5

The North Vernon Formation (Middle Devonian) at the top of the pit.
Deep weathering is typical, though a bit frustrating for the quarry
operators. Pyritic New Albany Shale is stripped away on the right.
Ground water combines with the pyrite to create sulfuric acid allow
for the massive erosion channels to develop in the limestone. The
dark sub-soil around the boulders contain fragile fossils. The chert
on the left contains lots of brachiopods (primarily Pseudatrypa and
Orthospirifer).

6

A boulder rich in Atrypid brachiopods laying on its side.
It is in the center of the preceeding photo.

7

8

Before and after views of a sieve tray containing a dark sub-soil
containing delicate corals and brachiopods. The fossils are
washed with a nozzle of a hose set to mist.

9

Corals weathering out of the Jeffersonville Limestone in a
Clark Co., Indiana quarry. The round coral is Favosites turbinatus,
the branching coral is Striatopora. Small horn corals and large
crinoid columnals are also visible.

Alan Goldstein

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