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Introduction
Herne Bay is far from a beauty spot, unless you happen to love mud, however the abundant fossils more than compensate for the poor scenery.
Discovering Fossils visited Herne Bay during the Spring, following a few hours of collecting at the neighbouring Isle of Sheppey. On that particular day, the quality and variety of fossils was considerably better at Herne Bay. You need a low tide of below 1m to make collecting worth while here and these tend to fall in the evening and early mornings.
The location has a lot to offer, especially following periods of scouring tides, during which time visitors are almost guaranteed to find shark teeth.
Where to look for fossils?
The foreshore at Herne Bay is littered with shark teeth and other marine fossils.
Fossils are concentrated around the foreshore exposures, which are located about 20 meters from the shoreline. Within these areas it is possible to collect several specimens in a square meter. The shark teeth are jet black in appearance and are easily spotted among the shingle.
To maximise the chance of finding a specimen, it's probably best to crouch or kneel in a particular area and slowly and carefully look over the surface. Many of the fossils are partial or damaged, however many are in outstandingly good condition.
For more information about the features and processes controlling coastal fossil collecting locations click here.
What fossil might you find?
The most common fossils found within the shingle are shark teeth. These range from only a few millimeters to several centimeters in length. The most common size is about 2.5cm (an inch). Shark species include: Odontaspis winkleri, Palaeohypotodus rutoti, Striatolamina macrota, Carcharias hopei and others. The most common is Striatolamina macrota, which has parallel striations along the main cusp and a side edge on the main cusp that loses its sharpness towards the root.
An excellent example of a Striatolamia macrota tooth found on the foreshore.
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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