Lost River Roadside Quarry
Approximate â check official site before visiting
Roadside quarry on Old Route 55, about 4 miles west of Wardensville in Hardy County. Exposes Devonian-age Needmore Formation reef deposits from the ancient Kaskaskia Sea (~390 million years old). The shale splits easily revealing well-preserved trilobites (Eldredgeops/Phacops), corals, brachiopods, and cephalopods. Gray shale has well-preserved but fragile fossils; orange shale is more fragile with poorer preservation. Collect on surface from fallen material at base of slope â no digging required.
ðŠĻ What You Can Find Here
Fossils
From shark teeth in Florida to dinosaurs in Montana, the US offers world-class fossil hunting for all skill levels.
Also found at:
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âïļ Recommended Gear
Make the most of your visit to Lost River Roadside Quarry with the right equipment.
Rock Hammer
The most essential rockhounding tool. Choose a hammer with both a flat striking face and a pointed pick end.
Typical: $25-45
Safety Glasses
Mandatory protective gear. Rock chips fly unpredictably when hammering.
Typical: $10-20
Chisel Set
Cold chisels in 3-4 sizes for precise extraction from matrix rock.
Typical: $15-30
Geologist's Pick
A heavier crack hammer for splitting hard rock. Essential for hard rock mining areas.
Typical: $35-60
Sifting Screen
Stackable mesh screens for sifting gravel and dirt. Essential for gem and fossil hunting.
Typical: $20-40
UV Flashlight
Long-wave UV light for finding fluorescent minerals and Yooperlites.
Typical: $15-35