What Can I Find
The most common fossil found at Mineral Wells Fossil Park are the stalks of crinoids (sea lilies). While crinoids may look like weird plants, they are actually animals. There are likely dozens of species found here, each with their own design and ornamentation. Some even have spikes.
Click photos to zoom. Photography and diagrams by Lance Hall.
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| Found at Fossil Park | Crinoid Stalk | Crinoid Columnal | Cyclocaudex Crinoid Columnal |
Pentaridica Crinoid Columnal |
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| A Complete Crinoid Top | Crinoid Diagram | Petalodus Shark Tooth |
Trilobite | Trilobite Diagram |
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| Archaeocidaris | Floricyclus Crinoid Columnals |
Punctospirifer Brachipods | unidentified | Rhombopora Bryozoa possibly |
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| Neospirifer Brachiopod |
Cyclocaudex Crinoid Columnal |
Apographiocrinus Crinoid Cup (calyx) |
Straparollus | Goniasma Snail Gastropod |
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| Petalodus Shark Tooth |
Pentaridica Crinoid Columnals |
Unknown Crinoid Cup | Orthoconic Nautiloids | possibly a Cyclocrista |
Equipment
Small zip bags or nail aprons are good for small finds and keeping things organized.
Knee pads or patches are recommended for crawling around.
Knee pads or patches are recommended for crawling around.
Planning Your Visit
This is a fairly primitive site, so be sure to bring a lot of water with you. During the hot summer months visiting in the early morning and evenings is highly recommended. There is a new shade structure, but it is still a good idea to bring an umbrella with you for shade while digging. The park has primitive restrooms and no running water.
Precautions
Enter and exit collecting area at designated points only. Area has dangerous drop offs, steep slopes and loose soil.
Encounters with dangerous insects/animals are possible.
Encounters with dangerous insects/animals are possible.
