What type of fossil is this found at northern Ohio?

Digging Up the Past: Fossils in Northern Ohio – It’s More Than Just Rocks!

Northern Ohio? Yeah, it might seem like just another part of the Midwest, but beneath the surface, it’s a real-deal treasure chest for anyone who’s even a little bit curious about fossils. Seriously, it’s like stepping back in time millions of years! What you’re likely to unearth really depends on where you’re digging, geologically speaking, but there are definitely some rock stars (pun intended!) that pop up more than others.

Ancient Seas, Ancient Critters: A Marine Story

Okay, so picture this: way, way back, like Paleozoic Era back, northern Ohio was basically underwater. Warm, shallow seas as far as the eye could see i. Think tropical paradise, but, you know, with more trilobites. Over millions of years, the shells and skeletons of the creatures living in those seas got buried and turned into the sedimentary rocks we see today – shales, limestones, that sort of thing i. And guess what? Those rocks are stuffed with fossils i!

Brachiopods (aka Lampshells): These guys are everywhere. Seriously, you practically trip over them. They’re called lampshells because, well, some of them kind of look like old-fashioned oil lamps. They’re hinged shells, and they came in all sorts of shapes and sizes, which makes hunting for them super fun. It’s like a natural scavenger hunt! If you’re in the Silica Shale, keep an eye out for Mucrospirifer mucronatus and Mediopirifer audaculus – those are two common brachiopod names you might stumble upon i.

Corals: Remember those warm, shallow seas? Perfect for coral reefs! And yup, we find fossilized corals all over the place here. It just goes to show you, Ohio was once a prime vacation spot for marine life. You might find Bethanyphyllum, Heliophyllum, or Heterophrentis in the Silica Formation i.

Trilobites: Ah, the rock stars of the fossil world! These extinct arthropods are related to modern crustaceans. Finding a complete one is like winning the lottery, but even finding a piece of one is pretty darn cool. Eldredgops milleri (used to be called Phacops rana) is a famous one around here i.

And the Supporting Cast: Of course, there’s more! We’re talking crinoids (sea lilies), cephalopods, bryozoans (“lace corals” – how cool is that name?), snails, clams… the whole shebang i! It’s like a fossil party down there.

The Silica Formation: Fossil Central

If you’re serious about fossil hunting in northern Ohio, you have to check out the Silica Formation. It’s in the northwest part of the state, and it’s famous for its super-well-preserved fossils. The shale is soft and crumbly, so the fossils just kind of pop out. Easy pickings!

Ice Age Relics: The Big Guys

Okay, so it’s not all ancient sea creatures. We’ve also got some Ice Age fossils hanging around. Think woolly mammoths! When the glaciers came through, they left behind some awesome surprises.

Mastodons and Mammoths: Yep, we’re talking bones, teeth, tusks… the whole shebang i! Finding one of these is a major score. It tells you a lot about what Ohio was like way back when.

More Ice Age Goodies: Giant beavers? Ground sloths? Ohio had them! It’s wild to think about.

So, You Found a Fossil… Now What?

Alright, you’ve been digging around and you think you’ve found something cool. Now what? Don’t worry, you’re not alone!

• Ohio DNR to the Rescue: The Ohio Department of Natural Resources has a whole division dedicated to geology. Check out their website – they’ve got fossil guides and all sorts of helpful stuff i.
• Fossil Park is Your Friend: Head to Fossil Park in Sylvania, Ohio. They literally dump Silica Shale there for people to dig through. It’s awesome!
• Join the Club: There are local fossil clubs where you can meet other enthusiasts and learn from the pros.
• Museum Time: The Cleveland Museum of Natural History and the Orton Geological Museum at Ohio State University are great places to see fossils and get them identified.

So, get out there, get your hands dirty, and see what you can find! Northern Ohio’s got a story to tell, and it’s written in stone (literally!).