St. Paul quarry management informed us that, instead of organized club trips on Fridays, a series of Saturday open collecting opportunities have been initiated. At this time, there are two dates available with more possibly to follow. Those dates are: May 21st and July 16th. Those interested in collecting need to show up at the quarry office between 7:30 am and 8:00 am (Eastern Time) to sign waivers and probably receive on-site training.
This quarry is in the Silurian Waldron Formation composed of shales that can be broken to release fossils. In areas that have weathered longer, the shales often turn into muds with fossil on the surface. Fossils available are corals, brachiopods, sponges, rare nautiloids, and, the most desirable, trilobites and crinoids.
Directions to the quarry: I-74 travelling southeast from Indianapolis and exit at Exit 123 (Love’s Travel Shop with McDonald’s and Subway at SE corner); at first stop sign turn right (west) on Michigan Street; at the next stop sign turn left (south) towards St. Paul and continue through the town, across the RR tracks; continue south on same road (it has several names: County Rd 800, County Line Road, Mound Road) out of town until you see the gravel piles. The office (this is the office, NOT the quarry) is on the right (west) past the first set of piles around the bend in the road.
If the quarry informs us of additional dates, they will be announced on the ESCONI website. Good Luck!
