Page 82 of Fe
“Is there such a thing as a professional fossil hunter?”
“Yes.”
“How many fossils have you found?”
“Too many to count.”
“Which is your favourite?”
“A megalodon tooth.”
“When did you find it?”
“Last year.”
“Wow!” Fen’s eyes widened.
“Wow indeed. A megalodon is two or three times larger than a great white.”
“Is it true the worse the weather, the better the fossil hunting?”
“Yes. So today is a great day.”
In the end, Ripley said, “Am I allowed to ask a question?”
Fen got the hint. “Oops. Sorry.”
“Just an easy one from me,” Ripley said. “What happened to the dinosaurs?”
Gordo and Fen both groaned.
The three of them chatted as they walked, and Ripley made sure the pace wasn’t too fast for Fen.
“Ammonites and belemnites can be found all over the beach.” Gordo showed them pictures. “There’s no need to use hammers and, in any case, it’s illegal to hammer into the cliff, and dangerous. Having said that, I’ll show you what stones to look for that might have something inside.”
“Do you have a hammer?” Fen asked.
“I do.”
“Do you hammer in the morning?”
Gordo smiled. “And in the evening.”
Ripley rolled his eyes.
“Is your middle name Thor?” Fen asked.
“How did you guess?”
A few minutes later, Gordo bent and picked up a stone. “See this crack? That might indicate there’s a fossil inside. I’m not a fan of breaking open concretions to see if there’s something in them, but this looks worth it.”
“Concretion?” Ripley asked.
“Concretions form inside sediments before they harden into rocks, when they are still soft. As minerals within a sediment precipitate, they might form layers around a shell or a pebble. They’re harder than the rock they’re found in. Right, stand back and I’ll open it up. You need safety goggles and gloves if you have a go yourself.”
Gordo hit the crack a couple of times with his hammer and the concretion split open.
“Oh wow,” Fen gasped. “An ammonite.”
