Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Geology, Palaeontology & Archaeology => Topic started by: paul.fr on 20/08/2007 19:05:10

Title: where in the world is best for finding dinosaurs?
Post by: paul.fr on 20/08/2007 19:05:10

Pete prompted this question, with this reply to another question: "Spend your life digging up dinosaurs or some other fossils."

suppose i am planning my holidays and want to spend some time looking for fossils, where should i be heading for?

Are there different places / continents where on type is more abundant than another?

Title: where in the world is best for finding dinosaurs?
Post by: frethack on 20/08/2007 19:54:13

As far as I know, dinosaur fossils can be found on every continent.  In the US, the badlands in Montana are a good place to start.

Title: where in the world is best for finding dinosaurs?
Post by: JimBob on 20/08/2007 21:33:02

South Argentina is becoming a big hunting ground but only for pros. otherwise they will shoot you.

What I would do is Google paleontology digs - there are many you can join.

OR did you have a deeper question in mind, such as is there some magic potion to find a dinosaur?

Well, to start with you need to have either Triassic, Jurassic or Cretaceous rocks. Dinosaurs are only found in rocks of these age. You have some over there in the UK. Except for the Thames Valley, a strip of coastline across from the Isle of Wight, Cornwall, Wales and also excluding approximately all the stuff north of an E-W line through the mouth of the Humber River, you could stumble on a dino just about anywhere. Of course you could also do that with a Roman or Saxon horde.

Why don't you learn to knit? It will let you stay active during those long british winters and you can make tea coses for your friends.

[;D]

Title: where in the world is best for finding dinosaurs?
Post by: pete_inthehills on 21/08/2007 12:41:08

don't bother with dinosaurs, they are over rated.

My advice would be to get the map out and look for rocky coasts.  The UK is blessed with rocks from most (if not all) geological periods.  There is everything from ichtysaurs on the Isle of Skye to sea urchins in the white cliff of Dover.  Ammonites in the cliffs of the Yorkshire coast to Trilobites in the Lake District hills.  We've even got the early insects in chert at Rhynie which is only 10 miles from where I live. 

I googled fossil finding in the UK and got this as the first hit http://www.ukfossils.co.uk/ (http://www.ukfossils.co.uk/)

But one thing.  Don't trash the site trying to get fossils, its better to collect from spoil heaps or the base of cliffs.  Respect the rocks.

pete
inthehills

Title: where in the world is best for finding dinosaurs?
Post by: paul.fr on 21/08/2007 13:27:01

Quote from: pete_inthehills on 21/08/2007 12:41:08

  We've even got the early insects in chert at Rhynie which is only 10 miles from where I live. 

Pete,

do you live anywhere neer Peel fell? My secondary school used to own property near there. We used to have great time when visiting kielder.

There was some sort of fort/castle or something, exploring the tunnels was also great. You were not allowed down them but kids being kids, we soon found a way down.

Edit: back to geology,

There is a big mound of stones and rocks at the top of the hill, all who climed it had to find a new stone to add to the pile. Even all those years ago finding a stone was pretty hard.

But running down the hill jumping over peatbogs, and occasinally landing in one just made our day.

Title: where in the world is best for finding dinosaurs?
Post by: pete_inthehills on 21/08/2007 22:20:23

Nah, Peel fell is in Northumbria isn't it.  I'm 40 miles north of Aberdeen so its a long way south of me.  If I went any further due north from me, I'd be in the sea.

But I've done a bit of walking around that area.  There were some great fossil plants in the rocks that border the coal seams of North East England.

pete
inthehills

Title: where in the world is best for finding dinosaurs?
Post by: ukmicky on 21/08/2007 23:03:26

Quote

In the US, the badlands in Montana are a good place to start.

I think they banned people other than those with special permission from digging for or removing fossils from the badlands.

Title: where in the world is best for finding dinosaurs?
Post by: ichnos on 23/08/2007 14:28:18

China is a good place to look - US too - esp. Utah, New Mexico way (morrison fm, green river fm)