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Herculaneum Fissure

Jefferson County, Missouri
Directions
Next site in MissouriBarnhart quarry · 8 mi

Can I collect here?

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See who owns this land and whether it is claimedPro shows the owner, the claim on this spot and every claim within a mile.
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Based on our latest records, with claims updated from the BLM on Oct 15, 2026. Land and claims can change quickly, so check before you go.

Minerals on record here

1 mineral

Recorded here: fossil.

Nearby sites

All of Missouri
8 miBarnhart quarryFossil10 miGlen Park quarryFossil11 miArnoldGeode, dolomite, marcasite +3

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About Herculaneum Fissure

Herculaneum Fissure is a fossil collection site in Jefferson, Missouri, cataloged in the Paleobiology Database. The depositional environment is recorded as fissure fill. Documented finds include Testudines, Crotalidae, Colubridae, Alligator, Canis latrans, Aenocyon dirus.

Geologic setting

Geologic interval
Late Pleistocene
Age
0.129–0.0117 Ma
Depositional environment
fissure fill
Recorded occurrences
24
Geology notes

"a fissure in the Plattin limestone"

Locality notes

"about a mile west of Herculaneum on the north side of Joachim Creek just west of National Highway 61" in a fissure "about 5 feet wide" (coordinate based on Joachim Creek)

Fossils found here

Testudines
Reptilia
Crotalidae
Reptilia · Crotalidae
Colubridae
Reptilia · Colubridae
Alligator
Reptilia · Alligatoridae
Canis latrans
Mammalia · Canidae
Aenocyon dirus
Mammalia · Canidae
Urocyon
Mammalia · Canidae
Procyon lotor
Mammalia · Procyonidae
Spilogale interrupta
Mammalia · Mephitidae
Puma concolor
Mammalia · Felidae
Megalonyx jeffersonii
Mammalia · Megalonychidae
Ochrotomys nuttalli
Mammalia · Cricetidae
Neotoma floridana
Mammalia · Cricetidae
Microtus ochrogaster
Mammalia · Cricetidae
Sciurus
Mammalia · Sciuridae
Lepus americanus
Mammalia · Leporidae
Sylvilagus aquaticus
Mammalia · Leporidae
Equus complicatus
Mammalia · Equidae
Equus
Mammalia · Equidae
Lamini
Mammalia · Camelidae
Odocoileus virginianus
Mammalia · Cervidae
Bison
Mammalia · Bovidae
Mylohyus
Mammalia · Tayassuidae

Records and references

Data: Paleobiology Database collection 93379 (CC BY 4.0) — view the source record

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Questions about Herculaneum Fissure

Can you collect at Herculaneum Fissure?

It depends on who owns the land and whether a mining claim covers it. BLM land usually allows hand collecting for personal use, national parks allow none, and private land needs the owner’s permission. Pro members see the owner and any claims at this spot.

What minerals are found at Herculaneum Fissure?

Fossil.

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Meteorite nearbyA 244.5 kg iron meteorite was found at St. Genevieve County in 1888, 21 miles from here.

Source: Paleobiology Database.