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Medusa Quarry in Sylvania: Fossil Hunting in Lucas County, Ohio

Updated July 2026

This five-acre former Medusa cement quarry, now the Olander Park District's Fossil Park, is set into the Middle Devonian Silica Formation, a shale famous worldwide for beautifully preserved trilobites and more than 200 species of marine invertebrates about 375 million years old. The park keeps the pit stocked with fresh shale from the neighboring Hanson Aggregates quarry, and the rock is soft enough to split by hand. It is one of very few places in the country where anyone can walk in, dig, and legally keep museum-quality fossils at no cost. Reported finds include fossils. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Medusa Quarry in Sylvania photos

Public image records connected to this spot or its reported material.

1 photo

Phacops trilobite from the Middle Devonian Silica Formation at Sylvania, Lucas County, Ohio, a representative specimen of the fossils collected at Fossil Park (not a photo of the park itself)

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Lucas County
State: Ohio
Nearest road: Brint Road
Postcode: 43560
Coordinates: 41.70055, -83.74744

Geology at Medusa Quarry in Sylvania

This spot sits on Dundee Limestone, mapped as limestone that formed roughly 420 to 360 million years ago. Limestone like this typically forms in ancient seas, so marine fossils such as brachiopods, corals, and crinoids tend to weather out of fresh exposures.

Mapped unit: Dundee Limestone
Age: 420–360 Ma (Devonian)
Rock types: limestone
Elevation: 650 ft

Geologic mapping via Macrostrat and the underlying state geological survey maps (CC BY 4.0). Bedrock at the surface can vary within a mapped unit.

Best time to visit Medusa Quarry in Sylvania

Best months: March to November. Typical highs run 87°F in midsummer and 35°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 20°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, TOLEDO EXPRESS AP station (8 mi away).

Land & collecting status

Generally open to casual rockhounding

Most public-tagged spots sit on BLM, U.S. Forest Service, or other federal land where reasonable hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed. Confirm posted rules and active mining claims before you dig.

Public-land rules vary by agency, season, and field office. The RockHoundR app pulls live BLM, USFS, NPS, and tribal overlays so you can see exactly which agency manages the ground at this spot.

Sources & verification

Spot details combine the public RockHoundR location dataset, normalized mineral labels, agency land-status checks in the app, and community submissions. Coordinates are approximate until verified in the field.

Sources: RockHoundR public spot dataset, app land overlays, and local agency review before each trip.

Found at Medusa Quarry in Sylvania

Each chip opens all spots that produce that material; the encyclopedia link opens the full ID and field guide.

Fossils Encyclopedia →

Nearby rockhounding spots

Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Medusa Quarry in Sylvania.

Across the state line from Medusa Quarry in Sylvania

Medusa Quarry in Sylvania is close enough to the Ohio border that the next-closest rockhounding spots are in a neighboring state. Worth knowing if you are already on the road.

Medusa Quarry in Sylvania FAQ

Where is Medusa Quarry in Sylvania?+

Medusa Quarry in Sylvania is in Lucas County, Ohio, at 41.70055, -83.74744. Nearest road: Brint Road.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Medusa Quarry in Sylvania?+

Medusa Quarry in Sylvania is reported to produce Fossils.

Is collecting allowed at Medusa Quarry in Sylvania?+

Generally open to casual rockhounding. Most public-tagged spots sit on BLM, U.S. Forest Service, or other federal land where reasonable hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed. Confirm posted rules and active mining claims before you dig. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before a trip.

What tools should I bring to Medusa Quarry in Sylvania?+

A rock hammer, a cold chisel, safety glasses, and newspaper or foam for wrapping finds cover most fossil ground. A trowel and a sieve help in soft exposures.

When is the best time to visit Medusa Quarry in Sylvania?+

The most comfortable months at Medusa Quarry in Sylvania are March to November.

How do I get to Medusa Quarry in Sylvania?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 41.70055, -83.74744 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Brint Road.

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