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How to Hunt for Fossils in Illinois

Hunting for fossils can be a lot of fun. The best hunting for these preserved remains of long-dead organisms is in areas with exposed sedimentary rock, such as limestone, shale and sandstone. You can get a permit from the Illinois Department of Transportation to collect fossils from the shale banks near Mount Pleasant or ask for permission to hunt in the Alton Quarry. Another fossil hunting option is the Mazon Creek area in northeastern Illinois. The really adventurous should take a boat to explore the islands in this area for shrimp, worm and fern fossils.

Things You'll Need

rock hammer
large chisels
small chisels
trowel
spade
magnifying lens
old newspapers
labels
pen
notepad

Instructions

- 1
  Determine your fossil hunting location and research the area well. Some areas have larger concentrations than others. Read about the types of fossils that you're most likely to find in the area of Illinois you've chosen. Or, visit a local natural history museum to view examples of fossils found nearby. Discover how to spot a fossil and the techniques you will need to use to extract them.
- 2
  Assemble the equipment needed, which includes maps, large and small chisels, rock hammer, trowel, magnifying lens, pen and notebook, old newspapers and labels. You should also carry protective eye-wear and a camera. Practice hammering or chiseling different types of rock so that you get a feel for the process before you begin hunting for fossils. Different types of rock will break apart differently.
- 3
  Look for areas of exposed sedimentary rock at your location and mark off the area you plan to search. Carefully inspect each section of this designated area. The oldest fossils are found on the lower layers of exposed rock. Use your magnifying lens to identify fossils.
- 4
  Use the right equipment to remove your find without damaging the fossil. Use a hammer and chisel to remove the fossil from the surrounding rock or, if located in soft sediment, use a spade or a trowel. Make sure that you protect your eyes with protective eye-wear when chiseling or hammering rock. Some locations forbid the removal of fossils, and a photograph may be your only claim to this discovery.
- 5
  Scan the neighboring area for fossils that may have weathered out of the rock. You'll find these in loose rocks at the bottom of a rock face or exposed along the rock surface. Illinois riverbanks, road or railroad cuts and headlands are a good place to look for these weathered-out fossils.
- 6
  Wrap your finds in old newspapers to protect them, and record field notes that include the location and type of rock this fossil was found in. Label your specimens to prevent mix-ups. Prepare and clean your fossils at home. Use books and online research methods to assist you in identifying your finds. (see Reference 4)

Other Collecting