Children are welcome under close supervision.
Pets are allowed at these sites at the discretion of their owners.
This is FEE FREE field trip.
All times listed are Central Time.

TRIP:
The Crowley's Ridge/Copperus Creek/Crow Creek area of Arkansas was once the western boundary of the Mississippi River. This area is rich in Eocene-Pleistocene fossils and selenite. This is a favorite collecting area of the Memphis Archaeological and Geological Society (MAGS) and this DMC field trip will be lead by an Arkansas State Geologist (and MAGS member) who can give us access to areas that are not accessible to the general public. You are invited to attend the September monthly meeting of MAGS to learn more about Crowley's Ridge. Our program Friday night, September 8, is dedicated exclusively to Crowley's Ridge and Copperus Creek, complete with specimens recently collected from those areas.

COLLECTING:
You will be collecting petrified wood, agate, jasper, crinoids, oyster shells, shark's teeth, ray teeth, an assortment of shells and microfossils from the Eocene-Pleistocene epochs, and selenite crystals.

WHAT TO BRING:
(1) Backpack or large buckets to carry your specimens; (2) small prying tools; (3) small shovel or trowel; (4) water shoes or waders, since some of collecting will be in shallow creeks; (5) insect repellent; (6) lunch, snacks, plenty of water; (7) material for storing and protecting your specimens. The fossils, microfossils, and selenite crystals are VERY delicate.  A few suggestions for storing and transporting your specimens are newspaper, egg cartons, small boxes, film canisters, small plastic or Styrofoam cups and heavy Ziploc bags.

ITINERARY (subject to adjustment according to the desires of the field trip participants):

IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MAGS MEETING, FRIDAY NIGHT, SEPTEMBER 8
(1) The meeting is held at Memphis Botanical Gardens in Memphis (directions to follow)
(2) 7:30 PM--program on Crowley's Ridge/Crow Creek
(3) 8:30 PM--refreshments, fellowship, rock swap (if you like, bring specimens from your area to trade or sell)
(4) 9:00-9:30 PM adjournment

FIELD TRIP TO ARKANSAS, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 9
(1) 7:00 AM--meet at The Pancake House for breakfast (directions to follow)
(2) 8:00 AM--tour St. Francis County Museum (preview of what you will be collecting)
(3) 9:00 AM--Copperus Creek (selenite collecting)
(4) 11:00 AM--lunch (bring your own)
(5) 12:00 NOON--Crowley's Ridge/Crow Creek (agate, jasper, petrified wood, shark's teeth, ray teeth, fossils)
(6) 4:00 PM--tour Parkin Archaeological State Park
(7) 5:00 PM--Call it a day or keep going (at the discretion of leader and participants)

DIRECTIONS:
IF YOU ARE COMING INTO MEMPHIS FRIDAY, AND PLAN ON ATTENDING THE MAGS MEETING:
(1) Take I-40 to Memphis
(2) Take I-240 South to Perkins Road Exit (about 5 miles from I-40 interchange)
(3) If you need a hotel for the night, there are several at the Perkins Exit.  One suggestion is the new Hampton Inn at 2700 Perkins Road S. (901-367-1234).
(4) For the MAGS meeting, go North on Perkins to Park Avenue (about 3 miles)
(5) Turn left on Park Avenue
(6) Turn right on Cherry Road (as a landmark, Dixon Art Gallery will be on the left at this intersection).
(7) Meeting is at Memphis Botanical Gardens, 750 Cherry Road. There will be a golf course on the left and the Botanical Gardens will be on the right about 1/2 mile from Park Avenue. The parking lot is the first entrance to
the Gardens.  MAGS will have a member at the entrance to greet you and escort you to the meeting area.

TO GET TO THE MEETING PLACE FOR THE SATURDAY FIELD TRIP:
(1) Take I-40 West to Forrest City, Arkansas Exit (this exit is about 40 minutes from the Mississippi River)
(2) If you need a hotel for the night, there are several at the Forrest City Exit.  Here are the numbers for two of them (Best Western Inn--870-633-0870; Holiday Inn--870-633-6300).  Village Creek State Park is also located nearby if you would rather camp or RV.  The number for Village Creek is 870-238-9406.
(3) We will meet at 7:00 AM for breakfast at The Pancake House located 1/10 mile south of I-40 at the Forrest City Exit.

We are looking forward to hosting this field trip, and we hope that you can participate. See you in September.

The Memphis Archaeological and Geological Society