Ernst Quarries

The Ernst Quarries have some of the largest deposits of marine fossils in the world. It’s located right next to Shark Tooth Hill in Kern County. The site contains over 260 acres of rich paleontological lands divided into 3 quarries. The land is owned by The Ernst Quarries, found here!

How to Get There:

Find directions here on the Ernst Quarries website.

Arrange a Visit:

You can arrange a visit by contacting them on their website. See pricing here, $40 per adult, $30 for children, and $15 for student groups for 4 hours of fossil collecting.

What Kind of Fossils Can You Find There:

Find rich deposits of marine bone fossils from the Miocene (12 to 15 mya). At the time Kern County consisted of shallow oceans and river bays. Shark teeth from this period are very common in the area.

Submission: Santa Paula Creek

Submitted: May 31, 2019

Location: 34°26’20.0″N 119°05’01.4″W

Fossils Found: A contributor found Turritella Snail Shells, Oyster Drill Snail Shells, and Fossil Bivalves, which they were told could be any of or a mix of Cucullaea, Glycymeris, and Glycymerita. Shell and gastropod fossils are relatively common in this area which is part of the Topatopa Range. The fossils are of an unknown age, but similar fossils found in the Los Padres Wilderness have been dated to the Oligocene-Eocene periods.

Directions: Find the coordinates on the Santa Paula Creek flood plain, downstream from the “Punchbowls” waterfalls. Many of the trails in the area can have loose gravel so it’s important to be careful fossil hunting in the area!

Submission: Chivo Canyon

Submitted: January 11, 2020

Fossil: Turritella Snails and Bivalves in Chivo Canyon creek bed. – Eocene Era

Location: 34°18’13.3″N 118°41’33.5″W

Submission: Chorro Grande Trailhead

Fossil: Limestone with compressed shell bed fossils falling out of cliffs.

Location: 34°36’55.1″N 119°19’43.6″W

Submitted: April 26, 2020

Submission: Arroyo Seco Road

Submitted: April 4, 2019

Fossils: Brachiopods (Discinisca C. D. Lamllose), unknown Nacitid Gastropod, and Scallop called Paci-Pectin Discus.

Location: Monterey Formation on Arroyo Seco Road – Miocene Era

Submission: Matilija Creek Bed

Location: Matilija Creek Bed

Submitted: April 29, 2020

Fossil: Calamite Horsetail Plant in Sandstone in Matilija Creek Bed. Possible fossil “driftwood” since this area was a marine area at the time.

Weathered Gastropod Found by Surfer’s Knoll

Location: 34°13’38.9″N 119°15’44.3″W

Submitted: May 15, 2020. 

Fossil: “Weathered gastropod found in cobble pile”

More information on this find can be found at Surfer’s Knoll.

Guide to Finding Fossils at Elk Head

Directions:

From Arcata, North on Hwy. 101, take the Trinidad exit.

Geology of the Area:

Around 500,000 years ago (Pleistocene Epoch), this area was an intertidal zone with tidepools and serge channels. 

Paleontology of the Area:

“trace fossils”, which are hundreds of holes made by pholads or boring clams, along with mussels, dogwinkles and worm tubes.

Other Fossil Sites Nearby:

Scotia Bluffs: link

Centerville Beach: link

All information cited from:

“5 Top Fossil Sites Around Humboldt Bay”, https://www.theredwoodriverwalk.com/blog/2020/09/5-top-fossil-sites-around-humboldt-bay-ca.htm

Guide on Finding Fossils in Ocotillo, CA

Abundant Aquatic Fossils at Moonstone Beach

Summary: Small beach with a wide array of mineralized aquatic fossils. Be careful as it is a dangerous area as well with lots of erosion.