Fossil hunting in Folkestone
Folkestone if one of the best places on the south coast for fossils. The range and quality and
volume of fossils make this an excellent destination. Access to the beach is convenient, with plenty
of parking and facilities, including toilets. If the weather has been wet, be sure to bring wellies or
walking boots, as the clay is both wet and muddy.The earliest rocks at Folkestone consist of Lower
Greensand exposed to the north of the town and run through a sequence of Lower Greensand,
Gault Clay (phasing into Upper Greensand) and Chalk, the whole sequence dating from
approximately 120 to 80 million years old. The chalk increases in thickness to the north culminating
with the famous white cliffs of Dover before dipping off to the north approaching Deal.
Fossils can be found all year round, but the best finds are made following periods of wet weather
when the clay is soft. However, during the summer months visitors can still find a large number of
fossils within the boulders and rock pools. Searching for fossils on the foreshore requires a hands
on approach! The fossils here have been washed out from the cliff and are often buried by shingle
and soft clay. A small trowel is a great tool for uncovering the fossils, while some people prefer to
dig with their hands! Either way, a large number of fossil fragments and complete specimens can be
found this way. A bottle of tap water is also advisable to wash finds on the spot if one is curious and
wishes to wash the clay off there and then. One is advised to take a bag and newspaper to keep the
specimens safe and free from knocking into each other.
The Gault contains the fossils of many forms of marine creature; ammonites, belemnites, nautilus,
bivalves, crinoids, gastropods, fish remains, and scaphopods are quite common along with rare
finds of reptilia. Ichthyosaur vertebrae have been found in association with the smaller fauna though
by far the most common fossils are the small shelly forms. In some of the clay bed sequences the
fossils are preserved in phosphate; they tend to be dark, frequently broken and are often in
concreted masses. The best preserved fossils are those that are pyritised, the preservation of these
pyritised animal remains in the some of the Lower Gault beds is exceptional, shells tend to be
preserved in their original proportions and are generally not crushed. Sometimes a beautiful coating
of iridescent mother-of-pearl is to be found though this is usually partial or flaked off entirely. They
do require careful preservation
The best fossils including many ammonites are those that are preserved in iron pyrites. These can
cause problems as if left untreated as they will disintegrate over a year or two as iron pyrites is
inherently instable when exposed to air. Prolonged exposure to oxygen without some form of
protection from lacquer or varnish will lead to a creeping decay and slow disintegration. You can’t
just wash them and leave them, unfortunately. Fossils are best left to soak for a week or so in fresh
water which should be enough time to remove the salts that also accelerate decay. You can usually
tell when this is happening, as tiny bubbles tend to form on the surface of the fossils, after a few
days this ceases. Then leave them to dry, and should be treated with lacquer, a mixture of PVA and
water, or can be varnished with modelling varnish. If you use this approach, satin varnish gives a
nicer effect than gloss. It's important to spend some time considering the best way to protect your
finds onsite, in transit, on display and in storage. Prior to your visit, consider the equipment and
accessories you're likely to need, as these will differ depending on the type of rock, terrain and
prevailing weather conditions. When you discover a fossil, examine the surrounding matrix (rock)
and consider how best to remove the specimen without breaking it; patience and consideration are
key. The aim of extraction is to remove the specimen with some of the matrix attached, as this will
provide added protection during transit and future handling; sometimes breaks are unavoidable, but
with care you should be able to extract most specimens intact. In the event of breakage, carefully
gather all the pieces together, as in most cases repairs can be made at a later time. (Source:
http://www.discoveringfossils.co.uk/Folkestone.htm)
 Your task
Read the information above and answer these questions:
What things do you need to take with you if you are going fossil hunting in Folkestone?
When is the best time to look for fossils?
What sorts of fossils can you find at Folkestone?
What steps should you take to ensure you are safe?
How should you protect and conserve your fossils?
You are going to make a public information film for
Kent TV about fossil hunting in Folkestone. Your
film should be no longer than 2 mins long and
include the following:



Information about the geology of
Folkestone
Descriptions of different fossils that can
be found
Practical advice on safe fossil hunting