Fossil Hunting in Georgia

Georgia’s Coastal Plain covers the southern two-thirds of the state and holds a rich record of Eocene marine life. While not as well known as neighboring Florida or the Carolinas, Georgia rewards collectors who explore its river systems, mine exposures, and barrier island beaches.

Why Georgia?

During the Eocene epoch, roughly 35 to 55 million years ago, much of southern Georgia lay beneath a warm shallow sea. The sediments deposited during this period are now exposed by river erosion and commercial mining operations, particularly in the kaolin mining belt of central Georgia. These deposits yield an impressive diversity of shark teeth, echinoids, and marine invertebrates.

Georgia also has the advantage of a long coastline where beach collecting for more recent shark teeth and marine vertebrate material is productive year-round.

What You’ll Find

Eocene marine fossils (~35-55 million years old):

• Shark teeth — Multiple species including Otodus, Striatolamia, and various requiem sharks
• Echinoids — Well-preserved sea urchin tests from the Ocala Limestone and Clinchfield Formation
• Bivalves and gastropods — Diverse mollusk fauna from warm shallow-water environments
• Whale bone fragments — Early whale (archaeocete) material occasionally found in Eocene beds
• Foraminifera — Nummulites and other large foram species in the Ocala Limestone

Cretaceous fossils (limited exposures):

• Marine invertebrates from the Fall Line region where Coastal Plain sediments meet the Piedmont

Recent marine fossils (coastal beaches):

• Shark teeth — Miocene through Pleistocene teeth from multiple species in beach gravels
• Ray dental plates — Occasionally found alongside shark teeth
• Bone fragments — Whale and marine mammal pieces in phosphate-rich lag deposits

Best Time to Visit

• Fall (September-November): Low river levels expose gravel bars and bluffs; comfortable temperatures
• Winter (December-February): Best beach collecting after nor’easters stir up bottom sediments
• After storms: Fresh erosion on bluffs and beaches exposes new fossils

Tips for Georgia Collecting

1. Contact local gem and mineral clubs for organized mine digs — the Andersonville kaolin mines are the best collecting in the state but require arranged access
2. Wade rivers carefully — Georgia’s Coastal Plain rivers can have soft bottoms and variable currents; wear water shoes and use a walking stick
3. Sift gravel bars — Small shark teeth and microfossils concentrate in lag deposits; a small screen or sieve greatly increases your find rate
4. Check tide tables for beach collecting — Low tide exposes the most productive shell hash and gravel zones on barrier islands
5. Bring a GPS and map — Many collecting sites in rural central Georgia are along unpaved roads with limited cell service

Collecting Sites

Legal Rules for Georgia

Key Geological Formations

• Ocala Limestone (Upper Eocene)
• Clinchfield Formation (Upper Eocene)
• Barnwell Group (Upper Eocene)
• Cretaceous Coastal Plain deposits

Local Fossil Clubs & Museums

• Georgia Mineral Society
• Tellus Science Museum
• Georgia Southern Museum