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Fossil collecting can be a fun and very enjoyable experience. And can teach all ages the history of the earth and the geologic processes that created the earth. Fossil collecting can be used in conjunction with science fair projects from elementary school on though to high school. Fossil collecting can be enjoyed by the young and the old, the professional as well as the amateur. The paleontologists is a professional fossil collector who specializes in ether vertebrates like dinosaurs, mammals, fish or even man and non vertebrates like trilobites, clams ,cephalopods, brachiopods etc. The best thing to have before you go fossil collecting is knowledge. And the best place to get that knowledge is from a hand book or books on fossil collecting. Lots of books are available over the internet or at your local book store. The next thing you need to do is call or write or even better yet use your computer to contact your states geological survey. They will be very helpful with your quest to find fossils. They can tell you the best places to look and why the fossils are there in the first place. They will also have geologic maps that out line the formations and sediments that the fossils are found in. they may also have a list or even pictures of fossils found in your locality. They will also tell you what type of fossils and what locations are off limits to fossil collecting. The next thing is to go properly dressed when fossil collecting and take plenty of water and snacks if you are fossil collecting for the day. Make sure you take along a good first aid kit as well. If you are going to spend several days fossil collecting go plenty prepared. Also take along a good compass and maps of the area as well. Fossil collecting requires some equipment to collect the fossils. A good day pack is a must to hold all the things you will need. As mentioned earlier a good compass and map is needed for two things one if you get lost a compass and map can help you find the way out but you will also need them if you find some fossils. You will need to locate the area on your map. A good hand held GPS can be very helpful as well. A geologist hammer may help you recover the fossils you find. A pry bar and chisel are a good thing to have. A note book and pen for taking notes is useful. Some bags to put your fossils in. Try to find some geologist sample bags if you can, they are light weight and have tags for writing information on such as the description of the area you found the fossils in or the gps coordinates such as longitude and latitude. Also label your bags with a number and put that number in your note book with information as to what kind of fossil you found and were it was found and by whom and on what date and any other information that you think is relevant. When you get home with your fossil specimens clean them carefully and put them on display. Gather all the information you can about your finds and involve your friends and family in your research on fossil collecting but most of all have fun learning about geology , paleontology and the history of this big blue planet we all live on. BRACHIOPODA SPIRIFER , CONODONT, PROVO CANYON UTAH, MISSISSIPPIAN
CRINOIDEA AND BRYOZOA , PROVO CANYON UTAH ,MISSISSIPPIAN
HORN CORAL ,SANDSTONE, QUARTZITE,LIMESTONE, EAST OF SALT FLATS UTAH , LOWER PERMIAN AND PENNSYLVANIAN
TRILOBITE, WEST CENTRAL UTAH, CAMBRIAN
BELEMNITE, EASTERN UTAH, JURASSIC
PETRIFIED WOOD POSSABLE JURASSIC BUT MOST LIKLY CRETACEOUS
CLADNOPORA CORAL, FROM SIMONSON AND SEVY DOLOMITE MIDDLE AND LOWER DEVONIAN NEAR WENDOVER UTAH
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