Any Illinois fossil hunters?

[Johnny X]

Anyone here hunt in Illinois? I’m just north of St. Louis. Just curious if some good spots. And can we find ammonites in Illinois?

 

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[ToddsPoint]

I've found fossils at the Shelbyville Reservoir. You have to catch it when the water is lowered. Usually February until we get spring rains and it fills back up. Rocky shoreline...you have to look hard. Find a few. Also, there is a modern working rock quarry near Charleston that has lots of crinoids. You used to be able to go in there on Sat. and pay a small amount and get all the crinoids you want. I don't know if they still let people in or not. It's been years since I went there.

I've seen trilobites from IL but never an ammonite. Maybe somewhere but not where I hunt.
Gary

 

[whistler84]

If you can make a weekend out of it, here in southern illinois foot hills, there are quite a variety of fossils around. Bell Smith springs area is a fun place to start

 

[Siwash]

Try Oglesby IL for brachiopods and crinoids. There has been a desultory start to creating a fossil park from a portion of a quarry.

 

[Siwash]

and of course the world-famous Mazon Creek area fossils, in Will and Grundy counties.

 

[Siwash]

It's funny you meniton ammonites. I ran into a very large ammonoid, perhaps 75 pounds, over the weekend. Too big to haul off, too big really to have opened up nicely.

 

[Siwash]

I've found fossils at the Shelbyville Reservoir. You have to catch it when the water is lowered. Usually February until we get spring rains and it fills back up. Rocky shoreline...you have to look hard. Find a few. Also, there is a modern working rock quarry near Charleston that has lots of crinoids. You used to be able to go in there on Sat. and pay a small amount and get all the crinoids you want. I don't know if they still let people in or not. It's been years since I went there.

I've seen trilobites from IL but never an ammonite. Maybe somewhere but not where I hunt.
Gary

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We once tried to find trilobites up near Lemont, IL, but found diddly. Whereabouts did you find yours?

 

[ToddsPoint]

We once tried to find trilobites up near Lemont, IL, but found diddly. Whereabouts did you find yours?

Southern IL, Union County, in a creek just south of Alto Pass. Gary

 

[jcunn3]

I live in Springfield and find some decent stuff on the Sangamon River (mostly corals).

Planning a trip to Mazon Creek this spring when it opens and I had success down near Anna, IL in the rock cuts!