Department of Biology
Coon Creek Field Trips
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A chance to dig your own fossils!

Fall 2000 Field Trip to Coon Creek Science Center
CBU biology students participated in two field trips to Coon Creek Science Center
on Sat., 30 Sept. 2000 and Sat., 7 Oct. 2000.
A map and written directions are available from Dr. Ogilvie.
Click on photo to see a larger image.
[Photos by Dr. Fitzgerald.]
Early Spring Trip to Coon Creek:  8 March 2000
(As reported in CBU Caduceus Spring 2000.08)
[Click on photo to see a larger image]

Pat Broadbent, instructor, dispensing tools and collection bags

Looking for fossils in Coon Creek

Dewonia King cleaning fossils from the deposit

Robert Appling and his prized Exogyra
CBU Caduceus Newsletter  Spring 2000.08, Week of March 27, 2000

The Coon Creek Excursion - March 8, 2000.
[Reported by Stan Eisen, Ph.D.]

Coon Creek is the location of a major fossil deposit indicating a shallow sea covering an area corresponding the Southeast United States. Numerous fossils, particularly of molluscs have been excavated from the site since the early 1900's. These fossils are approximately 60 million years old. What makes Coon Creek unique is that the shells are the actual shells of these animals, and NOT mineralized remains, casts, or molds.  Here is what Analice Hosey, President of the CBU chapter of the American Chemical Society wrote about the excursion: 
"Eight Biology and Chemistry majors and Dr. Eisen traveled to McNairy County to the Coon Creek Science Center. The day consisted of examining excavated material containing fossils from 60 million years ago, as well as sifting through material in Coon Creek. It was one of the few times that college students participate in the one-day program. Senior chemistry major Emily Biggs called the day, 'Greatly informative.' All of the participating students and faculty agreed that the best part of the day was seeing the Mosasaur fossil in Coon Creek. (The Mosasaur was a 55-foot long reptile-like creative similar to the modern-day Komodo Dragon.) Robert Appling and Dr. Eisen discovered a specimen of Exogyra while sifting through the mud of Coon Creek. It was the largest specimen retrieved that day, being approximately 4 inches in diameter."
To subscribe to CBU Caduceus, contact Dr. Eisen.
CBU Excellence in Teaching Workshop 17 Aug. 2000
Graduation 2000BBB induction 2000Gulf Coast Field Trip 2000
4th Annual CBU Student Research Poster Session: 18 April 2000.
TAS at CBU 2000:  CBU Biology hosted the TAS Western Regional Collegiate Division meeting 25 March 2000.  CBU Biology students won 7 of the 9 best paper awards.
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