Leslie Massey
Fossils are an important part of our natural heritage, offering a window into the lives of plants and animals from the past. They are formed in several ways, but most fossils are created when a living organism is quickly buried by sediment, such as mud, sand, or volcanic ash. Soft tissues often decompose, leaving only hard bones and shells, but in rare cases, soft tissues can be exceptionally well-preserved. Fossils are typically found where sedimentary rocks of the right age are exposed, such as river valleys, cliffs, and hillsides. In Australia, fossil sites are prevalent, with notable locations including New South Wales, Victoria, and Western Australia. The process of finding and excavating fossils involves fieldwork, including mapping, photographing, and collecting samples, to preserve the context and enable further understanding of the ancient environment.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| How fossils are formed | Most fossils are formed when a living organism (plant or animal) dies and is quickly buried by sediment (mud, sand, or volcanic ash) |
| Soft tissues often decompose, leaving only hard bones or shells, but in special circumstances, soft tissues can be preserved | |
| How fossils are found | Fossils are mostly found where sedimentary rocks of the right age are exposed, such as river valleys, cliffs, and hillsides |
| Human-made exposures such as quarries and road cuttings are also good places to find fossils | |
| How fossils are excavated | Fossils are uncovered through erosion or excavated by palaeontologists |
| Amateur collectors can collect fossils through fossicking (manual digging only, no major excavation) | |
| Museum palaeontologists are interested in hearing about new fossil sites and accept donations of scientifically significant fossils | |
| Notable fossil sites in Australia | Talbragar in New South Wales contains significant Jurassic terrestrial fossil deposits and is the only Jurassic fish site in the state |
| The Grenfell fossil fauna in New South Wales includes a wide variety of Devonian fishes | |
| The northern Pilbara region has yielded nearly 3.5-billion-year-old stromatolite-like structures that may be the oldest evidence of life on Earth | |
| The Broome Sandstone in Western Australia contains dinosaur trackways | |
| The Tumblagooda Sandstone near Kalbarri has traces and trackways from worms, giant sea scorpions, and possibly early tetrapods, dating back about 400 million years | |
| The invertebrate fossil collection in Western Australia is dominated by molluscs and echinoids from the Cenozoic period | |
| The fossil flora in Western Australia, dating from the mid- to late Eocene epoch (40–35 million years ago), includes palms and mangroves | |
| The first Australian dinosaur fossil described by scientists was a 115-million-year-old theropod claw |
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What You'll Learn
- Fossils are often found by amateur collectors and miners.
- They are usually found in sedimentary rocks, cliffs, and human-made exposures
- Fossils are preserved within rocks until they are uncovered by erosion or excavation
- In New South Wales, fossils can be collected by manual digging and no major excavation
- The Australian Museum accepts donations of scientifically significant fossils
Fossils are often found by amateur collectors and miners.
Fossils are often discovered by amateur collectors and miners. While the majority of fossils found by amateur collectors are of little monetary value, they can be of great scientific importance. In fact, the first Australian dinosaur fossil to be found and described by scientists was discovered by amateur collectors—a 115-million-year-old theropod claw.
Miners digging for opals in Lightning Ridge, New South Wales, have also uncovered many fossils. In Western Australia, the most prolific fossil floras recorded are from the mid- to late Eocene age (40–35 million years ago) and were found in palaeodrainage channels on the Yilgarn Craton. The northern Pilbara region has yielded some of the oldest evidence of life on Earth in the form of stromatolite-like structures that are nearly 3.5 billion years old.
Fossils are typically found where sedimentary rocks of the right age are exposed, such as in river valleys, cliffs, and hillsides, as well as human-made exposures like quarries and road cuttings. Erosion plays a key role in exposing fossils at the surface. For example, rock-falls from cliffs can be a good place to find fossils, although recent rock-falls should be avoided for safety reasons. Splitting boulders of grey shales in old rock-falls is often the best way to find good specimens.
In New South Wales, fossil collection is permitted through fossicking, which involves manual digging without major excavation. Shale quarries near Sydney have produced well-preserved amphibian, fish, invertebrate, and plant fossils.
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They are usually found in sedimentary rocks, cliffs, and human-made exposures
Fossils are usually found in sedimentary rocks, cliffs, and human-made exposures. Sedimentary rocks are formed when sediment, such as sand, plant debris, or ash, becomes compressed into rock over time. This process, known as fossilisation, involves the replacement of organic material with minerals, turning remains into "rock". Fossils found in sedimentary rocks provide valuable insights into the history of life on Earth, allowing us to trace the evolution of plants and animals over millions of years.
Sedimentary rocks, such as sandstone, shale, limestone, and coal, often contain fossils due to their porous nature, which allows for the infiltration of mineral-rich fluids that initiate the fossilisation process. The age of the sedimentary rocks is crucial, as it determines the likelihood of finding fossils. For example, the Mesozoic era is particularly significant for dinosaur fossils.
Cliffs and rock falls are another common location for fossil discovery. Splitting boulders of grey shales in old rock falls is often a productive method for finding fossils. However, it is important to prioritise safety when exploring cliffs, as recent rock falls can be dangerous due to the risk of further collapses. Coastal exposures, such as those along the Sydney Basin near Wollongong, Newcastle, and Lithgow, also offer abundant fossil sites, but caution must be exercised due to falling rocks and rough seas.
Human-made exposures, such as quarries and road cuttings, provide additional opportunities for fossil discovery. These sites often expose sedimentary rocks of the right age, increasing the chances of finding fossils. Amateur collectors and professionals alike can contribute to significant discoveries in these locations.
The process of finding and excavating fossils requires a combination of hard work, chance, and knowledge of geological contexts. Fieldwork involves partially uncovering fossils, removing them individually or in blocks, and taking them to laboratories for further analysis. The context of the fossils is also preserved through mapping, photography, and rock sample collection, aiding in the reconstruction of ancient environments and ecosystems.
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Fossils are preserved within rocks until they are uncovered by erosion or excavation
Fossils are typically discovered in areas where sedimentary rocks of the correct age are exposed, such as river valleys, cliffs, and hillsides. Human-made exposures, such as quarries and road cuttings, can also yield fossils. The process of fossilisation usually begins when a living organism, such as a plant or animal, dies and is swiftly buried by sediment like mud, sand, or volcanic ash. Soft tissues often decompose, leaving only hard bones or shells, though in rare cases, soft tissues can also be preserved.
The Australian Museum, for example, has a collection of fossils from Western Australia, including the northern Pilbara region, which has yielded some of the oldest evidence of life on Earth in the form of stromatolite-like structures around 3.5 billion years old. The invertebrate fossil collection from this region predominantly consists of molluscs (e.g. clams) and echinoids (e.g. sea urchins) from the Cenozoic period.
Another significant fossil site in Australia is Talbragar, which contains one of the most significant Jurassic terrestrial fossil deposits in the country. It is the only Jurassic fish site found in New South Wales. Near Sydney, fossil plant specimens have been found in Triassic shale exposures, particularly northwards from Turimetta Head. Shale quarries in this area have yielded well-preserved amphibian, fish, invertebrate, and plant fossils.
Fossils are often discovered by amateur collectors, and while they may have little monetary value, they can be scientifically important. The Australian Museum accepts donations of scientifically significant fossils. In New South Wales, fossils can be collected through fossicking, which involves manual digging without major excavation.
Once fossils are found, they are carefully removed from the rock to be preserved for study. This process involves cleaning and stabilising the fossils to prevent further deterioration.
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In New South Wales, fossils can be collected by manual digging and no major excavation
Fossils are formed in many different ways, but most are formed when a living organism (a plant or animal) dies and is quickly buried by sediment such as mud, sand, or volcanic ash. Soft tissues often decompose, leaving only the hard bones or shells behind. However, in special circumstances, the soft tissues of organisms can be preserved. For instance, when the entire organism becomes rapidly encased in material such as ice, volcanic ash, or buried in peat bogs, or trapped in amber.
In New South Wales, there is no legislation specifically dealing with the collection of fossils. Fossils may be collected by manual digging only and no major excavation as defined in the New South Wales Mining Act. Fossil collecting is prohibited in national parks or other areas that have been declared as reserves for the preservation of fossils. Fossils cannot be collected from private land unless permission has been granted by the owner of the land. Fossils can be collected on crown land by means of manual digging and the finder is entitled to keep the specimens collected. On crown land leases, permission from the lessee is required. On other public land such as road reserves and council-owned land, permission from the relevant authority should be obtained before the removal of any fossil material. Collection on mining leases, including surface collecting on opal mining claims, can only be carried out with the permission of the owner of the lease or claim.
The Australian Museum does not confiscate fossils, and they are the property of the collector. However, the museum accepts donations of fossils that are scientifically significant. While most fossils found by amateur collectors are worth very little in monetary terms, they may be important scientifically. The scientific value can only be determined by palaeontologists at museums or universities.
Some well-known fossil sites in New South Wales include the Grenfell fossil fauna, which includes a wide variety of fish, and the Talbragar site, which contains one of the most significant Jurassic terrestrial fossil deposits in Australia.
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The Australian Museum accepts donations of scientifically significant fossils
Fossils are an important part of our natural heritage. They are formed in many different ways, but most are formed when a living organism, such as a plant or animal, dies and is quickly buried by sediment such as mud, sand, or volcanic ash. Soft tissues often decompose, leaving only the hard bones or shells behind. However, in special circumstances, the soft tissues of organisms can be preserved. For example, when the entire organism becomes rapidly encased in material such as ice, volcanic ash, or peat bogs, or trapped in amber.
Fossils can be found and excavated in various locations, including river valleys, cliffs, hillsides, and human-made exposures such as quarries and road cuttings. Rock falls from cliffs are usually a good place to look, but recent rock falls should be avoided for safety reasons. Each fossil site is different and requires adaptable and creative excavation techniques.
Once a fossil is found, it is usually only partially uncovered on-site and must be removed individually or in blocks. Fossils are often protected by plaster jackets before being transported back to a laboratory for further study. Fieldwork includes preserving the context of the fossils through mapping, photographing, recording, and collecting rock samples. This helps determine how and when the remains were buried and what other animals and plants coexisted with the fossilized organism.
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Frequently asked questions
Fossils are formed when a living organism, such as a plant or animal, dies and is quickly buried by sediment, like mud, sand, or volcanic ash. Soft tissues often decompose, leaving only hard bones and shells. More sediment builds up over time and eventually, all the layers harden into rock.
Fossils are typically found where sedimentary rocks of the right age are exposed, such as river valleys, cliffs, and hillsides. Human-made exposures like quarries and road cuttings can also be good places to look. Rock falls from cliffs are usually the best places to look, but recent rock falls should be avoided for safety reasons.
The Talbragar fossil site in New South Wales contains one of the most significant Jurassic terrestrial fossil deposits in Australia. The Riversleigh site has also altered our understanding of Australia's mid-Cainozoic vertebrate diversity. The Victoria Fossil Cave at Naracoorte contains Australia's largest and best-preserved Pleistocene fossil vertebrate deposits.
Many fossils are found accidentally by bushwalkers, construction workers, miners, and farmers. For example, miners digging for opals found fossils from Lightning Ridge, New South Wales. The first Australian dinosaur fossil, a 115-million-year-old theropod claw, was discovered by geologist William Ferguson in 1903 at Cape Paterson, Victoria.
Fossils collected legally in New South Wales are the property of the collector. While most fossils found by amateur collectors may not have high monetary value, they can be very important scientifically. If you find a fossil, you can contact the Australian Museum or a university to determine its scientific value. You can also sell or trade fossils you find as long as it is done as a hobby and not for profit.
