Missouri is a great place for fossil hunting, especially for marine fossils. The state spent much of the Paleozoic era submerged in water, and as a result, there are many fossils of ancient marine creatures to be found.
If you are interested in fossil hunting in Missouri, there are a few places where you can go.
The best places are usually state parks and nature preserves. You can also find fossils on private property, but you should always get permission from the landowner before you start digging.
Fossil hunting is a great way to learn about the history of our planet. It is also a fun and rewarding hobby that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. So if you are ever in Missouri, be sure to bring your fossil hunting gear and see what you can find!
Where to Find Fossils in Missouri?
Here are some places where you can find fossils in Missouri:
Finger Lakes State Park in Camden County is a good place to find trilobites, brachiopods, and other marine fossils.
Cosmopolitan Park in St. Louis is another good spot for marine fossils.
Hinkson Creek in Jefferson County is known for its crinoid fossils.
Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center in Cape Girardeau County has a variety of fossils, including shark teeth and dinosaur bones.
These are just a few of the many places where you can find fossils in Missouri. If you are interested in fossil hunting, I recommend doing some research to find the best spots for your interests.
You can also contact the Missouri Department of Natural Resources for more information.
Can You Find Trilobite Fossils in Missouri?
Yes, you can find trilobite fossils in Missouri. Trilobites were a common type of marine creature that lived during the Paleozoic era, which lasted from about 541 to 252 million years ago.
Missouri was covered by a shallow sea during much of the Paleozoic era, so it is a good place to find trilobite fossils.
Some of the best places to find trilobite fossils in Missouri include:
Finger Lakes State Park
Cosmopolitan Park
Hinkson Creek
Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center
Mastodon State Historic Site
If you are interested in finding trilobite fossils in Missouri, I recommend doing some research to find the best spots for your interests.
You can also contact the Missouri Department of Natural Resources for more information.
You may like: Where to Find Fossils in Mississippi?
Dinosaur Fossils Found in Missouri
Only one site in Missouri has ever yielded dinosaur fossils. In 1942, geologist Dan R. Stewart heard of an unusual discovery near Glen Allen, Missouri on a farm belonging to the Chronister family.
They were digging a new well when they stumbled upon a set of large, fossilized bones.
The bones were identified as belonging to a duck-billed dinosaur, and the species was named Parrosaurus missouriensis. Parrosaurus was a relatively small dinosaur, growing to about 35 feet in length. It lived in the Late Cretaceous period, about 75 million years ago.
The Parrosaurus fossils were found in the Ste. Genevieve limestone, which is a marine sedimentary rock.
This suggests that Parrosaurus lived in a coastal environment. The dinosaur’s remains were eventually sold to the Smithsonian Institution, where they are still on display today.
In addition to Parrosaurus, there have been a few other dinosaur fossils found in Missouri.
These include a few teeth that have been tentatively identified as belonging to a tyrannosaurid dinosaur. However, more research is needed to confirm these identifications.
Overall, dinosaur fossils are rare in Missouri. However, the discovery of Parrosaurus is a significant find, and it provides us with a glimpse into the dinosaurs that once roamed the state.
Rare Missouri fossils
Here are some rare Missouri fossils:
Parrosaurus missouriensis: This duck-billed dinosaur is the state dinosaur of Missouri. It was a relatively small dinosaur, growing to about 35 feet in length.
It lived in the Late Cretaceous period, about 75 million years ago.
500-million-year-old worm-like fossil: This fossil was found in western Utah by researchers at the University of Missouri. It is a rare find, and it helps scientists better understand how diverse the Earth’s animals were during the Cambrian explosion.
Palaeoscolecid: This is a rare type of worm-like fossil that was found in Missouri. It lived in the Ordovician period, about 450 million years ago.
Cretaceous shark teeth: Shark teeth are a common find in Missouri, but some of them are quite rare. For example, a few teeth that have been found have been tentatively identified as belonging to a megalodon, which is one of the largest sharks that ever lived.
Fossilized dinosaur eggs: Dinosaur eggs are a very rare find, and only a few have ever been found in Missouri. One of the most notable finds is a nest of dinosaur eggs that was found in the St. Francois Mountains. The eggs are believed to be from a hadrosaurid dinosaur, such as Parrosaurus.
These are just a few of the many rare fossils that have been found in Missouri.
The state’s rich fossil record provides us with a glimpse into the past, and it helps us to better understand the evolution of life on Earth.
Missouri Fossils Laws
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) is responsible for the management and protection of fossils in the state. The following are the main laws governing the collection of fossils in Missouri:
- It is illegal to collect fossils from state parks, state forests, and other state-owned lands without a permit from the MDNR.
- It is illegal to collect fossils from private property without the permission of the landowner.
- It is illegal to sell fossils collected from state-owned lands.
- It is illegal to damage or destroy fossils.
The MDNR has a number of regulations in place to protect fossils in Missouri. These regulations include:
- A minimum size limit for fossils that can be collected.
- A limit on the number of fossils that can be collected in a single day.
- A requirement to report all fossils that are collected to the MDNR.
The MDNR also has a number of educational programs in place to raise awareness of the importance of fossil conservation. These programs include:
- Public fossil digs
- Educational materials for schools
- Online resources
If you are interested in collecting fossils in Missouri, you should contact the MDNR for more information. They can provide you with a copy of the regulations and help you find a legal place to collect fossils.
