THE CRITICAL ROLES OF AVOCATIONAL PALEONTOLOGISTS IN ACTIVE QUARRY SETTINGS: AN EXAMPLE FROM THE NAPOLEON QUARRY OF SOUTHEASTERN INDIANA

Active quarries represent “double-edged swords” to paleontologists. On one hand, ongoing quarrying results in frequent exposure of new strata, benching off and cleaning of bedding planes, and contribution of fresh material to spoil piles. On the other hand, active quarries continually remove rock and sediment from potentially fossiliferous units, bury or conceal formerly exposed surfaces, and restrict access to certain portions of the property. The net result is that all lithologic units, collecting areas, accessible surfaces, and distinctive features in active quarries are ephemeral and often persist for only a few years. Hence, conducting paleontological research in such settings requires: 1) very frequent visits to the site, 2) rapid collection or documentation of sedimentary or paleontological material, 3) careful attention to new exposures that must be immediately investigated, and 4) assessment of previously productive or interesting areas that may become inaccessible or destroyed as quarrying progresses. Because of these requirements, avocational paleontologists are critical to advancing research in active quarries. First, avocational paleontologists can readily visit their favorite quarries and effectively serve as the “eyes, ears, and hands” of academics who cannot readily conduct fieldwork on short notice or with necessary frequency. Second, noteworthy finds can be made over the course of extensive collection by amateurs, often far exceeding that possible during the “field seasons” of academics. Third, funding provided by avocational paleontologists or societies is generally available to researchers relatively rapidly, facilitating near-immediate purchase of equipment and hiring of field assistants. The major advantages of a synergistic relationship between academic and avocational paleontologists is well-illustrated by the numerous contributions made by the Cincinnati-based Dry Dredgers group via work in middle Silurian strata exposed in the New Point Stone quarry near Napoleon, southeastern Indiana. Through vigilance, focused collection efforts, and rapid responses to changes in quarrying patterns, many valuable specimens were collected, imperiled areas were studied in detail before destruction, and short-lived features were documented while exposed.