Significant Paleo-geological finds identified on my property!

[Hugh R]

Got a certified letter from a paleo-geo firm that works with Southern California Edison, they were putting footings in on their right-of-way on my 18 acres for new power lines. It seems that they came across a dozen or so "significant" paleo-geo specimens from the Pliocene era, (3.1 to 3.25 million years ago) when my property was part of the ocean. I'm about 30 miles in a straight line from the current Pacific shore. They want to know if I want to donate them to the LA County Natural History Museum. I'm going to tell them yes.

There is a certain band of sediment on my property that is full of this stuff and once in a while a baseball sized rock with these shells and stuff rolls down on my driveway.

Some of the descriptions are as follows:

Saxidomus nuttalli
Argopecten cf. invalidus
Trachycardium quadrigenerium
Cyclocardia occidentalis.

I'll look for one tomorrow, if I get the chance, and post a pic.

I doubt they are really worth much dollar wise. There must be tons of them.

[slodave]

Of your list, 1,2, and 4 are extremely common around here. I can go dig up dozens of them tomorrow. Number 3 doesn't come up in a Google search.

[onewhippedpuppy]

That's pretty cool!

When my wife and I lived in central KS, there was a beautiful country property we always wanted. Beautiful 1960s ranch house, on a hill overlooking a wetland preserve, with acres of well-manicured grounds and multiple outbuildings. We were young and had no money, eventually the property sold. The new owners discovered a complete t-rex skeleton on their property and ultimately sold the rights for close to $1M.

[WPOZZZ]

Originally Posted by Hugh R

I doubt they are really worth much dollar wise. There must be tons of them.

That's a lot of clams!

[WPOZZZ]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

That's pretty cool!

When my wife and I lived in central KS, there was a beautiful country property we always wanted. Beautiful 1960s ranch house, on a hill overlooking a wetland preserve, with acres of well-manicured grounds and multiple outbuildings. We were young and had no money, eventually the property sold. The new owners discovered a complete t-rex skeleton on their property and ultimately sold the rights for close to $1M.

What do you mean sell the rights? They sold the t-rex? Or sold the ability to dig it up and display?

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by WPOZZZ

What do you mean sell the rights? They sold the t-rex? Or sold the ability to dig it up and display?

They essentially sold the dinosaur I guess would be a better way to phrase it. A team of archaeologists came out and dug it up.

[scottmandue]

You never know... if there are traces for that era (Paleo) i.e. sea shell there could be some larger finds.

I am right on the coast and there are sea shells in the ground... and in certain locations small-medium size fossils in the rocks.

[wdfifteen]

[id10t]

Originally Posted by WPOZZZ

What do you mean sell the rights? They sold the t-rex? Or sold the ability to dig it up and display?

From what I understand is that trading in old animal bits is somewhat regulated but fairly easy. Trading in something man-made has more regulation. But, you can always lease access rights to your property for certain activities - this is how hunting leases, etc. all work. You just license the right to access your property and dig stuff up to an accredited institution/group and wallah!

[scottmandue]

[Tobra]

I hope your property does not get turned into some historical site or something

[fintstone]

Ask them to value your donation so you can write it off on your taxes.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

^^^^^
This.

[Hugh R]

Excellent idea.

I inherited a bunch of Hollywood Reporters and Varieties and other stuff related to Reds in Hollywood in the 1950s. I donated boxes of that stuff to the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, the people who do the Oscars and had it valued at $20,000 or so about a decade ago, and took a tax deduction.