Interpretive Fossil Hike

The Durham mines, part of the Lula Lake Land Trust, is one of the best places in Georgia to collect Pennsylvanian plant fossils, dating back approximately 320 to 300 million years ago. The area was once a coastal swamp forest populated by the giant ancestors of ferns, seed ferns, club mosses and horsetails. As these plants died, they accumulated in the stagnant waters of the swamp bottom, gradually turning into coal and fossil-rich shale. We will be collecting in the overgrown mine dumps from when the area was mined for coal. The best way to collect is to dig shale out, split it, and look for leaves and other plant fossils. We will have staff on hand to help participants.

Date: Saturday, February 25, 2023

Price: pay what you can donation goes directly to Lula Lake Land Trust's conservation efforts.

Meet: no later than 9:30am at the Durham mines for check-in, signing releases, and instruction. Please be on time. We head out to the dig site at 9:45 and collect until 1pm.

Directions: GPS Coordinates: 34.86537636865632, -85.41903172482985 or click here for Google directions. From the intersection of GA 157 and Durham Rd, go west for about 0.5 miles to an open parking area on the right with an open gate.

Limit: 20 people

Important Details

• This is private property and we have permission to collect on this day only. Everyone has to sign a release.
• Leashed dogs are OK.
• The trip is a GO unless rain or snow are forecast for the day.
• Tellus Museum will provide an identification guide for the fossils at the site.
• Site Description: the site is in a shaded wooded area. We will hike along a dirt road to the collecting site. There are no restrooms there.
• Bring: lunch and plenty of water. Also consider bug spray, ivy block (if you’re allergic to poison ivy), and appropriate medication for anyone allergic to bee stings – these may not be necessary in February unless we have another warm winter.
• Essential Tools (provided): geologist’s pick or hammer and a 3” wide flat chisel – you will need these to split the rock; a small shovel and/or pick – you will need these to dig into the mine dumps; work gloves, canvas bag or bucket, and paper towels or newspaper to protect your specimens.
• Attire: dress in layers. It may be colder than you think atop Lookout Mountain. Wear comfortable sturdy shoes (hiking boots are perfect, tennis shoes are ok). Bring a hat. Consider bringing a change of clothes.