Fossilman
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Post by Fossilman on Jun 26, 2014 19:55:13 GMT -5
This is my Uncle Willis...He worked in the oilfields for many years and retired in the early 80's...(His work had him in fossil country all the time) This is one of the two uncles that taught me how to hunt fossils and work them for display and collecting... He found this ammonite after he retired.....I was told by him where I should hunt for these bigger species,my memory has shifted since that talk with him,but I'm sure I can get close to where he was talking about...He now has Alzheimer's disease,so his travels and finds are long gone.. It took him 15 years to sell it,nobody wanted it,to big for most collectors,don't remember who he sold it to either... I will frame this photo and stick it in my rock room.......Memories of him are always good..
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junglejim
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2014
Posts: 344
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Post by junglejim on Jun 26, 2014 20:30:06 GMT -5
Wow !!!!!!!!! Did he ever get a weight on that monster? I have some small ones, probably fit 1000 inside that one.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,709
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Post by Fossilman on Jun 26, 2014 20:55:13 GMT -5
Wow !!!!!!!!! Did he ever get a weight on that monster? I have some small ones, probably fit 1000 inside that one. It was around the 225 pound mark...!!!! He had to have help moving it,finally just stuck it in a closet in the hallway-LOL...
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,709
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Post by Fossilman on Jun 26, 2014 20:57:42 GMT -5
I have an old book on hunting fossils,as said,my memory escapes me,but I found the area he found that in..Years ago when he told me,I must have went home and marked it in my book..Thumbs up..(Just found it an 1/2 hour ago..) I think I'll take my Nephew out with me when I go look in that area...
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Post by sandsman1 on Jun 26, 2014 21:03:44 GMT -5
dam to be that big and still be in one piece is amazing
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panamark
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2012
Posts: 1,343
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Post by panamark on Jun 26, 2014 22:30:51 GMT -5
That is a really big one for America. Huge in fact!! Wonderful. What a great memento for you to have along with the picture. That notebook you have must be a treasure map! My wife just got back from a visit to the fossil coast of Britain. I didn't believe her reports at first. Anyone know why they get such huge ammonites over there? Different time period, species, or what?
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bhiatt
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2012
Posts: 1,532
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Post by bhiatt on Jun 27, 2014 3:08:08 GMT -5
fossilman...that's intense! What a cool photo.
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,557
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Post by jamesp on Jun 27, 2014 5:11:34 GMT -5
what an interesting fossil. That one is a whopper. Cool photo, he is sure proud of it.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,709
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Post by Fossilman on Jun 27, 2014 9:20:28 GMT -5
Those big ones are still out there,just have to get away from the other hunters and earn them!! Here is a buddy of mine with his find a couple years ago..(Montana)..
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Fossilman
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Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,709
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Post by Fossilman on Jun 27, 2014 9:24:57 GMT -5
This one was a great find too,but in South Dakota by the Larson brothers..
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,709
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Post by Fossilman on Jun 27, 2014 9:33:37 GMT -5
That is a really big one for America. Huge in fact!! Wonderful. What a great memento for you to have along with the picture. That notebook you have must be a treasure map! My wife just got back from a visit to the fossil coast of Britain. I didn't believe her reports at first. Anyone know why they get such huge ammonites over there? Different time period, species, or what? Sorry..."This is NOT a real ammonite. It is replica used in a film to illustrate just how big ammonites got - it is based on a real ammonite." (with the two gentleman standing with it)an example of scale...Thumbs up
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,709
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Post by Fossilman on Jun 27, 2014 9:44:02 GMT -5
Here is an ammonite with "Mother of Pearl" still encased on the outer shell....I have one that has a bit of it on it,but not as this one does...Thumbs up.
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Fossilman
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Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,709
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Post by Fossilman on Jun 27, 2014 9:46:16 GMT -5
Mark-the same time period,just different species.....Some got up to six feet across..Trying to find photo of one that I seen online..
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Fossilman
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Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,709
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Post by Fossilman on Jun 27, 2014 9:47:41 GMT -5
They were ugly things when alive...
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,557
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Post by jamesp on Jun 27, 2014 10:13:52 GMT -5
There are a few in Florida Michael. But not silicified. Man I wish. If they were in the silicon 'soup' where the coral is I would have it made. What a great fossil.
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donkeyrokman
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since June 2014
Posts: 78
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Post by donkeyrokman on Jun 27, 2014 10:42:35 GMT -5
That is a really big one for America. Huge in fact!! Wonderful. What a great memento for you to have along with the picture. That notebook you have must be a treasure map! My wife just got back from a visit to the fossil coast of Britain. I didn't believe her reports at first. Anyone know why they get such huge ammonites over there? Different time period, species, or what? Sorry..."This is NOT a real ammonite. It is replica used in a film to illustrate just how big ammonites got - it is based on a real ammonite." (with the two gentleman standing with it)an example of scale...Thumbs up I didn't want to say anything, but I could tell that one was "man"ufactured. On the other hand, the other photo is obviously genuine. Amazing!
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panamark
fully equipped rock polisher
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Post by panamark on Jun 27, 2014 11:32:12 GMT -5
Another from Britain But I guess "we" (i.e. the USA) have some big ones too. Like the one Michael's uncle found (which is a different species, yes). Here is a real big US one I think Also I read where there is a 5 footer in the Greybull, WY museum on display. And then those beautiful pearlized ones Another example And one must just wonder at the awesome creatures we have no fossil record of!! We lost something like 99% of all living species during the Great Catastrophe. We only have a tiny remnant of species left (of which I am very glad Humans are included).
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Post by johnjsgems on Jun 27, 2014 13:47:59 GMT -5
Just like Florida, the ammonites in Texas are limestone replacements. Used to see some pretty big ones when we did shows in the DFW area. Collected somewhere between there and Oklahoma. The "mother of pearl" one is the "ammolite" that is sold for expensive cabs. Mostly from Canada I believe. My neighbor at Desert Gardens always sells it.
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Post by jakesrocks on Jun 27, 2014 14:25:14 GMT -5
Several nice sized Ammonites with the ammolite still attached have also been found encased in mud balls from the Pierre Shale in South Dakota.
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bhiatt
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Post by bhiatt on Jun 27, 2014 15:06:32 GMT -5
Several nice sized Ammonites with the ammolite still attached have also been found encased in mud balls from the Pierre Shale in South Dakota. South Dakota ammonites are my fav. Guys on the fairburn page on facebook have some nice SD ammonites also.
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