Fossils Collected in Aurora, North Carolina, USA
Specimens Found in Lee Creek Formation

The fossils presented in the pages of this site were collected on March 28-30, 2001. Several of the fossils have been identified with the help of fellow boneheads. Others are yet to be identified and we are looking for help in identifying them. If you could clarify anything you see on these pages please notify us.

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Shark Teeth and Vertebrae Bony Fish Fossils Whale and Porpoise Fossils
Unidentified Fossils Skates and Ray Fossils

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If you are in North Carolina, or plan to be near the Outer Banks area, make sure to do yourself a favor and go visit the Aurora Fossil Museum . They have great displays of mounted teeth and will answer all your questions about the fossils found there. You can even dig through some dirt yourself and take home a few fossil teeth. Here is the contact information:

AURORA FOSSIL MUSEUM
400 MAIN STREET
P.O. BOX 352
AURORA, NC 27806-0352
TELEPHONE: (252) 322-4238
FAX: (252) 322-5895

    References that were helpful in identifying fossils presented here include the following:

  1. A Field Guide to Fossil Finds for the Young Paleontologist. 1998. Linda J. Beddard.
    Specific guide for identifying fossils from the PCS Phosphate Mine, Aurora, North Carolina. Short description of geologic history of the site and its mineral deposits. Many pictures of fossils that may be found in the mine. Includes a short glossary, selected bibliography, and a map of the region.
  2. Neogene Fossils of North Carolina: A Field Guide. 1997. John Timmerman and Richard Chandler. The North Carolina Fossil Club, Inc.
    Discusses the fossil formations in North Carolina, including the Pungo River, Yorktown, and James City Formations. Reviews the type of shark fossils and the variation in teeth attributable to different species, age, or sex. Table of 23 shark species and the size of their teeth. Hand drawings of shark teeth, vertebrae, whale, porpoise, and seal fossils, urchins, and shells.
  3. Cretaceous and Paleogene Fossils of North Carolina: A Field Guide. 1995. John Timmerman and Richard Chandler. The North Carolina Fossil Club, Inc.
    Introduces the geologic history of North Carolina and discusses sharks living in the ancient times. Tables give 26 paleogene shark species and 14 cretaceous shark species and the sizes of their teeth. Discusses the evolution of the white sharks and the eocene and cretaceous echinoids of North Carolina. Table lists the sizes and relative frequency of 31 species of echinoids. Hand drawings include life-sized black silhouettes for many of the shark teeth, which is very helpful when identifying specimens. Also contains drawings for bony fish, marine reptile, a few dinosaur, crab, bryozoan, echinoid, and mollusk fossils.
  4. A Key to the Common Genera of Neogene Shark Teeth. 1990. Robert W. Purdy. National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C.
    Highly scientific description of the shark teeth that may be found at Lee Creek. Dichotomous key gives very detailed description of teeth types. Hand drawings of several types of teeth and indications of anatomical features.
  5. http://www.elasmo.com/
    Several pages in this well-maintained site are devoted to the identification of shark and ray teeth. There are lists for carcharhiniform sharks, non-carcharhiniform sharks, and skates and rays whose fossils can be found in Lee Creek. Each list gives a short description of the species, the scientific and common names of the species, a picture or drawing of the teeth, and the formations where the fossils may be found. There are lots of links to pictures of extant shark dentitions.
  6. Illustrated Guide to Fossil Vertebrate. 1974. Frank A. Garcia.
    Guide for fossils found in Florida. Hand drawings of various fossils of several mammals from the miocene, pliocene, and pleistocene epochs. Includes dimensions on drawings and a recommended reading list.

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