This fossil hunt was so much fun, we decided to do it again! Centralia, PA was a small coal mining community in central PA that had to be abandoned after the coal beds under it caught fire in the 1960s. Today nothing is left but the streets and sidewalks and some cemeteries. The surrounding area has several strip mines with numerous plant fossils. These are typical Llewelyn formation fossils, some of which are coated with pyrophyllite like the famous St. Clair fern fossils. In addition to fern foliage and seeds, there are also lepidodendron (scale tree) fossils including roots, stems, foliage, and cones.
Preservation and detail is good. Collecting is typical for plant fossils, splitting relatively soft shale with a hammer and chisel. There will be a half mile walk from the parking area to the collecting area. The terrain is very steep in places with rock faces of 20 to 40 feet and collecting in the scree at the bottom, so a degree of fitness and comfort moving around loose rock is required.
There are no facilities at the site. In nearby Ashland, PA there is also the Pioneer Tunnel, a drift coal mine that offers underground tours. For questions contact Tom Farrell (33tomfarrell@gmail.com) and/or the club coordinator (mfalk@marylandnature.org).
Details about time and meeting location will be shared with registrants via email before the trip. You must be a current member of the NHSM Fossil Club to sign up for this trip.
Natural History Society of Maryland’s Fossil Club is a group of novice and more experienced collectors who meet to exchange knowledge, help with fossil identification, and discuss fossil locations and other fossil-related topics. Monthly meetings are held the first Wednesday of every month and are open to all.
If you are a fossil enthusiast, please consider joining (https://www.marylandnature.org/club-membership/). NHSM membership is $35 for individuals, $50 for families. The Natural History Society of Maryland is a volunteer-led non-profit organization, so the fee you pay will go directly to support the programs, the nature collections, and the building that make this kind of nature education possible. Learn more about NHSM Clubs: https://youtu.be/pIA7naRjXws