Hi All,
My 1st post
Walking around the Desert doing an Eocene Mammal Project I find and
cut many unique stones! Volcanic areas always have selection!
Psilomelane_ is_ one. All forms of Chalcedony. Fossil Brontothere
Bone
is another. It is preserved similar to dinosaur and unique far as I
can tell.
Throw(gently) a chunk of 28million yr. old US Rhino on your
artwork.
100’s of finished stone cabs I cut myself- anyone wanting pics-
happy to help fellow jewelers,
James
This post scares me.
And so,
Unless collected from Private Property, Invertebrate Fossil
Trafficking is Illegal.
I believe it may be illegal even if the fossils are from private
property in some states.
I understand that there are no commercial permits available for
vertebrate collecting on public land at all.
All chalcedony (and even so much as a pebble of anything) cannot be
collected for sale from Public land at all without a permit or
claim. And there are no permits issued for National Parks.
As was explained to me by a Magistrate after having been caught by a
Ranger while illegally collecting minerals from a section of land
“in ward of the National Park Service”, it’s up to you to know the
rules of where you are collecting, and to obtain adequate permissions
from either the owner or the Federal Government.
$10,000 and a year in jail is the Maximum.
A BLM Officer explained that it’s okay to collect agates and such
for non commercial use. You just can’t sell it or even give the
material to so much as your Spouse! This includes your petrified wood
allowance.
The scary part is, too few know the rules.
I’m not accusing you, James, of breaking the law. I just want you
and others to know the rules.
And regardless, you must provide documentation with such offers as a
chunk of 28million yr. old US Rhino We all must know the regulations.
Good Luck
TL Goodwin
Lapidary/Metalsmith
I dunno how that is in your state but if there is such a law it is
most definitely NOT enforced in Arizona. Most public lands are open
to collecting, including even commercial collecting, de facto if not
de jure.
Indian reservations most certainly are not, National Parks are not,
and some specific areas are closed to collecting, but in general,
it’s okay to collect no matter what you’re going to do with the
stones.
Are you sure you weren’t collecting in a national park? That will
get you in trouble. And collecting on an Indian reservation without
tribal permission is even worse.
RC
Oh yeah. Invertebrate fossil collecting on public lands is generally
legal in Arizona – modulo the restrictions mentioned above.
Invertebrate collecting is another matter, but I believe permits are
available to groups like amateur paleontological societies. (I’d have
to check.)
This very interesting post. I am absolutely ignorant of legal side
of collecting samples. Does anyone know what is the logic behind,
what appears to be, such a nonsensical law.
Leonid Surpin
www.studioarete.com
To answer the legality question on Brontothere bone I have used for
lapidary purposes and put this one to bed:
I picked up the unusually preserved bone on_ private_ property, many
miles past a locked gate. No park of any kind is within 40miles.
If a law in your state prohibits your buying a fossil collected
legally in Texas? Do not contact me wanting one, please.
I understand your concern,
James
Thank you James
I didn’t want to sound like I was accusing you of doing something
illegal. I knew there was a good possibility that since you seemed
to be an experienced researcher or student, that you knew the rules.
I am relieved to see that that is true.
One of my points is that there are Pro’s who don’t know.
It seems there is an Ocean of gray area and unenforceability.
TL Goodwin
Lapidary/Metalsmith