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Location and directions Directions: Access is made via the A259, along Wear Bay Road. Parking is available in the surrounding roads and in allocated car parks nearby. Public footpaths lead from the coast road down to the beach.		Key information Geological period Cretaceous (Early epoch) Approximate age 100 million years Fossil diversity Ammonites, Shark Teeth, Belemnites... Find frequency High Dangers Falling rocks and protruding objects Equipment Small trowel / pocket knife Accessibility Good but tough terrain in places Local facilities Local shops within 1 mile Additional notes Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)
How would Folkestone have looked 100 million years ago?

Introduction

Folkestone if one of the best places on the south coast for fossils.  The range and quality and volume of fossils make this an excellent destination.  Access to the beach is convenient, with plenty of parking and facilities, including toilets.

If the weather has been wet, be sure to bring wellies or walking boots, as the clay is both wet and muddy.

The earliest rocks at Folkestone consist of Lower Greensand exposed to the north of the town and run through a sequence of Lower Greensand, Gault Clay (phasing into Upper Greensand) and Chalk, the whole sequence dating from approximately 120 to 80 million years old. The chalk increases in thickness to the north culminating with the famous white cliffs of Dover before dipping off to the north approaching Deal.

It is the Gault Clay that is of particular interest; it is a dark blue-grey colour and has been extensively studied. The clay consists of mudstones with layers of phosphate nodules that delineate the margins of some of the clay beds, the whole Gault sequence achieves a thickness of 40m in places. The clay has been sub-divided into thirteen individual beds, each containing diagnostic fossil species and dates from the Middle to the Late Albian of the Cretaceous period, approximately 108-97.5mya. The clay from the Middle Albian is known as the Lower Gault and the beds from the Late Albian are known as the Upper Gault. The Upper Gault is more calcareous than the Lower Gault mudstones and is somewhat lighter in colour. Although both the greensands and chalk all contain fossils including ammonites, the preservation is by far the best in the clay.

Where to look for fossils?

Fossils can be found all year round, but the best finds are made following periods of wet weather when the clay is soft.  However, during the summer months visitors can still find a large number of fossils within the boulders and rock pools.

(Left) Searching for fossils among the boulders and rock pools. (Right) Paul examining cliff face

Searching for fossils on the foreshore requires a hands on approach!  The fossils here have been washed out from the cliff and are often buried by shingle and soft clay.  A small trowel is a great tool for uncovering the fossils, while some people prefer to dig with their hands! Either way, a large number of fossil fragments and complete specimens can be found this way.

A bottle of tap water is also advisable to wash finds on the spot if one is curious and wishes to wash the clay off there and then. One is advised to take a bag and newspaper to keep the specimens safe and free from knocking into each other.

For more information about the features and processes controlling coastal fossil collecting locations click here.

What fossils might you find?

The Gault contains the fossils of many forms of marine creature; ammonites, belemnites, nautilus, bivalves, crinoids, gastropods, fish remains, and scaphopods are quite common along with rare finds of reptilia. Ichthyosaur vertebrae have been found in association with the smaller fauna though by far the most common fossils are the small shelly forms. In some of the clay bed sequences the fossils are preserved in phosphate; they tend to be dark, frequently broken and are often in concreted masses. The best preserved fossils are those that are pyritised, the preservation of these pyritised animal remains in the some of the Lower Gault beds is exceptional, shells tend to be preserved in their original proportions and are generally not crushed. Sometimes a beautiful coating of iridescent mother-of-pearl is to be found though this is usually partial or flaked off entirely. They do require careful preservation (more on that subject later).

Two excellent ammonite specimens from the foreshore (Left - Anahoplites planus) (Right - Euhoplites aspasia).

Special finds

Our recent visit to Folkestone also revealed a much less common find - the remains of Protosphyraena ferox, one of the last of a group of swift, predatory ray-finned fishes without bony vertebrae. Scientists have never found a complete skeleton of this fish; only the head, pectoral girdle and tail are known.

(Left) Protosphyraena tooth. (Right) Artist impression of Protosphyraena - Fig 1, and actual skull example - Fig 2

Protosphyraena is believed to have grown up to twice the size of an average man.  They were armed with a long, strong weapon at the extremity of the upper jaw, something like that of a sword-fish, but round and pointed and composed of strong fibres. The jaws are provided with three kinds of teeth. On the outer edge is a row of large, flat, cutting teeth, somewhat resembling those of a shark. Inside, and placed irregularly, are small, blunt teeth; while in the back portion of the palate is the third set- small, sharp and needle-like in shape, forming a pavement.
(B. F. Mudge - 1874)

Two small ammonites found within the cliff face.

(Left) Tiny ammonite found in a rock pool - Hysteroceras. (Right) well preserved pyrite ammonite - Hoplites dentatus.

(Left) Small Belemnite - Neohibolites. (Right) Small Shark tooth

(Left) Hamites - hetromorph ammonite. (Right) Small bi-valve.

(Left) Fish jaw including several teeth. (Right) Small fish vertebrae.

(Left) Robert's ammonite Hoplites spathi. (Right) Close-up of Hoplites spathi crystals.

The best fossils including many ammonites are those that are preserved in iron pyrites. These can cause problems as if left untreated as they will disintegrate over a year or two as iron pyrites is inherently instable when exposed to air. Prolonged exposure to oxygen without some form of protection from lacquer or varnish will lead to a creeping decay and slow disintegration. You can’t just wash them and leave them, unfortunately. Fossils are best left to soak for a week or so in fresh water which should be enough time to remove the salts that also accelerate decay. You can usually tell when this is happening, as tiny bubbles tend to form on the surface of the fossils, after a few days this ceases. Then leave them to dry, and should be treated with lacquer, a mixture of PVA and water, or can be varnished with modelling varnish. If you use this approach, satin varnish gives a nicer effect than gloss.

Protecting your finds

It's important to spend some time considering the best way to protect your finds onsite, in transit, on display and in storage. Prior to your visit, consider the equipment and accessories you're likely to need, as these will differ depending on the type of rock, terrain and prevailing weather conditions.

(Left) Fossil wrapped in newspaper, ready for transport. (Right) A small compartment box containing cotton wool is ideal for separating delicate specimens.

When you discover a fossil, examine the surrounding matrix (rock) and consider how best to remove the specimen without breaking it; patience and consideration are key. The aim of extraction is to remove the specimen with some of the matrix attached, as this will provide added protection during transit and future handling; sometimes breaks are unavoidable, but with care you should be able to extract most specimens intact. In the event of breakage, carefully gather all the pieces together, as in most cases repairs can be made at a later time...continued. 

         

 

   

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Picture credits: Belemnite reconstruction from www.abc.net.au; Shark by diveclub.org; School of fish from coastal.er.usgs.gov. Safety notice: Fossil hunting can at times pose a risk to personal safety, in particular within environments close to the coast, cliffs or in quarries and when using the tools and equipment illustrated. Discovering Fossils provides a free resource to inform you about this fascinating subject and does not accept any liability for decisions made using this information. We recommend all individuals abide by the 'National Fossil Hunting Code' and independently research the potential dangers before and during the visit.

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Written and designed by Roy Shepherd