Hello,
 
I've done quite a bit of beach shelling at Slaughter Beach in
Delaware. One of the interesting things about beaches in that
area (this is north of Cape Henlopen) is the beautiful pebbles
that are often found on the beach. I'm no amateur geologist,
but those rocks are pulling me in that direction!
 
While looking carefully in the pebble/shell/vegetation rubble,
often at the high tide line, I have occasionally come across
exquisite fossils. Most have been crinoids and  coral. My two
prize finds are brachiopods. These specimens are rock-hard, nothing
like the chalky specimens from the Calvert Cliffs area in Maryland.
 
I'm curious about their origins and age. But finding them on a
beach is not very helpful! Do any of you geology/paleontology
types have any suggestions on how I can figure this out? Perhaps
a first crack at it would be learning more about the geological
areas traversed by the Delaware rivers, weathering processes,
how material is deposited on bay beaches, etc... I may never
know the real answer but the journey could be interesting. If anyone
has ideas on how to *start* (it's kinda overwhelming!), please
drop me a note.
 
Thanks,
        Shireen
 
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Shireen Gonzaga, Freelance Science Writer, Baltimore, MD.
Telephone: 410-338-4412   E-mail: [log in to unmask]