Dob’s Linn fossils and fossil collecting |
Not for children
Because of the long walk, we do not recommend this site for children. There are also no facilities such as toilets as this site is in the middle of the countryside. |
Difficult Access
Dob's Linn appears in the middle of nowhere and can be hard to find. We suggest you purchase a 1:25,000 OS map with you which will have the location marked! Once you find Dob's Linn, it is a half hour walk, so take plenty of food and drink. |
Gorge
Fossils are found in the gorge that has cut through fossil rich shale's. Fossils can be collected from the scree, or fallen rocks as well as the bedrock, although we ask you kindly to not hammer for bedrock as this is a site of importance. |
No Restrictions
There are no restrictions at this location, but please follow the Scottish Fossil Code below, and also our own UK Fossils Code of Conduct. |
If you collect fossils in Scotland, the advice on best practice in the collection and storage of fossil specimens, set out in the Scottish Fossil Code, applies to you. The Code may be viewed and downloaded from www.snh.org.uk/fossilcode.
 
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You should follow common sense at all locations. Some of the faces can be slippery after rain, or can be fairly steep. Please take care. Make sure you bring food and water, and suitable clothing as it is quite a distance from the road.
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| Last updated: |
2009 |
| last visited: |
2008 |
| Written by: |
John and Tricia Kirk |
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Dob's Linn is a famous site for Graptolites, and indeed one of the best. There are also a variety of different species to be found here, including; Monograptus, Dicranograptus, Dicellograpus, Rastrites, Cimacograpus and Pentalograpus. The gorge cuts through the Silurian/Ordovician boundary and the shales here are full of these fossils.
This site is so important that the World stratotype based for the Silurian system, is based on this locality! Search the scree slopes and fallen shale blocks for graptolites. The rich graptolite shale is repeated many times in a series of folds, so you don't need to look hard to find this fossil rich shale!
Volcanic Ash Layer
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Silurian, Ordovician |
The graptolites are found within ordovician and Silurian black shales, Dob's Linn is actually on the borderline. These shales are known as the Moffat Shales, famous for Graptolites. This is split into three further groups, the Birkhill Shales and Gala Greywackes (which are Silurian), and the Hartfell and Glenkiln Shales (Ordovician).
The shale's here seem to indicate that the bed is extremely thick (thousands of metres), indeed it was previously believed that there were 10 zones of Graptolites. Further research has concluded that actually, it is one bed folded within the Graywackes. This rich fossil bed has been repeated and is this which makes this location so productive. You will also find volcanic ash in pockets and layers at this site.
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Stone Tumblers |
Microscopes |
Geological Supplies |
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.
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UKGE, the owners of UK Fossils, are your market leader for Geological Supplies and Geology Equipment. Suppling Retail, Education and Trade in the UK, Europe and beyond.
We sell a wide range of geological hammer and geological picks as well as fossil tools, starter packs and geological chisels.
UKGE is your geological superstore, selling a wide range of field equipment, rocks, minerals, fossils, geological and even microscopy! |
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Dob's Linn is near the A708 between Moffat and Selkirk at Birkhill. Fossils are found in the gorge which has cut through black graptolitic shales. 
