Point Loma Formation have sharp upper and lower contacts, thick lenses of mudstone clasts, and common load-deformation structures, suggesting deposition largely by grain-flow processes.”
Paleontology:
The Upper Cretaceous strata in the Point Loma formation contain abundant trace fossils of the species Qphiomorpha and Thalassinoides, which suggest that the area was a shallow sea during the Cretaceous Period.
Directions:
According to The Fossil Forum, “Towards San Diego, get off at the Tecolate Road/Sea World exit. Proceed west on Sea World Drive — past Sea World, it becomes Sunset Cliffs Blvd. Drive to the end of Sunset Cliffs and park in the lot for Sunset Cliffs Park. Look along the top of the sea cliff.”
Works Cited:
Gary Kindel, “Fossil Collecting Sites in North America,” (Digital Rockhound’s Companion Site 2009) http://www.digitalrockhound.blogspot.com
Philip Kern et al, “Trace Fossils and Bathymetry of the Upper Cretaceous Point Loma Formation, San Diego, California,” (San Diego State U, Rice U 1974) http://gsabulletin.gsapubs.org/content/85/6/893.abstract
Guide to Finding Fossils at Rincon Point
Directions:
According to this page’s first citation, ” from LA, travel north on the Ventura Freeway (101) towards Ventura. Travel about an hour, north towards Santa Barbara. Exit onto Highway 150 (towards Lake Casitas) and park immediately after leaving Route 101. The fossils are found along the freeway offramp and up the hill above.”
Geology of the Area:
Rincon Point is a famous surfing spot on the border of Santa Barbara and Ventura County. The fossils of Rincon Point are found off a freeway cut that exposes 16 different layers of Santa Barbara Formation strata. Santa Barbara County was underwater for most of Earth’s history, but slowly rose to the surface during the Cenozoic Era, especially as a result of the Miocene dated tectonic movements that created the San Andreas Fault.
Fossils:
Pliocene-Pleistocene dated fossils are abundant in the sediments off the freeway. The fossils are marine fauna including invertebrates such as bryozoa, mollusks, gastropods, and Pecten.
Other Fossil Sites Nearby:
Coal Point: link
Ojai Trails: link
Sespe Wilderness: link
Surfer’s Knoll: link
Works Cited:
Gary Kindel, “Fossil Collecting Sites in North America,” (Digital Rockhound’s Companion Site 2009) http://www.digitalrockhound.blogspot.com
“US and Canadian Fossil Sites — Data for California” http://donaldkenney.x10.mx/STATES/CA.HTM
“Offshore Geology of Santa Barbara County” (County of Santa Barbara Planning and Development ) http://www.sbcountyplanning.org