Man Shows Off Awesome Fossil Collection

kalila courban

Dec 13, 2021 12:00 PM EST

When it comes to nature, there are so many things left undiscovered. Studying and collecting fossils allows us to gain a sneak peek into what the world once looked like! Every other week, we hear about a new species being found, an old extinct animal coming back into the world, things are changing all the time.

There are always more facts to learn about the animal world. And today, you're about to learn about one of nature's mysteries. Imgur user StepUpRight showed off his extensive fossil collection and credits his new found freedom throughout isolation as the source of his cool new hobby!

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01

via StepRightUp

"Variety of Cretaceous sharks' teeth, fossilized coral, fossilized fish vertebrae, other vertbrate teeth, bits of glass & possibly a mosasaur tooth fragment all found in one creek (on one day) in North Texas. Hanging out for the day along in the creek, sifting the matrix (pebbles and sand) searching for these finds was 1000% what kept me sane during the 2020 lockdown."
02

via StepRightUp

"Larger view of same tray."
03

via StepRightUp

"My *very first* Texan shark tooth find. Old hunter who taught me the hunting technique went green with envy when I unearthed this beauty. Forgot the banana for scale, but it's about the size of a 50-cent piece (the coin, not the rapper).
04

via StepRightUp

These fossilized shells are everywhere in the creek, the kids call them "mermaid dollars." I'm hoping to try some jewelry making techniques on them, like cutting discs from them to make "beads" in a Native American style perhaps. So common, I won't cry if I destroy one at least.
05

via StepRightUp
06

via StepRightUp

"Gorgeous piece of fossilized palm, wetted but otherwise untreated— shown right as it came from the creek. Really keen to try tumble polishing some of this stuff, it's really pretty!"
07

via StepRightUp
08

via StepRightUp

"I think these were mostly the "reject pile," i.e., not fossils, though I think there's a few pieces of petrified palm in there too. Some gypsum, some pretty cherts & flints, some red shale pieces that had faint or partial ammonite traces in them too"
09

via StepRightUp
10

via StepRightUp

"Ahhhh ... my happy place! Can can sit here on these banks alone for hours, happily picking through the sand and mud for interesting bits and bobs while the water babbles beside me, the tree frogs & toad chorus serenade me from the banks and overhead blue jays, cardinals and other feathered observers twitter & comment on my every move. Sheer bliss!"
11

via StepRightUp
12

via StepRightUp

"Obligatory cat tax: Loki just woken & ready for mischief (I must go! My Glorious Purpose awaits!)"
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