9/16/15 Report - Old Rare Treasure Coast Treasures. Using Black Light On Sea Shell Fossils and Artifacts. Outer Banks Videos.

Written by the TreasureGuide for the exclusive use of TreasureBeachesReport.blogspot.com.

Fossil Seashell From The Treasure Coast
Lighted By Ultra Violet Light To Reveal Yellow Bands.

A black light can be used for more than lighting up psychedelic posters.  I found that out somehow long ago.

You can use a black light for finding or identifying some gem stones, such as corundum.  Actually not all corundum glows in black light, but an ultra violet light will make some rubies and other gem stones glow in the dirt.  That makes them easier to find.

You can also use a black light to classify gem stones.  Black light can also be used to tell if some gem stones are natural.

I've pointed out before that calcite crystals in fossil shells will glow under black light.

Black light can also be used to reveal the original lost color patterns of chalky white fossil shells, which can help to identify previously unknown species.

Southern Florida has a very rare and special treasure that you might not be aware of.

These fossil seashells are found in deposits at several places in southern Florida. The ones figured here [in the following linked paper] came from spoil banks bordering a canal in Okeechobee County and are ten to fifteen million years old...

Their "secret" character is not possessed by the Los Angeles County fossils or, to the same degree as far as I know, by other fossil seashells from elsewhere. We have tested all the ones in our museum collections, which is worldwide in scope, although obviously incomplete. What causes this geographic restriction is unknown at present. When exposed to the short wave kind of ultraviolet light in darkness, some of the fossil Florida seashells fluoresce brilliantly with symmetrical orange patterns against a glowing violet background.

The two paragraphs above are from a really good paper that can be found through the following link.

http://research.nhm.org/pdfs/33751/33751.pdf

I didn't have a good setup to make good pictures in black light, but I did manage to get the photo at the top of the post.  The nice yellow lines show under black light.

The paper found through the research.nhm.org link above shows other examples Florida fossil shells and their color patterns as seen under black light.

The fossil shell shown at the top of this post, to the best of my very limited understanding, is an excellent museum quality specimen of a fossil tulip shell.

Here is another link on the same subject of using a black light to see color patterns of fossil seashells.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2015/04/01/bone-white-ancient-shells-reveal-their-dazzling-colors-under-uv-light/

If you are not into seashells, even million-year-old Florida fossil shells, you can use a black light to bring out markings on artifacts that otherwise might be very difficult to see.  Black light will also reveal slight differences in the surface of artifacts.

One hand made lead fishing sinker that I found, when displayed under black light, showed how the edges were carved.  I didn't notice that under normal lighting.

If you have an ultra violet light take a look at a variety of artifacts under the black light and see what you can find.  I'd like to hear about it if you find anything interesting.   Send me an email.

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Here are some nice quick video clips of a North Carolina beach sent by GoldNugget.  He shows the beach, finds and equipment.

The North Carolina beaches are a bit different from ours.  They get more tides, and I would say lately, they've also been getting more waves.  GoldNugget has some nice old coins and buttons and other things to show.

https://youtu.be/sIaPlYhch4s

https://youtu.be/nr1OjcnNKPM

https://youtu.be/POT3aqQP2i0 

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There are now two tropical disturbances in the Atlantic that could be headed our way.  Both have a 90% chance of becoming a cyclone in the next 48 hours.

Keep a watch on those two even if they are still out there a ways.

This was the kind of morning I like -  cloudy and rainy.  I could do without the thunder.  And I'd like more wind and better beach conditions, but otherwise, I prefer this to those glaring sunny days.

Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net

5/28/15 Report - Unique Beach Treasures. Fossil Shells With Calcite Crystals

Written by the TreasureGuide for the exclusive use of treasurebeachesreport.blogspot.com.

Sometimes you can find fossils on the beach that are a million years old.  That hasn't been the case much lately though.  Conditions have been too poor, and like with cobs, some of the best places  have been covered with renourishment sand.

Whelk Shell Fossil Photographed in Black Light.

Did you know that naturally formed gems have  been found on the Treasure Coast beaches?  I'm not talking about those that have been lost at some time.   I'm talking about gems that formed and were never before touched by man.

They aren't diamonds, rubies, or emeralds either.  What I'm talking  are fossils shells filled with crystals.  I'm talking about fossil shells that are thousands or millions of years that have turned into crystal gardens.

You've probably heard of Ruck's Pit.  I'm not talking about those either, but the web site for the Fort Drum Crystal Mine (present name for Ruck's Pit) tells something about how they form.  Here is what it says.

The crystals form inside of the clam shells by a long process. "The calcite is dissolved from the fossil sea shells by acidic groundwater and then transported downward where it then reprecipitates inside the shells of the clams (called quahogs) and occasionally other mollusks," explained Means. Means further explained that the calcite crystals actually form just below the water table in water that is supersaturated with calcite (calcium carbonate).

Talking about Ruck's Pit again, the web site says, The deposit is actually a nearshore marine deposit that represents a former shoreline, " said Harley Means, assistant state geologist, Florida Geological Survey, Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Means explained that sand and fossil seashells found in the mine are thought to be several million years old...

Here is the link to the Fort Drum Crystal Mine Web Site.

http://www.thefortdrumcrystalmine.com/

You can visit the Fort Drum Crystal Mine to search for fossils for $45 per person until June when the price increases to $60 per person.

Long before global warming the sea was much higher than it is today.  Things come and go.

Back to the beach.   There are deposits of calcified fossil shells found at other places besides Ruck's Pit.  An occasional shell with calcite crystals can be discovered on the beach.  The one shown at the top of this page is one example.

Same Whelk Shell Shown Above
Closeup In Regular Daylight.

In this blog I've shown both fossil shells and bones found on Treasure Coast beaches that contain calcite crystals.  One neat small fossil bone that was found on a Treasure Coast beach has calcite crystals in the hollow of the bone.

Certain minerals fluoresce in ultraviolet light.  That is what you see in the picture at the top of the page.  It isn't easy to photograph objects under black light, but I think you can see some of the rich purple and yellow fluorescence in that photo.

I have also used a black light to find certain fluorescent gem stones such as rubies and garnets.  The black light really makes them pop.

Paleodirect.com sells fossils and shows one calcite crystal fossil conch shell on the site.  I found the following description of that fossil shell instructive.

Here it is.

ULTRA RARE GEM-GRADE YELLOW CALCITE CRYSTAL-FILLED FOSSIL CONCH SHELL

Okeechobee County, Florida, USA

PLEISTOCENE PERIOD:  1.81 million years - 10,000 years ago

Fossils that have been formed or filled with gem grade minerals are amongst the rarest and most beautiful of all.  The highly uncommon geological occurrence of a well-preserved fossil formed out of stunning gemstone grade minerals is why these specimens are so passionately coveted by both fossil and mineral fanciers, alike.  They make up the rarest of fossils and almost always sell for several thousands if not, tens of thousands of dollars.

In south Florida, there is a gravel shell pit that this strange phenomena can be found - crystals in fossils!  The occurrence of calcite-lined shells is this site's hallmark but the calcite ranges from a light coffee color to a drab burnt honey hue.  Intense yellow gem-grade specimens such as this are not found at the mine but have been found in the same formation of a nearby undisclosed site.  A fossil of this quality, completeness with crystals of this clarity and intensity is no less rare than finding fine grade gemstones of any type from any site in the world - actually rarer since this is a perfect crystal specimen AND a fossil. 
  

This is a small Busycon species gastropod fossil from the last North American Ice Age Period.  The entire shell's internal cavity has been fossilized with the whorl and inner chamber filled with bright lemon yellow gem-grade calcite crystals.  Nearly the entire shell has been completely replaced with translucent glowing calcite as seen in the above images.  Busycon was a predatory marine whelk that fed mainly on bivalves by attaching itself to its prey with its foot and slowly rasping a hole in the shell of its unfortunate victim.  Whelks can move great distances and can go against tidal currents with the use of its powerful foot.

This specimen was part of an extremely limited find that was made by the quarry geologist NOT at the working mine but at a location nearby that is not part of the commercial operation.  This find was very limited, discovered and collected in the early 1980's and specimens of this nature have never been located since.  This color and quality certainly does not occur at the working quarry.  Of the few rare examples that have hit the market, prices have exceeded $1000.  The color and lack of crystal damage on this beauty easily top those $1000+ examples. This is the only one we will ever offer as it was a rarity unto itself for us to even acquire it.  If you want a stunning and rare mineral AND fossil specimen all wrapped up in one, you could hardly find a more affordable and yet beautiful example.  Guaranteed NO REPAIR and NO RESTORATION.  This beauty is AS FOUND!

The deposit that this prize specimen was collected from offers an abundance of well-preserved fossil marine shells.  Its coquina matrix dates to the Pleistocene and is part of the 'Nashua Formation' being composed of cemented marine fossils with calcite.  

That description is from https://www.paleodirect.com/pgset2/ga034.htm

Not only have I seen fossil shells with calcite crystals on the beach, I have also seen some in the Indian River.  I don't know how they got there.  They could have been dumped there with road fill for Indian River Drive, but I don't really know.

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People say all the time that you can't take it with you when you die, but there is an exception.  The only thing you can take with you is what you give to others.

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Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net

8/27/14 Report - Vero and Sebastian Beach Conditions. Abandoned Burt Reynolds Property. USS Houston. Flourescent Fossil Shell.

Written by the TreasureGuide for the exclusive use of treasurebeachesreport.BlogSpot.com.

Corrigans

Turtle Trail Access Looking North

Sebastian North of McCarty

I took a look at a few beaches this morning.  Here are some of them.  I also looked at Rio Mar.

All of the beaches looked pretty much the same.  They all still have some renourishment sand. 

I didn't see any cuts.  There were a few scallops around Rio Mar. 

Nothing to make me upgrade my beach conditions rating.  They were all pretty mushy.  And all had a some new sea weed - not a good sign.

As it turns out, Christobal didn't do much for us.


The first target I dug produced this very small children's silver ring.

The small items tell you that you probably aren't missing much.


Here is an interesting video.   I thought it was anyhow.   It shows the abandoned and neglected Burt Reynolds property in Jupiter.

There are over grown paths, old docks falling apart, old film sets and all kinds of junk.

I found it interesting.  Think about where you would detect as these two looney guys explore the property.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-xVB-FfKLM

Navy divers explored the wreck of the USS Houston.

http://www.cpf.navy.mil/news.aspx/010301


Christobal is up by North Carolina now.  There are two other disturbances that could develop.  One nearing the West Indies and one in the Gulf by Texas.

Source: www.nhc.noaa.gov

We still have a 3 to 5 foot surf on the Treasure Coast.  The surf is supposed to decrease a bit after Thursday.   Maybe the next system will kick things up again.

Right now it will be hard to find anything but modern items. 


There haven't been hardly any shells on the beach lately.  And I haven't seen any fossils for a while.  I did run across my old black light and took a photo of a phosphorescent fossilized shell

I didn't know if I could take a photo of it or not.

Not bad.

The crystals glow yellow.

Haven't posted any fossils lately.

Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@Comcast.net