[XRdsRev]

Slight correction, the red Triassic shale of central New Jersey is not so boring as once thought.

While it has for some time, been thought to be devoid of fossils, recent work (1970s-80s) has proven otherwise.

Specifically, the Feltville, Boonton and Stockton formations have well developed beds of shale, sandstone and laminated limestone that have abundant fossil and trace fossils.

These include numerous tracks of the early dinosaurs Grallator and Eubrontes, numerous specimens of the fossil fish Seminotous and various plant fossils.

While the fossil bearing strata are not widely exposed, when they are, they are very prolific. Riker Hill in Essex has given up thousands of dinosaur prints over the years as have other quarries in the Watchung Range. The Boonton Resivoir project at the turn of the last century exposed hundred of fossil fish, some of which are among the finest specimens found anywhere on earth. Other minor outcrops in the Watchung Range also provide the collector with fish specimens.

Several old quarries from Stockton to Plainfield have yielded some excellent plant fossils from the Traissic period.

If you move further south into the Coastal Plain, Cretacous fossils are common in marl & clay beds at some localities. Merchantville Formation marl beds are famous for the large numbers of shark's teeth, Mosasaur and Plesiosaur remains, Belemnites and shell material. Some excellent and very large Ammonite specimens were found near Bordentown some years ago.

The claypits around Sayreville have provided many specimens of carbonized tree material and some incredible amber including insect bearing specimens which may be among the oldest ever found.

[waverna]

Interesting, I thought the only fossils from New Jersey were Bon Jovi and Bruce!

[Question_Assumptions]

I'm talking about the false rift between the Watchung Mountains and the Atlantic Highlands. I know that things get more interesting outside of that area. Yes, there are some fossils here and there but in the big scheme of things, it is pretty boring.

[Question_Assumptions]

I suppose I should keep an eye out for things like small dinosaur tracks. What I think really disappoints me is that I'm interested in trilobites but that shale is a bit to the West in Pennsylvania.

[skinkinthegrass]

Slight correction, the red Triassic shale of central New Jersey is not so boring as once thought....and some incredible amber including insect bearing specimens which may be among the oldest ever found.

FR, some of the best threads around. :)