Essex Rock & Mineral Society Field
Trip
Watchet, Somerset, 8th &9th May 2004
Our Alternative Fossil Weekend
by Paul Lomax
There we were, every morning putting an x on the day, and counting the days down till our next fossiling weekend. The weather looked set to be fine, and anticipation was high. A scan of the archive pages of ERMS to look for potential finds, then scanned the internet looking for people who have posted their finds from those areas. Accommodation booked at Minehead, car loaded and all ready to go. A quick promise to Roger that I would photograph any good finds and let him have an update for the newsletter. Return mail from Roger stating that the location had been changed and was now the Blue Anchor. A quick consultation with the map proved this not to be a problem and with time off work booked, we were away!
We arrived on the Friday afternoon and decided to look at Doniford Bay before we checked in to our accommodation. Here we found one or two broken bits of ammonite amongst scattered rocks. But amongst the shale there was some highly crushed pyritized ammonite with a lovely coppery sheen to it, although removal proved difficult as they just disintegrated. We did find some bits of rock, that on first inspection had very tiny black flakes, however under a microscope this rock proved to be jammed full of fish scales, teeth, and a few small thin bones.
Saturday
morning started early with a double breakfast as it might be a long day.
We headed off to Blue Anchor for 10am, the original meet time on the paperwork.
This baffled us slightly as the tide was at it's maximum height and was
still there at 11am!! So a quick trip into Watchet and the only rock shop
in town, which doubled as a fairy trinkets shop. The local lady kindly
told us where to go and showed us pictures of cliff erosion which showed
that in the last 20 years some 30 metres have been lost. When I quizzed
her why she hadn't any local fossils for sale she said it's so rare to
find anything in tact, and when she does it is sold straight away and
commands a good price. We thanked her and headed back to Blue Anchor.
12 noon still no sign of 25 other enthusiasts so with a westerly force
5 and above, we clambered along the cliff edge looking for our elusive
quarry. Not a lot this day so back for a warm bath and some food at about
6pm.
Quantockhead East, Sunday's hunting ground. Well, what a difference. Lots of big broken ammonites. Nothing complete. We'd heard that the BBC were filming on this beach the next day for a new documentary series on how England was formed. With this in mind and our desire for fame, any rocks that didn't split perfectly, we left highly visible. The weather was really good, no wind, nice and warm but still no club members! We had a few samples, because of the walk we'd agreed not to take too much, but then ...... out of a block approximately 1 meter square there was the tinniest hint of a full ammonite. With a lump hammer and lots of sweat this was reduced down to 18" x 6", put into the rucksack and carried the 3 miles back to the car.
After
a little gentle persuasion, a smaller chisel and some air tools the finished
photograph is what was left. For the purest only one side is polished,
and the other can be excavated at any time.
Although we had a great time, it's highly advisable to contact the Field Trip Officer, David, one to confirm you are going, and secondly to get confirmation of any last minute changes. So David we hope to go to Gilwern, Thrislington and Blockley!!! Paul and Oonagh.
The width of this ammonite is about 16cm (6" plus)!!!
Paul & Oonagh
_____________________
That's it blame me for saying Blue Anchor!
Many thanks to Paul Lomax for the above report, it is a pleasure to have
a first hand account of the field trip.
All I know is that is what I heard mentioned at the "club night"
preceding the visit. I had intended to go myself, but burnt my hand more
severely than I would have liked and had it trussed up like a turkey by
the Docs. Besides making it difficult to drive and being almost impossible
to scratch certain parts of ones anatomy, I erred on the cautious side
and stayed at home. Well, that's my reason for taking my burnt finger(s)
off the pulse.
At the next meeting I heard David say that some 8 members turned up from our Society, several from the Essex GA and 25 from a Staffordshire group? He went on to report that when he and the others arrived on the Friday night the schedule had been turned around to his surprise. Sunday became Saturday and they headed "inland" for their first visit to a quarry? There was also mention of a building stones walk around Watchet. David did say that they attempted fossil collecting on the late Sunday afternoon.
Width of display approx. 30cm.
Psiloceras planorbis, Lower Lias, Lower Hettangian, Watchet, Somerset, 2004
David Turner's finds from the field trip as displayed at our May 2004 meeting.
Knowing the leader of this trip (Eric Robinson), I always thought it was going to be more about rocks and geology than collecting, that's what attracted me to this one, but then I don't collect. I hope to flesh these details out with more information and pictures when the official reports drop in the in-tray
Now I cannot stress this enough, it is pointless turning up without having your name added to the list. Not only do some sites we go to have restricted numbers, but changes do occur at the last minute and the only people kept informed are those on that specific field trip list.
I do my best to keep updated information on our website and newsletter about field trips, but even this is not the last word, that rests with our Field Trips Secretary! Any information I publish is only as good as the information I receive (if any)! Should I ask or should I be told? I leave that for you, the silent majority to answer?
Roger Coleman (sufferer of burnt fingers combined with mushroom syndrome, ouch!)