If you’ve ever paid a visit to a northern Michigan beach, you likely have spent some time hunting for Petoskey stones and other fossils, rocks and minerals.
But few may know that there are a plethora of other ancient fossils that can be found on Michigan beaches as far south as Metro Detroit, according to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE).
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Many of the fossils found plentifully throughout the state are shells and coral-like animals, geologists say, as Michigan used to be entirely covered in warm shallow seas some 350 million years ago.
However hobbyists and archeologists alike have also found trilobites, plant fossils, and teeth or bones on beaches throughout the Michigan Basin — which encompasses the entire lower peninsula and roughly half of the upper peninsula and is considered one of the most unique geologic structures in the world, according to EGLE.
For those looking to take advantage of Michigan’s rich landscape of ancient fossils, here’s a list of tips from EGLE’s Senior Geologist Evin Maguire to help ensure a successful fossil hunt:
- Search for fossils after a storm or high wave event. Storms cause shoreline erosion and can reveal new fossils that were not previously exposed.
- High lake levels also cause shoreline erosion and can expose new fossils in the same way as storms.
- Bring a snorkel and go offshore. Fossils underwater are far less likely to be picked up than ones easily seen walking on shore.
- Look for areas with larger cobbles near the foot of steeper bluffs. Steeper areas generally have higher rates of erosion, so a steady supply of new fossils can be found near them.
- Look for areas where small creeks or streams enter the lake. Streams also cause erosion, and new material can be washed down them, especially after storms.
- Do your research. There are a wealth of resources and highly knowledgeable local people who can help you find the best collecting localities wherever you may go.
- Keep in mind the 25-pound annual limit for rock/fossil/mineral collecting in Michigan state parks and shorelines. Always check for and follow local rock collecting rules.
For a complete list of the most common fossils that can be found and how to identify them, visit michigan.gov.