A Tour of Texas: Geology and Fossils

I spent nine days driving all over Texas collecting ammonites, shark teeth, and other rocks and fossils.

[@tinastoddard5411]

I love hearing about the formations. Thanks for sharing.

[@dan81359]

You are awesome! Thank you very much for doing this video. You are an amazing wealth of information and knowledge and I greatly appreciate all of your information and commentary. Great job, thank you!!!

[@randyblood8966]

Thank you so much for giving it a watch! I am glad you appreciate all the insight. More to come!

[@dan81359]

@@randyblood8966 Sorry to bug you, but there were some cylindrical-shaped fossils at your last stop in the video. They appeared to me to be some sort of plant life. I don't recall hearing you comment on them. If you know what I'm trying to express, would you please suggest what they may be? Thank you again and I'll leave you alone...

[@randyblood8966]

@@dan81359 Ha, you're not bugging me at all! The big coiled fossils I was going after are ammonites, a type of cephalopod related to modern day squid and octopi. There are also some rather large cylindrical worm burrows that can be found at that spot. Those would be considered a trace fossil as opposed to a body fossil. There may have been a few of those I caught on camera, as I recall seeing some nice examples of them there. I hope that answers your question!

[@jamescowan4020]

Awesome finding your post. I live on Lake Texoma here in Texas and i will tell you, 200 pound Ammonites are here to be found of you can haul them out, massive…

[@PaulHigginbothamSr]

James that is awesome. To think ammonites went extinct when they filled the oceans. Odd right? My guess is a big reason was co2 might have dissolved their shells or something.

[@ashwools9864]

I have a huge ammonite that my great grandpa got while dynamiting mountains to make roads. It’s about 1 1/2 ft wide and heavy

[@EvanJH02]

Holy crap that’s big! Is it whole or a piece?

[@marisolduncan6698]

Awesome!! Love fossil hunting ♥️!! Thank you for sharing!!

[@leedoss6905]

I used to live out in Crane Texas. A fossil heaven.

[@sandrahouston791]

What can be better than being able to mix work with pleasure. Love from a rock/fossil hound.

[@fossilhuntingandcollecting4279]

Wow those are big Ammonites! Thank you for sharing. Cheers, Chris

[@terrisweet4632]

You are living my dream!!!

[@chipwalter4490]

So many different rock landscapes! Thanks for explaining these great fossil locations. Tbh I've only ever seen the UK amonites so it's cool to see them in the USA too!

[@kareno8634]

What a Job and Grand Tour of shares in [it's] your investigative worth. : } Now, i've been to Texas! 21:46 - does this mean 'Everything's Big in Texas' started Way Back When? lol I (would) have missed a life of adventure. Thanks so much!

[@ndoghouse6853]

I found most of those fossils throughout my trekking. I found an Inocerimous unduloplicatus in west Texas near Big Bend that was almost six feet across. I was with a geo team from Lamar University but my professor wouldnt let me take it home. It took three or four of us to put it in the back of the truck. My professor was afraid it was too much weight to drive back and he was prolly right. Sure would have made a good dinner table. I also collected some of the dwarf pyritized fauna near Waco (Brownwood?) but there was no limit back in them days. Lots of cool stuff around Texas.

[@randyblood8966]

My understanding is that the Waco sight is now completely closed to collecting too. Its a shame, it was a good spot. But I know a few other exposures have been located. a 6-foot inoceramid would indeed make an awesome dinner table!

[@DragonHeartTree]

Absolutely fascinating video. Wish you’d talk more about the rocks, too!

[@randyblood8966]

You'll like this next one coming out then!

[@mariehendry6563]

Great video. Very informative.

[@randyblood8966]

Thanks so much!

[@sandramartin5155]

Again everything’s big in Texas!

[@soul_adventurist]

Nice! Thanks for showing me that Texas is actually an interesting place!

[@LanceHall]

Great video.

[@randyblood8966]

Thank you!

[@catherinerittenhouse1683]

My 16 year old daughter wants to become a geologist in Texas.... I'll have to show her your videos

[@ken2tou]

That’s a great ammonite sample! Congrats!

[@neverdiesmetalworky]

Hi Randy, I'm from the Midwest and I was wondering if you could help me find where exactly on Lake Texoma you found the big ammonites? I am planning a trip with my family and would love to impress them with some awesome fossils! Thanks for taking the time to read this and hope to hear from you!

[@WesselsReaper]

Hey there! Not exactly sure where he is, but it looks very similar to the southeast part of the lake, West of the dam

[@sherikee1]

ty for sharing be safe

[@mdwdirect]

Next time you are in Texas I’d love to meet up and I’ll show you my favorite fossil spots. I have a pile of ammonites in the driveway-I find so many I don’t have room to store them.

[@randyblood8966]

Wow, that's incredibly generous of you! I'll let you know when I'm planning another trip that way. Soon I hope!

[@martha4829]

I have some rad Texas fossils, found in chert. Like those but crystallized silicate 🧚🏻‍♀️

[@indescribable3865]

Please tell me where I can find ammonites!

[@misha3872]

Cool stuff, I love that Finnis Shale material

[@randyblood8966]

I could pick through that stuff for days and days!

[@LanceHall]

Me and another guy were the original people that pitched the idea of the Mineral Wells fossil park to city officials. I have some alternate localities that have not been cleaned out yet.

[@kryptofly]

Late to the party here, but those very small ammonites, the dark ones, are popular in jewelry making. Rings and pendants for example. Might be worth collecting the more perfect ones to sell on Ebay. Jewelry makers would buy them, and might put a little more cash in your pocket. Easy to mail too. Just a thought….

[@henryschannel363]

Awesome video, I'll have to start learning some of the names and terms you're using.

[@rshutterbug47]

That Was Incredible & Are Frist Time To Watch You ,Great Job & We Will Be Watching For More To Come & We're Only About 21/2 hrs From Texoma & About 11/2 From Waco, So We A will Go & Check Them Out For Sure Thanks & Happy Picking

[@randyblood8966]

So glad you enjoyed the video!

[@katesansom3841]

Those “oysters” you found in Austin aren’t oysters, they’re called gryphea or “devil’s toenails”. In north Texas we get even bigger ones.

[@randyblood8966]

Oyster is just a common name for these types of mollusks much in the same way "devil's toenails" is. The difference being "devil's toenails" is applied based on a specific shape of the oyster. Many in the UK are also referred to as such. Its the same as how the scallop Nodipecten nodosus is referred to as a "lion's paw". Indeed, you are correct, Gryphea is a formal genera of extinct oyster (and commonly called Devil's toenails!)

[@leodenverrex3819]

Im native Texan born & raised and i appreciated your focal points of filming. Great choice of hunting spots and awesome finds despite absence of Trilobites. I've bean to Texoma once i was 14 but had no clue about huge Ammonites. Growing up in Central Texas east of the Hill Country mostly deep water Oysters like Glyphus. Im only an amateur but i wonder if the unconformity in Boquillas Formation was the K\T boundary containing Iridium. Given that the sandstone was subaquaeous maybe not.

[@randyblood8966]

Thanks for watching the video! The Boquillas is a bit older than the K/T boundary. In most that area it is overlain by the Austin Chalk. It does contain the Cenomanian/Turonian boundary which is an extinction event (just not a mass extinction event) corresponding to The Cretaceous Ocean Anoxic Event 2.

[@paleocat6354]

I have some Texas fossil that was given to me from a guy from Dallas. It was Turritella and pectin like fossils. A huge brick of it like Utah Turritella agate. These was completely white and sparkly. Wish I could figure out the species and where to find more. It polishes to a honey amber look with Turritella in it

[@derekhurt9983]

Amazing to learn a lot of the geology of my home state. I would love to visit that finish shale from the graham formation where is that located if you don't mind me asking

[@austinwoodul6186]

If you have a chance go check out lake Benbrook about 20 min from fortworth! there are gravel Shores beside the damn just below Longhorn park. I find TONS of shark teeth and vertebrae there!!

[@cybco]

This planet is a bit treasure chest. It really is, not to mention all the historical human artifacts throughout the world.

[@illujziya]

отличное видео, спасибо! очень интересно :)

[@sandramartin5155]

I’m going to take my grandsons to lake Texoma in the spring to introduce them to your fossils they are 7 and. 5 an love all things dinosaurs fossil and rock then perhaps a trip to Glenrose to see the dinosaurs trail in the river

[@deannabates1575]

I live in Sherman Tx. I think I see a trip to Lake Texoma in my future.

[@sandramartin5155]

Don’t miss white rock in Dallas area

[@D10pete]

Nice ammonites and especially the short views of local stratigraphy but what happened to the echinoids!!!I am not sure if collecting is allowed but just south of Blum TX in the Kiamichi there are many ,many beautiful ammonites.

[@ken2tou]

I live near Spicewood. We have these fossils in our backyard.

[@sandramartin5155]

God bless Texas

[@MrBigal451]

What kind of shark tooth was that. great video

[@cinaannie7338]

Greetings from North, Texas! Would you PLEASE spell out the names of these fossils you are finding? Other than the ammonite, I've not HEARD of the others. I thank you!

[@oldyoungArt]

If you go east, along the Colorado River, you'll find something!

[@jabojr5171]

Mitch Hedberg was a great comedian. I liked the blurry monster story. A huge out of focus monster.

[@sterling8298]

What's so special about those seashells? I'm just curious.

[@brianlock7177]

Enjoyed your post! Particularly when you went to Del Rio. I have published several papers on the section of US90 towards the Val Verde county line over many years, particularly the Eagle Ford section. If you are interested in field guide and GCAGS papers, contact me at University of Louisiana geology. Brian Lock

[@randyblood8966]

That is a wonderful set of outcrops down there. I will indeed get in touch Brian. Cheers!

[@sandramartin5155]

Thank you for the whirlwind tour of our state been a king time since earth science have to look up those names agian did you go to lake worth an the Ben brook area are ther fossil rich areas there I was told once that Texas has no natural lakes that all are man made

[@SamtheIrishexan]

I know that Austin spot. May want to stay away from there at night lol

[@breblizz4321]

Do you sell the fossils or just collect?

[@bradbolshaw1128]

In Boise, that's way cool fossil knowledge

[@smoothoxgamer9053]

Where is this at just asking because I look for fossils as well

[@HernanToroA]

Man. Hide the bsckground if you want focus; specially if it is full of sharp lines of cracks.

[@souravdeoghoria6999]

I am very interested to find fossil, but in India no such spot to visit .

[@cinaannie7338]

Soo... Did you FIND anything in the Ft. Worth area? I am from the Jacksboro area.

[@randyblood8966]

Yes! and Jacksboro. There is excellent collecting all around those areas!

[@cinaannie7338]

REALLY??? Where around Jacksboro?

[@Finn-qg7vv]

14:32 on the left, is that a fossil? 😮

[@yomama8873]

🤩🤩🤩💖💖

[@PaulHigginbothamSr]

The unconformaties you show are very striking.

[@apw474]

i love you.

[@maxstange4626]

Less than 200 subs, should be way more great video !

[@joannparker1977]

Go to the west part of Fort Worth. And beyond. This looks like NOTHING compared to what you’ll find up there. If you go, please post the video. Seriously. I live in Austin, but I lived in Fort Worth for 53 years.

[@karlamedinavilarino4188]

Where in the West of Fort Worth? Where Camp Carter is?

[@a.humphries8678]

Where in fort worh?

[@peterbonapace7124]

Turrilites, not Turritella, mate

[@randyblood8966]

Thanks! Yeah, I think Turritella is a gastropod.

[@daniedevite6781]

Boring

[@randyblood8966]

Thanks for your riveting insight, I'll take the video down and try to recover from the shame of not meeting your lofty standards!

[@mattslash6918]

I found a rock one time