The title pretty much explains it. I want to be a paleontologist when I grow up, and I figure picking up the hobby of amateur fossil hunting would help maybe. Tips would also be greatly appreciated, thank you!
2007-07-10 11:01:44 · 4 answers · asked by 小石 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
First, a rock hammer... geologist hammer with a point on one side and a hammer on the other. Then a notebook and zip-locks and marker to label your "specimens". As you progress you will want to add other things. A small chisel perhaps and a awl. The best places to look are road side cuts and scree below fossil bearing formations which are generally sedimentary rocks, generally clays and limestones. Get a rock collecting book (under $20) that also covers fossils for your state. Check out a book at the library. Do a web search. A cheap hammer will cost under $10 but the point will dull quickly. A good one is around $40. Be aware that you can not collect vertebrate fossils on public land... BLM or USFS, etc.
2007-07-10 11:09:01 · answer #1 · answered by ? 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You can start off pretty simply, with a geologist's pick. Maybe a chisel (the type used for splitting bricks) is good, too, plus a heavier hammer. Many of the sedimetary rocks containing fossils can be easily split along bedding planes. As well as good reference books and sensible clothing, that other answerers noted, strong plastic bags are good, to keep your specimines in. I started like that, and eneded up being a geologist for 35 years. We would go on holidays to the beach, but I was always found, chipping away at the rocks at the base of the sea cliffs (that is also a good place to look).
But please respect the environment, and don't go bashing away at cliff faces, which may be interesting for other people to see. There are usually good rocks to be found on screes, etc. and it can be a lot of fun splitting them open, to see what you can find.
2007-07-11 03:45:06 · answer #2 · answered by AndrewG 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
washing screen and brushes, Metric tapes and meter sticks. When they are looking for fossils, they use picks, chisels, drills, shovels, and brushes. They may use a magnifying glass to get a closer look at their fossils. They use computers to analyze their findings and compare what they have learned to information already known.
2007-07-10 11:11:39 · answer #3 · answered by Robert S 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
a shovel, pick and dust brush. oh and water canteen.
a tan floppy hat, ugly boots (you just cant get around them) and tan clothing!
2007-07-10 11:13:24 · answer #4 · answered by Sheriff of R&S 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋