Weymouth fossils and fossil collecting
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Low
 
The sea at Weymouth rarely washes Fuzzy Cliff, so few fossils are found, apart from after heavy rain. Fossils are also found at Redcliff Point which the sea does often wash out, but these beds are not so productive
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Suitable for Children
  
Weymouth is suitable for families, a car park,toliets, cafe and lovely beach. |
Good Access
   
Weymouth is easy location to access, a short walk, and near to toliets, cafe and not far from the town centre. |
Cliff, Foreshore
Most fossils are found along the foreshore, but fossils can also be found washed out of the clay on the slippages after rain. |
No digging in the cliff
This location is part of the Jurassic World Heritage site, and hammering or digging in the cliff is not permitted. |

Common sense when collecting at all locations should be taken and knowledge of tide times should always be noted. Furzy cliff is rarely washed out by the sea, and as the sea defence is just West of the cliff, their is little danger here. The dangers of being cut off from the tide are along Red Cliff point, here tide times should be noted. |
Weymouth
Tide Times

UK Tidal data is owned by Crown Copyright, and therefore sadly we are not allowed to display tide times without paying expensive annual contracts. However we sell them via our store, including FREE POSTAGE
Click here to buy a tide table
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| Last updated: |
2008 |
| last visited: |
2002 |
| Written by: |
Alister and Alison Cruickshanks |
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At Fuzzy Cliff, it is best to collect fossils after heavy rain, this often causes slips. The sea rarely washes the cliff, but at Redcliff Point, the sea regulary washes the cliffs, so you may have a better chance at this location.
Search the washed clay on the foreshore, or search the areas of shingle.
At Furzy Cliff, the ammonite Cardioceras can be found along with Oysters, Gryphaea dilatata and Lopha. Ichthyosaurus, Crocodile and Crustacean remains have been reported, but the sea rarely washes these cliffs out anymore, so collecting is best done after heavy rain.
Walking further East at Redcliff point, pyritized ammonites of the Mariae Zone can be found.

Oxford Clay and Corallian
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Jurassic, 155mya |
Other Locations similar to Weymouth
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TOOLS: A Pick and knife are best at this location, hammers may be required if looking at the corallian beds of Red Point cliff, though most collecting may be achieved in the Oxford clay. Suitable footwear should be worn especially after heavy rain. CONTAINERS: Simple containers and small bags can be taken to store fossils, they may be cleaned of residual clay at home.....[more] |
 
 
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Stone Tumblers |
Microscopes |
Test Sieves for Microfossils |
If you are interested in fossil collecting, then you may also be interested in a stone tumbler (Lapidary). You can polish stones and rocks from the beach which
will look fantastic polished using a stone tumbler.
You can polish rough rock and beach glass whilst collecting fossils, on those days where you come back empty handed.
These are all high quality machines to give a professional finish to your samples. They can even be used for amber and fossils. |
At most locations, you can find microfossils. You only need a small sample of the sand. You then need to wash it in water and sieve using a test sieve. Once the sand is processed, you can then view the contents using a microscope.
We have a wide range of microscopes for sale, you will need a Stereomicroscope for viewing microfossils. The best one we sell is the IMXZ, but a basic microscope will be fine. Once you have found microfossils, you will need to store these microfossils.
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Test Sieves are used when searching for microfossils. Microfossils can be found in many locations, and all you need is a small amount of sample such as clays, sands and shales, or if you have acid, limestone, oolite or chalk.
Our UKGE Store sells Endecotts Test Sieves, which are the highest in accuracy and extremely durable and long lasting. These Test Sieves are fantastic for microfossils. Endecotts Test Sieves come in a variety of sizes, frame material and types, they are certificated to EU Standards. |
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