St Andrews fossils and fossil collecting
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Another location along this stretch of coastline where Carboniferous plant fossils can be found. The site is not as rich as others but is worth a visit none-the-less. |
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Medium
Various plant fossils can be found in the in situ rock layers and also as loose pebbles. Rocks containing abundant bivalves are also present, but uncommon. |
Suitable for Children
There are no significant obstacles or risks at this site and as such it is suitable for the whole family. |
Good Access
The location is close to a car park. The beach is easy to negotiate. |
Rock outcrops
Loose rocks
Fossils can be seen in the exposed rock layers of the foreshore. They can also be picked up as loose pebbles or extracted from larger rocks. |
No Restrictions
There are no restrictions at this location. |
This is a family friendly location, beginning at a popular sandy beach. From this beach a more rocky stretch of coastline can be investigated for fossils. In places, this is uneven underfoot and also slippery where algae covers the rocks. It is possible to get cut off here, so please collect on a falling tide. Remember to take a mobile phone with you and always tell someone where you are going and what time you expect to return. |
Last updated:
last visited:
Written by: |
02/01/10
2009
Joe Shimmin
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Other Locations similar to St Andrews
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There are many different locations around Scotland where you can find plant remains. Around the midland area of Scotland, one of the best is East Wemyss.
You can also try Crail, and Anstruther. These are all very similar to St Andrews.
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Fossils can be found in loose pebbles or observed in situ within the exposed rock strata. Plant fossils are the most common, with examples of Stigmaria sp. being fairly abundant. Some red coloured rocks are packed with bivalve fossils, but these are scarce.
It is worth searching through all rock available to find fossils at this location.
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Carboniferous, 330mya |
The Carboniferous sandstones at St Andrews are Visean age, and part of the Asbian, Calciferous Sandstone Series. This is around 330mya...[more]
Bedding plains in sandstone
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Plant fossil impression ...[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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