Meifod fossils and fossil collecting

Parking can be found in a small layby next to the start of the walk into the woods at Gallt yr Ancr hill.
Walk into the woods and after perhaps a hundred metres you will come to a gate.
The hillside to your left as you come to this gate has many sandstone blocks scattered over it.
Just past the gate there is a side path that climbs into the woods. Blocks can be found close to this path also.

GRID REF: 52.70895°N, 3.26565°W

Trilobites, Brachiopods

From the portion of the Glyndwr's Way walk that passes through the woods on Gallt yr Ancr hill, west of Meifod, fossiliferous sandstone blocks can be collected. These, when split, can yield excellent brachiopod fossils.

Medium

The right sort of blocks yield many good quality fossils; these blocks are fairly abundant but can be difficult to find.

Supervised Children

It is a short walk into the woods over easy terrain. Children should have no problems with this location.

Excellent Access

The hill is very close to Meifod and the path into the woods is short and easy.

Scree, Old Quarry Waste

Fossils are found in sandstone blocks which litter the hillside. These blocks are largely derived from old quarries.

No Restrictions

There is a public footpath into the woods, stone blocks can be collected within a few metres of the path.

As this is a remote location it is best to visit in pairs or as a group. A mobile phone should be taken and someone should be told where you are going and when you expect to be back.

Last updated:	2008
last visited:	2008
Written by:	Joe Shimmin

Other Locations similar to Meifod

For trilobites, further locations in Shropshire are Vinnels, Shadwell Quarry , Hillend, Wenlock Quarry,Hope, Betton Dingle, Wenlock Edge, Upper Millichope and Mortimer Forest In South West Wales, you can also find Silurian Trilobites from Marloes Sands and Abereiddy . In scotland you can find Carboniferous Trilobites and tracks at Aberlady.

Geological Tools

As this is a peaceful setting alongside a tranquil path it is best to take blocks home to split them there. In this case, just a sturdy bag and some packing material is required. When home, the blocks can be split using a geological or lump hammer.


Many sandstone blocks have evidence of seams of brachiopods within them. These are shown by hollow brachiopod sections in the sides of the rock. When split open, these will often yield brachiopod assemblages on the bedding planes. Small trilobite pieces can also be found among the brachiopods. You should look for these blocks at the sides of the side path as it rises into the woods after the gate, approximately 100m into the wood. There are also blocks to be found a few metres off of the path just before the gate.

	Ordovician, 450mya
The Ordovician Sandstone at Meifod is around 450million years old. It is of Caradoc age and part of the Ogwen Group. The sandstone is from the Nod Glas Formation. ....[more] Ordovician Sandstone with Brachiopods


Partial trilobite head....[more]

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.

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.