Ammonites in South Dakota

[StephLeigh]

I have recently been on the lookout for some ammonites. I have read they are numerous around here (South Dakota) in the Fox Hills formation. I have come across some trace stuff, but nothing like I am seeing online. I have heard something about them being in "mud balls". I have been looking East of The Cheyenne, near Indian Creek. Can anyone give me any tips, or point me in the right direction. I have found bits of baculites, bivalves and some fan and horn coral. Thanks for any help!

 

[IAMZIM]

I would say if you are finding baculites, you might be in the right spot to find an ammonite. Baculites are very simular animals, they just had a straight shell rather than a snail shaped one. I have a small ammonite collection, and I'm hoping to go to eastern Montana to try and find some meekie's to go in my meager collection! Hope you find some nice ones! Post them if you do, I would love to see them!

 

[Inyo]

I have a small ammonite collection, and I'm hoping to go to eastern Montana to try and find some meekie's to go in my meager collection!

Second time here at TreasureNet Fossils I've seen you use that word "meekies" to describe a particular type of ammonite. Last year, in a thread over at http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/fossils/471684-another-deadmans-cove-fossil.html , you also used the same word to describe a kind of ammonite you hoped to find in eastern Montana.

I just gotta know: What's a "meekie"?

Closest specific cephalopodic fossil I can think of is Meekoceras, an ammonoid (ammonites, proper, of course belong solely to the Ammonitic suture-type cephalopods that lived during the Jurassic and Cretaceous Periods; Meekoceras was of the Ceratitic suture pattern and therefore must necessarily be called an ammonoid) exclusive to the early Triassic Period. If Meekoceras is indeed what you're referring to, you'd actually have a much better chance looking in southwestern Montana, rather than eastern Montana. And, specifically, you'd want to concentrate on exposures of the world famous ammonoid-bearing lower Triassic Thaynes Formation, which is also exposed in sporadic dramatically fossiliferous outcroppings in southeastern Idaho, northwestern Wyoming, northeastern Nevada, western Utah, and eastern California.

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[IAMZIM]

Second time here at TreasureNet Fossils I've seen you use that word "meekies" to describe a particular type of ammonite. Last year, in a thread over at http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/fossils/471684-another-deadmans-cove-fossil.html , you also used the same word to describe a kind of ammonite you hoped to find in eastern Montana.

I just gotta know: What's a "meekie"?

Closest specific cephalopodic fossil I can think of is Meekoceras, an ammonoid (ammonites, proper, of course belong solely to the Ammonitic suture-type cephalopods that lived during the Jurassic and Cretaceous Periods; Meekoceras was of the Ceratitic suture pattern and therefore must necessarily be called an ammonoid) exclusive to the early Triassic Period. If Meekoceras is indeed what you're referring to, you'd actually have a much better chance looking in southwestern Montana, rather than eastern Montana. And, specifically, you'd want to concentrate on exposures of the world famous ammonoid-bearing lower Triassic Thaynes Formation, which is also exposed in sporadic dramatically fossiliferous outcroppings in southeastern Idaho, northwestern Wyoming, northeastern Nevada, western Utah, and eastern California.

Links To All Of My Fossils-Related Web Sites On The Net

Thank you for the info Inyo! I am only a recreational collector and although I do have books and a few fossil guides, I am most definitely an amateur fossil hunter! A meekie, or what I mean by a meekie is a Placenticeras Meeki. The area that I have seen them come from is near Yellowtail resservoir in eastern Montana. I have been told by some friends that they have found them as big as three foot across. I highly doubt I would find one that big! I'm not even sure I could find one at all, but I have found others, so, maybe!! haha! I believe they can be found in the Bearpaw shale, at least that is what I have been told! Sorry if it sounds like I am uneducated on fossils, I am! but I read books, and have a small collection from my childhood up until now! As far as finding ammonites in Southwestern Montana, where I am located, I have not found any. Only bivalves and coral, and a few fish and insect fossils. But I will definitely check out the info you posted! Thanks!

 

[Inyo]

A meekie, or what I mean by a meekie is a Placenticeras Meeki.

Thanks a huge bunch, indeed!

Sorry if it sounds like I am uneducated on fossils, I am! but I read books, and have a small collection from my childhood up until now!

You sound very well informed about fossils, as a matter of fact. Great that you have such an abiding interest in paleontology. Keep up the good work.

 

[StephLeighC]

some of my finds from the last trip out. I can't wait to find a nice full ammonite

 

[Inyo]

I have recently been on the lookout for some ammonites. I have read they are numerous around here (South Dakota) in the Fox Hills formation. I have come across some trace stuff, but nothing like I am seeing online. I have heard something about them being in "mud balls". I have been looking East of The Cheyenne, near Indian Creek. Can anyone give me any tips, or point me in the right direction. I have found bits of baculites, bivalves and some fan and horn coral. Thanks for any help!

You're quite correct about the upper Cretaceous Fox Hills Formation and its justifiably famous ammonites. Some exceptional preservations there, indeed. If I'm not mistaken, the upper Cretaceous Pierre Shale also contains some prized cephalopods.

Anyhow, recently I ran across a pdf document, entitled Biostratigrapy of the Type Fox Hills Formation, South Dakota by Karl M. Waage of Yale University. Looks like its a rather older paper (1968 or '69) but if you can wade through the text you should be able to find some useful locality information; it's not overly difficult reading, mind you--there's just a heck of a lot of words between substantive fossil locality data. Looks like certain areas bordering highway 63, for example, are particularly promising for Fox Hills paleontology. A "Principal Reference Section" description of Fox Hills Formation exposures east of highway 63 begins on page 139, as a matter of fact.

Best of luck with your hunt.

 

[austin]

If one exists, grab a geological map of South Dakota. You know the formation, find and explore it. There may be other areas of Fox Hills...

 

[goodie hunter]

I have recently been on the lookout for some ammonites. I have read they are numerous around here (South Dakota) in the Fox Hills formation. I have come across some trace stuff, but nothing like I am seeing online. I have heard something about them being in "mud balls". I have been looking East of The Cheyenne, near Indian Creek. Can anyone give me any tips, or point me in the right direction. I have found bits of baculites, bivalves and some fan and horn coral. Thanks for any help!

StephLeigh, have you checked in the creek at Indian Creek? The hunter have been walking in the water and reaching down to find them. Several good pieces have come out of there. The water in most of the creek is only 6 - 12" deep, but too muddy to see the bottom.

 

[Jason in Enid]

If one exists, grab a geological map of South Dakota. You know the formation, find and explore it. There may be other areas of Fox Hills...

The problem is the legal aspect. Most of the land in question is either A: private, B: Native, or C: Govt owned. You can't hunt on any of them without permission. Much of the gov't land is actually illegal to collect from, and good luck getting permission from a tribe to collect.

 

[goodie hunter]

Jason, is your comment in reference Indian Creek land. Just wondering.

 

[Jason in Enid]

Jason, is your comment in reference Indian Creek land. Just wondering.

the whole area. Fossil hunting has become big business and land owners know it ever since the whole "sue" incident.

 

[goodie hunter]

The Indian Creek area is on National Grasslands. It is acceptable to rock and fossil hunt as long as the fossil does not have a backbone. Picking up ammonites and bacculites are totally within the law.

 

[Jason in Enid]

The Indian Creek area is on National Grasslands. It is acceptable to rock and fossil hunt as long as the fossil does not have a backbone. Picking up ammonites and bacculites are totally within the law.

Oops, you are correct. My mistake! I tend to think in terms of vert collecting, and did lump all fossil collection into that category.

 

[goodie hunter]

I used to lump them too Jason, until I started reading up on fossils. Hard to tell how many nice specimens I could have owned, but left them thinking I was in the wrong.

 

[StephLeigh]

Still on the hunt for a nice Ammonite, I came across a few nice mollusks on my last hunt. South Dakota, I think Fox Hills formation. I'd love some ID help
Happy Holidays. I had one other find... not sure if it's a modern bone. I will post for ID help