The Rome Georgia Mineral Society invites all DMC club members to a fossil collecting trip. Crinoid stems are varied and abundant, some are up to 1 1/4" in diameter and 5" in length. Less abundant are the calyxes (heads) of at least three species, horn corals up to 6" in length and some brachiopods. Also abundant are geodes 6" or less in diameter. Most are junky, but with persistence, you can find some with nice quartz crystals. Calcite geodes occur in the hard limestone. Also abundant are limestone slabs with crinoid stems all over.

The property owner requests the following for us to be allowed to collect on his property:
 

1. Everyone must sign a release before the trip. We will provide these at the meeting place. If you are bringing a child that is not your own, you must bring a signed release from his parent(s) or guardian(s). Please call or e-mail and arrange to have one sent to you.
2. All material collected will be for educational, hobbyist and recreational purposes and not for resale. Anyone discovered selling material from the site will not be allowed on future trips sponsored by this club to this site. 
 

This trip offers easy collecting and is terrific for families with children because the material is everywhere. It does require a short but steep climb to the productive collecting areas. Wear appropriate (and layered) clothing because the area is exposed to the elements. 

Basic Tools: Bucket, Ziploc bags, screwdriver, small digging tools
Serious tools: Picks, hammers and chisels if you want to go for the limestone slabs
Other supplies: Lunch, fluids, sunscreen.
 
Directions to our meeting place: We will meet in the parking lot of the movie theater one block north of the intersection of US 11 and Gault Rd in Fort Payne, AL. If coming from Georgia, on AL 35, go north through Ft. Payne on US 11. Gault Rd. will fork on your right past the Krystal. If arriving from Tennessee, or western Alabama, take I-59 to exit 222 (US 11), go south to Gault Rd. at the second light (Jack's burger joint on your left, Krystal's on your right). Turn Left. When on Gault Rd., go a block, past a Hardees, on the right, and a Subway, on the left, and the theater parking lot will be on the right. Drive time from the I-285/I-75 north interchange in Atlanta should take 2 hours 15 minutes for this 104-mile trip.