Four stratigraphic sections were marked off on the outcrop (above) and three replicate, 8-10 pound (approx 3-5 kg) samples were taken adjacent to each 1 foot (33 cm.) marker. A total of 72 replicate samples from 24 stratigraphic horizons were collected for paleocommunity analysis.
Once back in the lab, each sample will be processed for shelly material. First, 2 kg of sample were washed through a #8 sieve. This sieve was placed in a tub of water, so that the finer portion which washed through the sieve was preserved for later examination. Gentle agitation was usually all that was required to remove most of the sediment from the shells, although in some cases, gentle scrubbing was also required. The largest shells (at least 1 cm in some dimension) were removed from the sieve and put aside. These larger shells proved to be rather fragile, and prone to disintegration if allowed to soak for too long. Smaller shells were not as easily damaged by either soaking or gentle agitation, and thus could be left in the sieve. After the sample had been washed through the #8 sieve, the coarse fraction was wet-washed through a #5 (4 mm) sieve. The fine fraction of this sieving was allowed to dry, and then labelled and placed in small plastic bags. The coarse fraction was also allowed to dry, and then was processed for fossil material.
Eighty-seven bivalve and gastropod taxa were recovered from processing the first 24 samples.