OKLAHOMA GEOLOGY AND PALEONTOLOGY

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NECESSARY EQUIPMENT

During the course of our fossil hunting we have learned through trial and error some of the basic equipment needed for a productive day of fossil hunting in Oklahoma. This is obviously not all-inclusive but should provide you with a good starting point. As stated before, trial and error are our learning tools!

Items to Carry on Your Fossil Hunt

1. Rock Hammer: The "instrument of destruction" if you will allowing you to chip away at layers of sedimentation or breaking open smaller pieces of rock (as well as providing endless hours of entertainment.) We have found the best rock hammers to be Estwing hammers with a chisel tip. They can be purchased at any hardware or home improvement store such as Home Depot, etc... DO NOT USE A CARPENTERS HAMMER!!! These are for hammering nails only. One faulty smack of the hammer can cause it to shatter bringing your day of fossil hunting to a very ugly end!

2. Safety Glasses: Before you swing that hammer make sure your eyes are protected!

3. Sunscreen: If you do any fossil hunting in Oklahoma you will soon discover that our 100+ temperatures in the summer can quickly make life miserable. We suggest a childrens sunblock of SPF 45.

4. Wide Brimmed Hat: Most of your time will be spent looking at the ground and without one your neck will fry, even with sunblock... Trust me...

5. Hand Towels: It's no fun to stop and wipe the sweat from your forhead with your shirt every 5 minutes or so, and a small hand towel will do the trick.

6. Notebook and Pen/Pencil: Keeping track of where you found your fossils right when you find them is essential. Just a quick note about the general location, surrounding area, county, rock type and age (if known) will prove to be extremely helpful when you get home to catalogue your finds.

7. BackPack: If you climb up some of the hills away from the road you definitely will want one of these to carry your rocks and equipment in. Its a lesson in gracefullness and stupidity to try to negotiate a 45 degree slope with an unweildy twenty pound rock your hands. Verified!

8. Water: VERY IMPORTANT! Heat exhaustion or heat stroke are very likely, especially in the summer. A large cooler of water is highly recommended, but stopping for smaller water bottles at a convenience store along the way will do. Just keep in mind that some of the best fossil hunting sites in Oklahoma are well removed from even the smallest towns.

9. Snakebite Kit: Unfortunately, rattle snakes are out there! They are not looking to get you, but if you turn over a rock that one has claimed as it's own be ready for a turf war! Snakebite kits are available at stores like Wal-Mart. If you are bitten by a poisionous snake you need to seek medical help immediately!!! See our safety page for more information on rockhounding hazards in Oklahoma.

10. Chisels: Assorted chisels will help you extract fossils from rock or to cut out a peice of the matrix containing the fossil for further cleaning back home.

11. Small Paintbrushes: Helps clear away matrix from chiseled rock, sandstones, etc...

12. Eyeglass Strap: After a few minutes of sweating and looking down your glasses will probably try to slide off your face (provided your not using strapped safety goggles.) This little device will save alot of time and nerves.

13. Gloves: Protect your hands if youre doing some heavy hammering. Blisters are not fun.

14. First Aid Kit: Some of the darndest things happen when your all by yourself in the wide open spaces! Antibiotic ointment, Band-Aids, Cotton Balls, Gauze and Tape should be a minimum. A good vehicle first aid kit will have all of these plus a road side flare, flags and other goodies as well.

15. Newespaper: Newspaper or other packing material will protect your fragile specimens while they are being transported back home.

15. Other Invaluable Items:

LeatherMan or Multi-Purpose Tool

Trowel

Small Narrow Shovel or Spade

Gardening Pick

Plastic Baggies

Snack Foods

Hand Magnifying Lens

Maps (Road, Geological, Topographical)

Compass

Plastic Sieve or Collander

Camera (Document your Experience!)

Field Guides to Fossils and Rocks

Insect Repellant

Tape Measure (Record how far down in the strata your fossil was found)

Hard Hat (For collecting on road cuts, etc...)

Sturdy Mallet

Take the time to consider the type of rock and terrain you will be encountering in the area you're visiting. This will help you determine the equipment you should need. If you are going to be working in soft sedimentary rock a trowel or spade will be necessary. A sturdy mallet with guarded chisels will help extracting fossils from hard rocks. A geological hammer with a chisel or pick end will work for most all types of rock.

Bring along a good sense of humor and adventure. The key is to have fun while you are learning!

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