Exploring West Sussex geology
with David Bone
with David Bone
© David Bone 2010. All rights reserved.
Fossil hunts
Information
Information
NOTICE TO ALL BEACH USERS
Please see note on home page and here.
Bracklesham fossil hunts are an exciting activity for both children and adults. Sunshine or rain, weather does not hold us back but the tides can. A low tide is essential. Unfortunately, the best low tides occur fortnightly in the late afternoon or early evening. Trips are not so reliable at other times.
Fossil hunt dates can be seen here. For more detailed information on the geology, see the Bracklesham page. We meet in the seafront car park at Bracklesham (National Grid Reference SZ 805963) about 1½ hours before low tide (car park charges can apply). I start with an introductory talk and show some of the more common fossils, as well as giving a simple explanation of the geology.
Then on to the beach where I give some tips on how and where to look and we start searching. Fossils get washed up on the beach even if there are no exposures of the fossil beds. Even under the worst conditions, it is usually possible to find a selection of shells and sharks' teeth, 45 million years old. Most people, especially children, are keen to find fossil sharks' teeth and many people will go home with at least one tooth.
We head along the beach to reach the fantastic fossil shell beds about 1 km away (just under ¾ mile) at low tide. Unfortunately, conditions on the day may mean that these are buried in beach sand. The whole trip takes up to 2 hours, depending on weather and beach conditions.
Charges
Please note that I do normally make a nominal charge to cover my expenses. Any surplus is used to support local geological research and services.
Please see note on home page and here.
Bracklesham fossil hunts are an exciting activity for both children and adults. Sunshine or rain, weather does not hold us back but the tides can. A low tide is essential. Unfortunately, the best low tides occur fortnightly in the late afternoon or early evening. Trips are not so reliable at other times.
Fossil hunt dates can be seen here. For more detailed information on the geology, see the Bracklesham page. We meet in the seafront car park at Bracklesham (National Grid Reference SZ 805963) about 1½ hours before low tide (car park charges can apply). I start with an introductory talk and show some of the more common fossils, as well as giving a simple explanation of the geology.
Then on to the beach where I give some tips on how and where to look and we start searching. Fossils get washed up on the beach even if there are no exposures of the fossil beds. Even under the worst conditions, it is usually possible to find a selection of shells and sharks' teeth, 45 million years old. Most people, especially children, are keen to find fossil sharks' teeth and many people will go home with at least one tooth.
We head along the beach to reach the fantastic fossil shell beds about 1 km away (just under ¾ mile) at low tide. Unfortunately, conditions on the day may mean that these are buried in beach sand. The whole trip takes up to 2 hours, depending on weather and beach conditions.
Charges
Please note that I do normally make a nominal charge to cover my expenses. Any surplus is used to support local geological research and services.
Bracklesham is good for sunsets
Serious fossil hunting on the incoming tide
Fossil shell beds, 45 million years old, but not always uncovered
Hunting for fossil shells and sharks’ teeth. Many other interesting fossils can also be found