The Gearing family, who have been coming on fossil hunts for 30 years, this week found a mineralised beach worn Iguanodon tooth 125 million years old at Brook, on a fossil hunt organised by Jenny Hawthorn of Island Gems.
Felicity or ‘Flick’ who led the trip said that bits of dinosaur bone found amongst the beach pebbles were not uncommon but teeth like this are a rarity.
Simpson: Finds like this only crop up every few years
Martin Simpson, the ‘fossil man’, said finds like this only crop up every few years and it’s nice that regular visitors get to keep a prehistoric souvenir from their Island visits.
Martin was recently featured on a tv programme with Susan Calman who found a nice piece of marcasite crystal from the same spot.
Geotourism is really becoming popular on the Island. Four new dinosaur species have been announced in the last two years.
“Very happy with his find”
The Gearings said,
“We have spent many years fossil hunting as a family on the Isle of Wight and have been out hunting with many guides over the years. This year we brought along Nick (Rebecca’s partner) on our family holiday.
“This was Nick’s first ever fossil hunt so as you can imagine, he’s very happy with his find.
“Our guide (Flick) told us what to look out for and where best to search. We are very happy to find a rare fossil and will treasure it.”
News shared by Jenny Hawthorn, in her own words. Ed
Image: © Felicity from Island Gems
