Not a Turtle Fossil found on the Oregon Coast

Updated from: Lori Tobias of The Oregonian Latest info on this is that it is NOT a turtle after all as it was thought to be in the story below!

William Orr, state paleontologist; Bill Hanshumaker, marine education specialist at the Hatfield Marine Science Center; and Guy DiTorrice, an avocational paleontologist, visited the site Tuesday the 15th together at low tide. They wanted to more closely study what local beach walker Carol Ritzert reported finding about a month ago. Ritzert had watched erosion reveal the rounded formation for about one year.

Scientists think this fossilized tortoise found along the beach in Lincoln County may be 20 million years old. The domed back of the stone, which measures roughly 30 inches long by 24 inches wide, suggests it was a land turtle.

"Oregon's Fossil Guy" Guy DiTorrice says the last time a discovery of this significance was made was in the 1970s, when Guy Pierson, also an avocational paleontologist, found a seal or sea lion of similar age near Newport. Parts of that fossil are at the University of Oregon museum and the Smithsonian.

"This is big," says Bill Hanshumaker, marine education specialist at the Hatfield Marine Science Center. "I've never seen anything like it before."

Time is of the essence to preserve this fossil in order to save it before it is lost by nature and erosion or destroyed by humans, DiTorrice and Hanshumaker hope to see it displayed at the Hatfield Marine Science Center at Newport.

Editors Note: by Lori Tobias, The Oregonian Saturday September 05, 8:05 PM and Tuesday September 15, 2009, 8:35 PM.

Upcoming lowest tides of the year for the Oregon Coast!

Video by Torsten Kjellstrand/The Oregonian - The tide was so low Wednesday May 27, 2009 that, in addition to gaining access to areas normally under water, people could easily reach the boiler for which Boiler Bay, just north of Depoe Bay, was named. Lower tides are forecast for June 23 & 24.

The Oregon Coast Exposed

As reported by Joe Rojas Burke in today's Oregonian: "Super-low tides at the Oregon coast will again provide ideal conditions to view a range of sea life not usually exposed to human visitors to the tidal zone. On Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, the tides will drop as low as minus 3 feet, which is about as low as the tide will get on the oregon coast. Extream minus tides reveal sea scapes and marine life that's hidden under pounding surf most of the year."

Editors Note: This photo originally appeared in the Wednesday May 27, 2009 issue of The Oregonian.

FOSSILIZED CRAB FOUND LOCALLY

Lucky beachcomber Frank of Toledo just picked up what appeared to be just another piece of jasper and found this complete fossilized crab on the backside of the cobble while kicking around at the beach. Nice find Frank!

Nice Pyritized Fossil Sea Shells Found at Newport!

These fossil shells with secondary pyrite crystals were two specimens that lucky resident Lisa found just north of Newport. The marine fossil mollusks of this area are generally about 15-20 million years old.

Editors note: Photo is about double the size of the actual specimen.

Nautilus fossil found at South Beach in Newport, Oregon

A beautiful fossilized specimen of an Aturia angustata (Conrad) of which is the extinct species that is compared with the present day Nautilus pompilus. The photos shows the interior cavity lined of druzy quartz crystals, while the exterior shell still shows the well detailed growth chamber by chamber. Found locally by Brent, a Lincoln county beachcomber.

Agate found by Joe Cheek, just fresh out of the tumbler. Only polished enough to retain the exhisting patterns as it was found!

It's agate season on the beaches of Newport, Oregon!

It is truly agate season here on the central coast of Oregon. The tides have yielded some of the nicest trophies of beautiful agates to be seen here in years. Here is another trophy for a proud local beachcomber Joe Cheek with his 4.35 pound agate that he found in January at South Beach, of Newport, Oregon.

Agates of the Oregon Coast

Useful information on Agates of the Oregon Coast...

Today's hot news about Oregon Agates...Since earlier this month after many numerous storms have scoured the sand off the central Oregon coastline just in time for the beachcombers and rock hounds to find some really GORGEOUS agates. Just today agates of every color: white ones, yellow ones and ones that are black with colorful designs. You too can find patterned agates and jaspers as you go beach combing today just "look around" for the exposed gravel beds!

You might want to obtain a copy of the beachcombers bible "Agates of the Oregon Coast" available at the local rock shops or book stores. Do remember to get a copy of the local tide book for where you will be hunting, never turning your back on the ocean.