How can I learn to spot fossils and fossil-bearing rocks on the Jurassic coast?

Question

Due to a pleasant change in my circumstances, I have been to Lyme Regis several times recently, and it seems as though I'm going to be a regular visitor over the next few years.As a former biologist I found the experience of combing the shore of the famous Jurassic coast for fossils to be delightfully addictive. Having spent about six hours over three days doing so, I've amassed a decent collection of ammonite fragments. Having got the bug for doing this, I'm eager to try and find some more impressive specimens.Chatting to some of the local palaeontologists on the beach it became apparent that to do so you need to split rocks, and that you need to know which rocks to split. It's also clear to me that while I've become attuned to watching for the shapes and patterns indicative of ammonites, I don't yet have the eye for the other colours and shapes of fossil shells and bones.I tried to do some reading about the geology of the region, but most of what I found online was either too basic (i.e. aimed at non-scientists) or too advanced (i.e. aimed at actual geologists) for me.So: how can I learn to better spot fossils and fossil bearing rocks in this region? I'd be very interested to learn some geology if it would help, but if that's the case, how can I find material pitched to the right level?

Answer 1

That's a fantastic opportunity for you, I'm envious! This is a really great question and hard to answer from a distance. To be frank, I don't think you'll find an answer in any textbook. However, there is an answer, because every set of fossiliferous rocks that I've visited has "tells" that give you hints that there might be a fossil or two nearby.

Two pieces of advice:

1. Find someone else who has worked in the area to tag along with on an excursion looking for fossils here or at some other related geological site in the area. Perhaps you can find a local or regional group of interested fossil hunters. Ask lots of questions about the fossilization process and try to pick up on what they are looking for, what the "tells" are that suggest fossils are near.
2. Become the expert yourself. Every outcrop is different! I can't stress how true this is. Even if someone comes to visit who's very experienced in other areas, they may not pick up on some of the tells that you can discover yourself by looking and looking, and making mental notes (and literal notes, in a notebook, with words and photos) about which rocks give hints that fossils are there. You can become a local expert.
3. I'm not a professional paleontologist, but I'd be willing to go on a virtual field trip with you sometime, maybe Zoom around from your phone to look at some of the rocks and offer any suggestions I might have. Just a thought!

Paul