This is Mazon Monday post #34. What's your favorite Mazon Creek fossil? Tell us at email:[email protected].
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The Mazon Creek fossil deposits consists of numerous different localities. These localities are the Mazon River, which has been collected since at least the 1850's (and probably earlier) to the shaft mines, which date to the late 1800's and early 1900's (Braceville is an example) to the strip mines, which began around 1910. Unfortunately, many of these localities are no longer accessible. They have been recovered for houses, golf courses, or just due to being private property.
For today, we have an article about Pit 14 from the September-October 1972 edition of Earth Science magazine. Unlike its massive sister, there isn't much information on Pit 14. It was known for black shale and not many concretions. Back in the Pennsylvanian Period, it would have been farther offshore and is considered part of the Essex biota.
Here s a map of the various strip mines. Notice Pit 14. It's southwest of Pit 11 and pretty small. It is currently private property.
Here is a satellite picture from google maps.
Here is the article.
