Just visit: Pa Prospector's Rock, Gem, and Fossil Book Favorites Books and magazines are better than a lump of Pennsylvania coal in your stockings this year! They make the perfect gift (other than a rock) for the collector on your list, or even for yourself.

Lockatong Formation rare specimen

Looking for publications by the late Wilhelm Bock

Mid-Atlantic Fossil and Nature Adventures
Cathy Young, Director
236 Valley View Lane – Berwyn, PA – 19312 - 610-209-0758
Cathy@fossilandnaturetrips.com
www.fossilandnaturetrips.com


Signed up for E mail

Just received a copy of a new fossil book out there. "North America through time" by Lynne M. Clos. Go to www.fossilnews.com Hard back 8"x10", $35.00 autographed to you. The book is written for the non- degreed fossil hunter. Reletively easy to read. Takes you from pre-cambrian to present day. Each chapter addressing a period of time, what was the environment like, what life forms were here, where one can find those fossils etc. Each chapter has an artists rendition of what the environment looked like, and a map of what shape north america had taken at that period.
I ordered the book, autographed, on Saturday afternoon and had it in my hand Monday morning. I'll give you her phone number, 303-499-5337. A really great, basic book.

This just in from a PA Prospector member (thanks Paul!):

For a limited time the Geological Society of America is pleased to offer you free access to sample issues of GSA Bulletin and Geosphere (through the <http://www.geoscienceworld.org/>; GeoScienceWorld Web site).

Click on the links below to enjoy a complete issue online of these two authoritative GSA earth-science journals—known and respected worldwide.
GSA <http://bulletin.geoscienceworld.org/subscriptions/sample.dtl>; Bulletin
Geosphere <http://geosphere.geoscienceworld.org/subscriptions/sample.dtl>;

While you are on the site, look around and discover everything that GeoScienceWorld has to offer. If you like what you see, recommend a GeoScienceWorld subscription to your institutional librarian.

If you would like to receive convenient, personal access to one or more valuable GSA journals regularly, click for information on GSA member subscription <http://www.geosociety.org/pubs/jsubs-mbr.htm>; rates .

Best regards,
John Geissman
GSA Publications Committee Chair
University of New Mexico

The Philadelphia Geological Society presents

Dr. Ted Daeschler
Academy of Natural Sciences

“Tiktaalik: This Fish Evolved for Walking”
The Link Between Ancient Fishes and the Earliest Limbed Animals

WHEN: Thursday, May 15, 2008
7:00 p.m.
WHERE: Bryn Mawr College, Benham Gateway Conference Room
CONTACT: Benjamin Greeley, 215-272-3373, president@philageo.org

Check our website http://www.philageo.org
***Keep reading for Directions***

At the recent Hellertown show Joshua Sloane had some samples of Chrome Pyroxene from mineral Hill (Media, PA). I have some of this material but was taught that is is actinolite. the Manual of Mineralogy (Klien and Hurlbut) points out that amphiboles and pyroxene groups are very complex silicates and some species can be derived from the opposite group. Plus, there isn't a single element that distiguishes the two groups. So how can one determine precisly what these mineral hill specimens are? And yes, in a perfect actinolite sample the crystals would be large and radiating but the material from mineral hill is weak in this characteristic.

New to the site I've always been interested in looking for fossils but haven't. Purchased all the equipment to search and never got to go. My daughter (11yrs) and I took a vacation to search for gems in NC and we were very successful. I want to keep her interest of the rocks a fossils going. I noticed people are heading to a few places near me, the Phoenixville area. I would like to take her somewhere that she can easily find fossils so she will not be discouraged easily. What to look for to find fossils or site locations would be appreciated. Thanks in advanced.

I have been away from collecting since my high school days and decided to get back into the hobby. I got the idea from a trip to Colorado and a visit to the Museum of Natural History. I had forgotten how amazing the mineral world could be and they certainly have a 1st rate collection. Especially the huge display vug of rhodocrosite xls. from the Sweet Home mine.
After rejoining a local club, I have been exploring the locations in the Berks/Lehigh county area of PA.
Prior to starting to collect again, I have always been aware of the various pits that are part of the landscape of my part of Berks county. Occasionally when gardening, I would find a small piece of Limonite or Goethite. Since my radar was now turned to minerals, I decided to investigate a rather large mound that was overground and adjacent to my neighbors property. As luck would have it, I found that it was a large tailing pile comprised of various bits of chert, quartzite, orchre, limonite and other associated minerals. After talking to the owner of the local hardware store, I found out about a possiblity of a foundry along the railroad tracks near the center of town. After some internet searching I discovered that it was the Topton foundry which operated from the late 1800's until about 1933. I decided to investigate the area to see if I could find a place where the raw material was intially dumped. I really didn't have much success, but the entire 1/8 mile square area is covered with slag. The history of the foundry suggested a rather large operation, so I was curious where did the iron ore come from. After checking some old geological survey books, I discovered that this portion of Berks county is listed as part of the Rittenhouse Gap group of more then 100 mines. According to an article written in 1981 there were a group of major "cuts" that existed in the short stretch between Oreville and Klines Corner in the northern part of Longswamp Township along the Maxatawny border. This is the area that I have been exploring over the winter months. Had this been more towards the area of Berks county where the Jones and Grace mines were, I probably could have spent my entire career collecting the more exciting iron ore in the form of magnetite and associated minerals. As it stands now, I have only been finding the low grade iron minerals, which have not been very exciting. I did find my first small limonite "bomb" yesterday, so perhaps I just need to keep looking. I know that a similar mine near Fleetwood collectors have been finding a more colorful group of iron minerals such as Criptomolene. Aside from the iron ore, my area of Berks county also produced large amounts of orchre/umber, kaoline and white clay.