Fern Fossils - Mazon Creek Flora

[@Treasurehunter11001]

Awesome fern fossils Mark, and they are in abundance there. Is it impossible to split them without freezing first, those concretions look very hard . 4:05 so cool

[@RockHunterMark]

I busted some without freezing them and it worked . It just works better when you freeze them.thanks for watching

[@PianoHeal]

Like ✨😊🌳🍀

[@rebeccaofsunnybrookefarm8469]

Awesome... those are cool fossils.

[@RockHunterMark]

Thanks they are fun to find, rock on

[@GotGreatFood]

Only freeze and thaw, never hit them with a hammer. I've been freezing and thawing a bucket for almost a year, they will pop perfectly everytime. Just got a new 5 gallon bucket today.

[@RockHunterMark]

That’s cool, I love these things. I just got impatient. Does most of them break open for you? I have got some good stuff hammering but not perfect every time. Thanks for watching the video. I’m going back to the creek soon.

[@GotGreatFood]

@@RockHunterMark yeah most of them Crack right away some take a while. It helps if you soak them for a week in water and then freeze them. It gives it time for them to absorb the water so that when they freeze, the ice acts like a prybar. Tapping them a bit before freezing helps, because it could potentially create micro fractures, which will help the water get in better.

[@gravytrain74]

Ik there's a public fossil site near there but I forgot where it was

[@RockHunterMark]

I went to one a long time ago but didn’t find anything because I didn’t know what I was looking for at the time. I don’t remember where either.

[@pauliewallnuts4741]

I was not aware you can hunt the river

[@RockHunterMark]

It’s on private property

[@pauliewallnuts4741]

@RockHunter Mark I see, thank you.

[@paulacorradi4323]

So fun to watch Mark! Thanks for sharing!!

[@RockHunterMark]

Thanks Paula! Hope you find a good a good mineral or rock soon.

[@thearrowheadreapers8668]

Mark brother you really know your rock's. Wow can't wait to see the rest.👍👍😲🏹🏹

[@RockHunterMark]

Thank you 😊

[@greatbasinman]

Too cool, that could be a hobby with in itself, thanks for the enlightenment 😎😎😎

[@RockHunterMark]

it’s addicting for sure

[@jefftrag1956]

I have a few pairs if those ferns too.

[@RockHunterMark]

They’re cool to have!

[@HCCM]

Are any of them for sale?

[@RockHunterMark]

No , sorry Maybe someday in the future. I just collect them for now. I like to give them to friends and family. Thanks for watching, rock on

[@HCCM]

@@RockHunterMark Thank you very much. Regards.

[@HeidiConanGoldProspecting]

Great video and another great T-shirt. Love the squatch. 😎😍🍻 Heidi n Conan

[@RockHunterMark]

Big foot rules! I’ll be checking out your videos soon. Thanks for the comments.

[@WildatArt2025]

Do you have a GPS location coordinates? Or parking place for the creek? I'm near mazon

[@RockHunterMark]

Private property sorry

[@leonacrowley164]

Those are nice looking fern fossils

[@RockHunterMark]

thanks I really like finding them

[@rockhunter6260]

Good haul Mark on the Ferns, you might trying sawing a couple to see what happens👍🏻

[@RockHunterMark]

The saw may not find the natural seam where the fossil is inside. They sure were harder to open than I expected . Good idea though.

[@davemuse419]

Definite "Yum Yum" finds. Great video Mark. Thanks!

[@RockHunterMark]

the yummyest , thanks

[@nachospopthe3rd564]

I'm going there with my family for the first time this Saturday any tips bro?

[@RockHunterMark]

Look for the nodules that are oval and have some small layers to them . It took me a whole day to get it.I hope you do well

[@RockHunterMark]

I have only been one time. Mazon creek or river is loaded with nodules. Not all nodules are oval. When in doubt, take it home anyway.

[@whranch1526]

This is so cool

[@eggstore2264]

Beautiful finds! I've collected from that river myself many times. I prefer to continue freezing and thawing until they split rather than hammer them at any point, but that is a very painstaking process as it can take dozens of cycles before they split that way. But it does give you a better chance of not shattering something good. I would also soak any concretions that your have let dry out, for a week or two before starting your freezes - you want the water to soak into the fossil plane so that the freeze will crack it open. If you start freezing when the inside of the concretion is dry, that won't happen. Finally, be careful when hammering! I do hammer if mine haven't opened after the dozens of freeze thaws, and have suffered a few bruises. I got an old pair of tongs to hold the rock when I hammer so I can't hit a finger or thumb, might be something to consider. Anyway, really loved the video and looking forward to seeing what else you find - good luck!

[@RockHunterMark]

Thank you so much for the insight. I am definitely going to try your suggestions. Appreciate you taking the time to watch and comment.

[@enchodus]

Great finds and thanks for sharing, best of luck!

[@RockHunterMark]

Thanks , I was going to go recently and the river was up. Maybe next time

[@gloriamooney1754]

Your fern fossils you found were really cool! Enjoyed watching the video! Thanks for sharing!

[@RockHunterMark]

Thanks Gloria. I enjoyed finding the fern fossils!

[@Flying4Film]

Great video. I can't wait to head out their and find my own fossils.

[@RockHunterMark]

Hope you find a lot of fossils. Thanks for watching and rock on

[@vykeenb4707]

Awesome sauce. Mark you're awesome. New to the channel. Thank you sir

[@RockHunterMark]

Welcome and thanks for watching

[@kathieware9408]

Ferntastic🌿 what method do you use to freeze? In a freezer? How long? I'd be interested to know. Thanks for sharing.

[@RockHunterMark]

I put them in that tub in a regular freezer for about two days until solid and then I thawed and then repeated about four times. Fern-thank you 😄

[@kathieware9408]

Thanks for the information. Gosh, that's a lot of work. Appreciate your hard work. Blessings

[@eaglebeakarrowheads1972]

Cool rocks buddy!! I went there once and all I got was a broken finger while busting rocks. Good finds!! Cool shirt too!! Good Luck!!

[@RockHunterMark]

thanks I like big foot shirts. I thought it would be more entertaining to use an ax. Happy hunting

[@coyotearrowheadhunting3083]

Wow my friend those fossils are incredible. And more incredible is how you distinguish them from other rocks. I am sure that I have walked in many areas of fossils but I do not know how to detect them.

[@RockHunterMark]

It took me all day to figure out which ones were the good ones to keep. I am learning as I go! Thanks, friend.

[@rocco6454]

Out of curiosity, did you do your fossil hunting on public land? I’ve tried fossil hunting a few times at the mazon-braidwood wildlife area and never had much luck finding anything.

[@RockHunterMark]

It was private property. Thanks for watching and rock on

[@RockHunterMark]

I’ve been there and didn’t find anything either