First Site: Vulcan Quarry, Parsons, TN ? 8:00 am until 2:00 pm. We will be collecting marine invertebrate fossils (corals, crinoids, brachiopods, sponges and trilobites) at this location. A liability wavier must be signed by each person before entering the facility. Time will be limited at this facility since we will only be allowed in during weekend work-end hours.  Collecting is free at this site. Lunch break at noon (bring your own). MAGS will have an ID table set up at the site to help you identify your specimens.

Second Site: Dr. James Cole's property near Parsons, TN ? Approximately 2:30 pm until 5:00 pm. We will be collecting selenite crystals at this location. These crystals are on or just below the surface in dark gray
soil. Collecting is free at this site.

Meeting Time/Place: 7:30 am CDT, Deerfield Inn in Parsons, TN. Take Exit #126 from I-40. Turn south off the ramp. Deerfield Inn is located 14 miles south of the interstate. From Memphis take I-40 east toward Nashville; allow approximately 2-1/2 to 3 hours driving time from Memphis. From Nashville, take I-40 west toward Memphis; allow approximately 1-1/2 hour driving time from Nashville. MAGS will have a sign-in sheet and specimen display table in the parking lot when you arrive. We will be leaving Deerfield Inn promptly at 7:50am for the Vulcan facility.

Tools: (Site 1) Fossils can be surface collected or chiseled out of solid rock.  Bring rock hammer, chisels, pry bar, chisels, screwdriver, etc. Leather gloves are a good idea. Safety glasses will be required while using rock tools or while in the vicinity of someone using rock tools. Hard hats are optional, since we
will not be allowed near shear walls. Collecting containers and newspaper to wrap quality specimens are recommended. (Site 2) Selenite crystals will be surface collected. No tools required. Collecting containers and newspaper to wrap fragile crystals are recommended.

Difficulty Level: On a scale of 1 (easy) to 10 (hard) there are plenty of difficulty 1 and 2 areas for surface collecting, but there are also difficulty 5 to 7 areas which require hammering. Please be advised that there is always a possibility for serious injury at the quarry, so any young members must be supervised at
all times.  Difficulty level for selenite site is 1.

Accommodations: If you are planning to stay in the area Friday night or Saturday night, rooms are available first-come-first-serve at (1) $49.99 at Deerfield Inn, 863 Tennessee Ave. N., Parsons, TN 731-847-4700; or (2) $39.99 at Jake's Motor Lodge, 3946 Hwy. 412 E., Parsons, TN 731-847-6387.  Mention MAGS when you make reservations to get the special rates listed above.

NO DO STAY AT ANY HOTELS LOCATED NEAR THE HWY 69/I-40 INTERCHANGE.
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"Field trips are open to all members of associated clubs of the DMC program of the SFMS Field Trip Committee and to all members of SFMS member clubs who have provided their membership with SFMS liability insurance.  Because of insurance requirements, members of the GENERAL PUBLIC are NOT invited on this or any DMC program field trips!"