By Corey Lablans
This past weekend I met up with some members of the Niagara Peninsula Geological Society in Fort Erie at a quarry to do some treasure seeking, looking for Eurypterids or more commonly known as Sea Scorpions. This quarry contains Dolostone, an altered Limestone by the infusion of Magnesium. In the Late Silurian (approximately 420 Million Years Ago) these Eurypterids would seek refuge in the higher saline environment and molt, producing the castings we find now. The area in which we are searching for these past creatures is part of the Williamsville Formation, Bertie Group.
Eurypterid Head - I had been chipping away at the dolostone for over a hour and kept coming across what looked like some form of fossilized sea weed, then I was informed it was the plates along the thorax. When the eurypterids molt, they are broken apart over time (except in rare occasion when you find a whole one), as you can see in the photo, a head, eyes and a single plate of the thorax are present.
More information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurypterid
Working at an active quarry safety is important. Member of the Niagara Peninsula Geological Society scatter across the section of the quarry that has not been blasted, chipping away at the dolostone layers searching for Eurypterids. One of the gentlemen has a section about 15 feet by 10 feet that he has been working on for five weeks. A few tools that would have been nice to have brought would have been a broom or a leaf blower, as the dust piles up quickly chipping.
Photo by Corey Lablans Photography
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