On our trip home from Memphis, we took a new route across Alabama. We drove Hwy 78 to Birmingham, and then south on the interstate to Montgomery. From there, we took Hwy 231 south to I-10, and from there, it was a straight shot home. Very nice drive, with no bad traffic. They have extended Hwy 78, exposing some wonderful new road cuts. At the exit for Hwy 22, we stopped to look around.
New road cuts are always fun, because you have no idea what you will find. If you look carefully, you can almost always find something interesting, and this one held some very nice surprises.
The limy shale was hot from the sun, but was easy to look through. There are some layers with lots of tiny mica flakes, which also have carbonized plant fossils in them. Very sparkly and easy to find. Most of the plant remains are small bits, but I managed to find a few large stems, a seed, and some pieces of leaves. We did not stay long, as it was HOT, but I suspect that with more time, some very nice fossils will come from this site.
I noticed several spider webs which looked like Black Widow webs. Sure enough, a closer look showed that each one had a large, black, shiny spider, with that characteristic red hour glass. Road cuts are good places to find them, so be careful when you are looking for fossils. They are not going to jump out and attack, but if you accidentally stick your hand into their home, they will defend themselves.
The fossil plants are carbonized, and are easy to spot. We found more in the higher part of the cut, west of the exit. If you are going to visit the site, be aware that it is on the side of the highway. Don't dig, as the rocks are very loose, and the highway department frowns on people messing up their road cuts. You should be able to find plenty of fossils by surface collecting. Be sure to obey local laws and don't leave trash.
my home
he i just wanted to say i am glad you enjoyed your ride through alabama. i have always lived here and growing up my dadand i went looking for fossils. i grew up in moody/ashville/odenville area where there are a lot of coal mine areas. i have found a few arrow heads which i have lost through the years and a very nice plant fossil. i can't wait to take my son to go hunting when he gets older..
kimberlywo@aol.com
RE: my home
Alabama has such great geology. One of my earliest fossil books was "Curious Creatures in Alabama Rocks" by Charles Copeland. We actually lived in Tennessee, but the fossils were very similar. I have always wanted to collect the petrified wood from the Brilliant area, with all of the marvelous quartz crystals encrusting it. I am sure it will be wonderful when you take your son. Seeing it all through new eyes reminds you of all the wonders around you.
awesome entry.
Thanks much for this imformative post.
Spider
Nice spider. I was wondering if you know where all Black Widow's live.
Thanks, Tony
Black Widow Habitat
Black Widows like warm, dark places. They are commonly found on rock outcrops, under ledges and large rocks. They are one of the reasons, along with scorpions and snakes, that geologists use geology picks to turn over rocks, instead of sticking their fingers under them to turn them over.
Spider webs
How do you identify a Black Widow web? What makes it different from others? Sounds like a good thing to know!
By the way, that is our favorite way to travel to FL. Nice quiet roads and avoids Atlanta completely! Did you catch a view of Vulcan as you went through Birmingham? Another fun detour on that route is the Florida Caverns in Marianna, FL. What a treat! It's cave formations in miniature, but it is still quite fascinating. :)
Webs
Black widow webs have thick strands, and they are pretty random. Not funnel shaped or spoked. That, plus the location in the rocks was a good indication that it was a Black Widow. Yes, we saw the statue of Vulcan, but did not have the time for the caverns this trip. From now on, we will be taking this route. It was fast and very enjoyable.
Fossils
How did you know that there would be fossils in that rock?
Nick D.
p.s.nice dog!
Fossils Reply
I did not know if there would be fossils or not. That is part of the fun of a new site. I recognized that the rock was shale, which sometimes contains fossils, but I did not know if there would be any, or what kind of fossils we would find. We stopped and made a quick search, looking for any unusual shapes or colors. The black plant fossils stood out against the grey rock, so it was pretty easy to spot them. Most were tiny bits, but that was enough to let us know to look for more.
Our puppy, Junie Moon, is quickly turning into a Rock Hound. She loves to travel, and loves to explore, so you will see many more photos of her from our adventures.
Spider
The Black Widow Spider looked really cool. Great picture! I do not think I have ever seen a picture so clear and defining. Can't wait to show my new students on the return to the classroom.
Happy Summer,
Palmisc
Spider
Thanks! She was a beautiful spider. It took a little while to get her to come out with me nearby, but it was worth the effort.
Rob Krampf
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