Fossil hunting in RI

Submitted by GoodJibblyWibbly t3_10rpcnz in providence

Howdy folks, I moved to Providence last year and have been searching for places to hunt for fossils. I used to live in Tennessee and the government had a neat little info sheet about places in Nashville to hunt for fossils if you’re an amateur like myself.

I was wondering if anyone had any good leads, or if they knew of a sheet like this created by local enthusiasts or the government?

Thanks!

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Comments

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Proof-Variation7005 t1_j6xebqj wrote

try twin oaks or greggs around 4-7pm or sports tap at 9am on a saturday morning

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boop-snoot-boogie t1_j6xvvzg wrote

They used to have fossils at Benny’s but not no more - now you gotta go to Job Lot

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Affectionate-While71 t1_j7035i9 wrote

The only consistent place I’ve found fossils is in shale cliffs at end of Cory Lane in Portsmouth. At the water, head right for a few hundred feet at low tide and plenty of Carboniferous fern fossils in the layers.

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LittleSilverStars t1_j76ntgz wrote

I tried once but didn’t find anything. Do you need tools to break open the layers?

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Affectionate-While71 t1_j76zjzs wrote

The particular cliff is about 8 feet high and only a few seams have fossils. I recall a layer about 4 foot level. It’s crumbly so fingers only can help tell whether it’s worth exploring. I do use a thin putty knife to carefully pry out layers. But I also enjoy just beach combing the area for shards that have already eroded away.

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LittleSilverStars t1_j77edtq wrote

Cool thanks I’ll have to try again more thoroughly. Beach combing slightly south is very good for seaglass btw, where the beach curves out next to the shipyard.

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dvestisorok240 t1_j6xjuqo wrote

This sounds so cool! I’d love to join

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RandomChurn t1_j71eqto wrote

There is a RI Rock & Mineral Society. They could be a resource?

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LittleSilverStars t1_j76ot2i wrote

I have found them in random spots along the eastern shore of the providence river, Including Bold Point Park, the beach below Sabin Point, and a particular little cove next to the east bay bike path. I don’t have any equipment, I just spend a lot of time picking through rocks. Mostly seed ferns, a couple other similar plant impressions, and one calamite annularia is what i’ve found.

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