Fossils for Kids: An Introduction to Paleontology (Simple Introductions to Science) - Tapa blanda

Acerca del autor

Dan R. Lynch has a degree in graphic design with emphasis on photography from the University of Minnesota Duluth. But before his love of art and writing came a passion for rocks and minerals, developed during his lifetime growing up in his parents’ rock shop in Two Harbors, Minnesota. Combining the two aspects of his life seemed a natural choice, and he enjoys researching, writing about, and taking photographs of rocks and minerals. Working with his father, Bob Lynch, a respected veteran of Lake Superior’s agate-collecting community, Dan spearheads their series of rock and mineral field guides―definitive guidebooks that help amateurs “decode” the complexities of geology and mineralogy. He also takes special care to ensure that his photographs complement the text and always represent each rock or mineral exactly as it appears in person. He currently lives in Madison, Wisconsin, with his wife, Julie, where he works as a writer and photographer.

Fragmento. © Reproducción autorizada. Todos los derechos reservados.

Collecting Fossils

After learning all about fossils and how they formed, you probably want to try to find some of your own! Some fossils are easy to find because they are common. Others, like dinosaurs, are very rare, and because they are important to science, it’s against the law to collect them yourself.

Once you’ve learned about the kinds of sedimentary rocks that may contain fossils, you can start looking for signs of ancient life in the rocks you pick up! Here are some tips for looking for fossils the safe, smart way.

Can I collect fossils everywhere?

Looking for fossils can be fun, especially if you are finding some cool stuff. But it is important to remember that collecting isn’t allowed everywhere. Many important places are protected by the local, state, or federal government. This includes national parks, many state parks, and Native American reservations. It is illegal, and wrong, to collect rocks and fossils in these places! You also can’t collect anything on private property without getting permission first. Collecting fossils on someone else’s land is against the law.

As a general rule, it’s important to remember that it is illegal to collect vertebrate fossils—animals that have a backbone (a spine), such as reptiles, fish, or mammals. Vertebrate fossils are rare and important to scientists, and we can learn a lot about ancient life from them. If you find a fossil like this, you should leave it where it is! Take a photo, write down its location, and inform a local school, museum, or other authorities.

If you aren’t sure where it’s OK to collect fossils, always ask an adult for help. To find land where you can collect invertebrate fossils legally, check your state’s natural resources agency or department of natural resources. Fossil collecting is allowed on some federal land, but check the Bureau of Land Management (blm.gov) for details. And you can always check with nearby rock shops or fossil clubs, too.

The good news is that fossils of animals like snails, ammonites, trilobites, and coral, as well as those of plants, are usually OK to collect in many places.

How do I stay safe when fossil collecting?

If you plan to go fossil hunting, never go out alone, never leave home without a parent or an adult, and always tell other people where you’re going. Stay safe by following these guidelines:

• Never, ever go out alone. Always ask an adult to come with you.
• Always bring a map, a charged mobile phone, and a GPS system; a mobile phone lets you call for help if you need it.
• Always bring water to drink.
• Never go into rivers, lakes, or oceans; even if the water looks calm, it could be moving very fast.
• Never collect on or near a busy road.
• Never go near cliffs. If you are on top of one, you could fall. If you’re below one, rocks could fall on you.
• If a rock or fossil is out of reach, just leave it! Never do anything risky to get a rock.
• Never go onto private property (this means land that someone else owns). If you see signs that say, “no trespassing,” turn around right away.
• Always wear gloves when digging in rocks, and wash your hands afterward, and don’t touch your face or eyes with dirty hands.
• Always keep an eye out for animals and dangerous plants! This includes everything from snakes and bears to poison ivy and cactus.