Hobbies And Interests
Things You'll Need
Instructions
Collecting Fossils in California
Check resources at your local library, at a bookstore or on the Internet to help locate sites in California that are known to be good places to find fossils.
Make sure you have the proper gear to work outdoors. Wear durable shoes that are water-resistant if you plan on working near water. Carry a backpack that is large enough to carry the tools you will need. Pack an extra set of clothes.
Fossils can be identified by certain shapes or designs that will be evident on rocks that you find. Keep an eye out for shapes such as spider webs, insects, shells, scales, leaves and honeycomb patterns. Also look for tubes, ovals with holes at their centers and star-shaped objects. Awareness is the key. You will literally not want to leave any stone unturned.
Use a chisel to remove fossils you find from the dirt around them. Work carefully so you do as little damage as possible to the fossil and the area surrounding it. Restore the spot where you were working when you're done by replacing displaced dirt, rocks and grass.
Carefully place your fossils in protective contains so they won't be damaged during the trip home.
If you find something that you believe to be exceptional, have it examined by a professional from a museum or educational institution. Be aware that some of the most significant fossil finds in history have been by hobbyists.