I would estimate that maybe 1-2 complete trilobites per hour could be found from the hard labor in the desert sun. These rock layers split rather easily using the iron blades. The Bathyuriscus and Wheeler quarries were the best for me. They were not all over the place and actually were hard to find at most of the quarries after splitting sheets of rocks. The trilobite collecting was not as dreamed. However, the rock hound equipment supplier at the Jam has these (Geological Tools and Outfitter, phone 435/225-6421). The special pry bar and most important iron blades were nothing I ever saw in the Midwest and are not available in hardware stores (I looked). While one person recommended bringing a tent/canopy as a sun shield, I never used it, as it was impractical with the desert dry wind gusts that came suddenly out of nowhere. It's all about splitting the rock layers in the hope of finding trilobites, revealed as positive and negative halves. While good at home on hard Silurian limestone, sledges, chisels, and safety glasses can be left at home. You need are comfortable clothes (long pants of course), a hat, sunscreen, knee pads, boots, water jug, your Eastwing, newspaper to wrap fossils, buckets, flats for fossil storage, a large special pry bar to peel-up the rock layers, and a special iron blade sharpened at one edge to split the layers. I definitely over-packed roc- tool-wise for this trip, as I really did not know what to expect. "It's even too hot for rattlesnakes" as the Jam experts told us - now that's hot! One thing good about desert fossil collecting is that you do not have to worry about a sudden rainstorm spoiling your plans, and mosquitoes and the pesky deer flies are nonexistent. Hourly, Jam staff visited each quarry by ATV to check people with water supplies. They did not want any fossil nuts dropping dead and becoming fossils themselves. Water, water, and more water is the key to survival, and the Jam staff were well prepared. You cannot cool down in the dry desert because any sweat evaporates immediately. Needless to say, heat exhaustion and heat stroke is a clear and present danger. Sunny, cloudless skies, no trees, no shade, no bushes, rocks and cactus, and very hot (in upper 90s to over 100 daily). Looking around, I was "not in Kansas (err Chicago) any more". I was really impressed with the planning, preparations, and accommodations. They even offered attractive T-shirts and caps for sale. They scoured the area for potentially rich trilobite outcrops to quarry (6 quarries in all, most brand new) obtained all necessary government permits to lease the land and paid the fees, hired locals with heavy machinery to expose the trilobite layers below ground, rented several port-a-johns (even with solar lights to find them in the dark), provided hand-wash stations, enticed a rock hunting equipment dealer to be on site to sell tools if needed, and arranged for a rock table saw for free use to cut down slabs. Our host Jake Skabelund and staff of the American Trilobite Suppliers, planned for everything and spared no expense to make this experience safe, memorable, and rewarding for all 60 fossil collectors from California, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, and other states. Any type of vehicle can travel this gravel road.1st Place - 2011 MWF Advanced Adult Articles Then travel 20 miles down a well-maintained gravel road to reach the U-DIG Quarry. There is a U-DIG Fossils sign at this intersection. At the Long Ridge Reservoir sign between mile markers 56-57, turn right. Once in Delta, first travel 32 miles west on Highway 6 / 50. It is approximately 130 miles from Salt Lake City to Delta. It is approximately 90 mles from Provo to Deltia. The U-DIG Fossils Quarry is located approximately 52 miles west of Delta, Utah, near Antelope Springs. If you get there early just wait for us at the gate and we will be there promptly. "Closed on Sunday, we are open on all holidays except for Sundays" Please feel free to call to make sure what days we are open, and check the calendar just in case. We are open 6 days a week most of the season, 9 AM - 6 PM Monday - Saturday. See our calendar above to see our schedule for the rest of the years. April we are closed on Thursdays and Sundays all other days we are open. If you want to buy some fossils or geodes online check out the The Bug House. Come experience the thrill of finding your own fossil trilobites! No trilobite quarry can match the quality of U-DIG Fossils' trilobite layers! The best part is that you get to keep what you find! We operate a private quarry located 1 hour west of Delta, Utah, that contains one of the world's richest deposits of trilobites. At U-DIG we want you to have a unique and rewarding experience in our quarry. Experience the thrill of finding your own fossil Trilobites.
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