In early December 2020, Field Trip Chair, Susi Butler, organized a quarry dig with other shell club members to assist University of Florida scientists in their field research and to collect shell fossils–including Susi’s amazing find of a fossil Junonia!
Many thanks to Susi Butler for submitting these photos and article:
Roger Portell, Carmi Thompson and a few others from the University of Florida/Natural History Museum conducted their research work on shell fossils at an “always closed to visitors” quarry south of Arcadia, Florida. Over the first 3 days of December they sampled various layers in the walls of the quarry, up to 17′ tall. It was really fascinating to be looking at shell fossils that have been buried for 2-3 million years.
We were allowed to collect shell fossils at the end of each day and we went home with several interesting ones as in pictures.
A few found shark eye shells with their operculums tucked inside which was nice, as well as large whelks, scallops, nutmegs, a turbinella, etc.
Definitely an educational trip and a rare opportunity which we really appreciated being involved with. We are looking forward to seeing the research results in the future.
A nice sampling of fossil shells – the Coke can was in remarkably good condition