Field Trips

The BGS conducts on the order of 12 to 15 member-only field trips each season. In addition to visiting many of the local creeks and quarries, the club has collected at sites throughout the eastern United States and Canada.

Two of the most popular sites, Niagara Stone Quarry and Lafarge Quarry in Lockport, have been visited regularly since the 1950’s.

Until it became inaccessible to all collecting, we also held an annual trip into the internationally renowned Bennett Quarry, home of many of the world’s finest Eurypterid specimens.

Currently our most popular trip is a 4 day excursion to Cincinnati, Ohio. The group collects at multiple quarries and road cuts in the area, bringing home some spectacular Ordovician and Silurian fossils.

Participants are required to register for each trip with the designated trip leader, arrive on time at the scheduled meeting location and notify the trip leader when they are leaving the site.

Many of our members receive annual Hazard Recognition and General Safety Instructions provided by quarry personnel and the club follows all state, local, MSHA and quarry regulations regarding safety equipment and age restrictions. Please view the link detailing our safety rules and procedures.

Field Trip to LaFarge Quarry, Lockport, NY - Sunday Oct.15, 2023 arrive by 8:30 AM to sign paperwork and attend the safety lecture. We will enter the quarry at 9:00 AM. No late arrivals are permitted. You may leave at any time. Bring plenty of water to drink. The quarry is located at 400 Hinman Ave., Lockport, NY. The quarry entrance is west of the intersection of Rte. 93 and the Erie Canal. Hard hats, steel toed shoes, eye protection, and long pants are required. Gloves are recommended. Gas powered saws and tools are not allowed. No climbing on rocks or piles is allowed. Must be 18 years old or older. Sledge hammers, rock hammers, chisels, pry bars, etc are recommended as this is hard rock breaking. Do not bring carpenter hammers as they can shatter. We will drive into the quarry. Food and drinks are recommended. Expect to find crystals of Calcite, Dolomite, Selenite, Sphalerite. Celestite, Marcasite, Galena, and Fluorite; also few fossils have been found https://www.mindat.org/loc-5872.html