Hanson 4-2014
The Tar Heel Gem and Mineral Club obtained access to the Hanson Quarry in Rocky Mount the weekend of April 12th. Mary Harbison, a member of their club and ours, told us after their trip that there was a section of spoil piles that had fossils in them, but that the quarry was planning on reclaiming that area in the next couple of weeks. David Sanderson threw together a scout trip with about 8 club members and we went to check it out the day before the trip to the Smithsonian. To our delight, not only were there fossils there (Yorktown Formation), but the quarry folks told us that the reclamation had been slowed significantly and that the area would probably be around for a couple more months. Our scout party hit the piles and some great specimens were found. The area was quite small but the material is the closest any of us will get to what folks used to find in Lee Cree (sans Meg teeth). I didnt get a good look at what everyone found on this trip but Trish Kohler, David Sanderson and myself all found seal bones. There were also a couple whale verts., lots of whale bone pieces, and several large Chesapectens. On the smaller side of things there were a couple white shark teeth, two Emmons fish teeth (not really thought to be teeth at all anymore, but rather hyperostosed fish bones (Tilly bones) from an unknown fish), several different kinds of small fish vertebra, (including Billfish, Tuna and Hake), some crazy ossified fish verts., weird fish bones, a couple fish skulls, a few crab claws, oysters, barnacles including part of a Coronula sp. whale barnacle (which was pretty cool) and various small bivalves. Victor found a nice chunk of petrified wood. Our first trip proved quite successful, and though the collecting area is small, it is certainly worth a return trip. We owe special thanks to Mary Harbison for sharing this site with our club and to John Warlick and the Hanson Quarry for the opportunity to hunt. Linda McCall