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Toothhound
Frontier · Unverified Leads

Leads — likely shark tooth ground, scored by evidence.

These are unverified prospects, not curated locations. They're ranked from explicit evidence only: fossil-bearing formations, marine depositional fit, exposure mechanics, concentration potential, access clarity, and confidence. Restricted sites are shown only as contact-first targets — never as implied open access.

Rank for
Method: scores are deterministic. No LLM freeform prospect picking, no invented geology, and no implied permission. If evidence or access is weak, the score drops.
North CarolinaGuided

Aurora Mine Access Days

Restricted mine-adjacent access with some of the strongest public evidence anywhere in North America for giant Miocene teeth and exceptionally preserved material.

Overall
94
Balanced
94
strong fossil-bearing formation evidenceactive erosion or reset mechanismgood lag or spoil concentration setupdocumented finds support the geologyreal trophy upsidehigh diversity potentialaccess possible through guided or operator-managed entry
Why the logic likes it
  • • Pungo River Formation is one of the richest Miocene marine vertebrate units in the country
  • • Active phosphate extraction continuously exposes fresh fossil-bearing sediment
  • • Documented museum collections and public finds strongly support both trophy and diversity potential
Evidence profile
Formation
Very strong
Exposure
Very strong
Concentration
Very strong
Trophy upside
Very strong
Diversity
Very strong
Confidence
Very strong
Access and next step

Best route is through Aurora Fossil Museum event access and official mine-day channels.

Do not attempt access outside official events or operator-managed permissions. This is not open casual collecting.

Aurora Fossil Museum
Use the museum's official site for festival registration, contact details, and access announcements.
Official contact →
Open related dossier →
Basis: existing Toothhound Aurora dossier · Aurora Fossil Museum public access model · Pungo River Formation / Lee Creek museum and literature history
TexasPublic

North Sulphur Reset Bars

A high-upside Cretaceous river prospect driven by flood resets, phosphatic gravel, and repeated public-bridge access points.

Overall
87
Balanced
87
strong fossil-bearing formation evidenceactive erosion or reset mechanismgood lag or spoil concentration setupdocumented finds support the geologyhigh diversity potentialpublic access is clear
Why the logic likes it
  • • Strong documented fossil river system
  • • Rain and runoff provide a real, observable reset mechanism
  • • Public access exists at least at specific crossings, making scouting realistic
Evidence profile
Formation
Very strong
Exposure
Very strong
Concentration
Strong
Trophy upside
Limited
Diversity
Very strong
Confidence
Very strong
Access and next step

Use public crossings and permissioned land only. This is public in slices, not everywhere.

Do not extrapolate from a bridge crossing to the whole corridor. Private land and dangerous mud are real constraints.

Open related dossier →
Basis: existing Toothhound North Sulphur dossier · flood-reset creek logic
CaliforniaGuided

Ernst Quarries / Sharktooth Hill Dig Access

Round Mountain Silt access remains one of the best logic-backed California targets when you can get onto operator-managed spoil or quarry ground.

Overall
86
Balanced
86
strong fossil-bearing formation evidenceactive erosion or reset mechanismgood lag or spoil concentration setupdocumented finds support the geologyreal trophy upsidehigh diversity potentialaccess possible through guided or operator-managed entry
Why the logic likes it
  • • The Round Mountain Silt is a proven Miocene marine fossil unit
  • • Operator-managed spoil provides concentrated search material rather than dispersed beach lag
  • • California preservation quality is often excellent in matrix-rich spoil contexts
Evidence profile
Formation
Very strong
Exposure
Strong
Concentration
Very strong
Trophy upside
Strong
Diversity
Very strong
Confidence
Strong
Access and next step

Only pursue operator-managed access or established dig-day arrangements. Verify the operator directly before travel.

Treat as guided or operator-controlled only. Do not assume open public entry just because a dig day is advertised somewhere online.

Open related dossier →
Basis: existing Toothhound Ernst Quarries dossier · Round Mountain Silt geology · operator-managed quarry access model
TexasPublic

Surfside Shell Ridges and Front Cuts

A strong public Gulf prospect because the geology is proven and the reset mechanism is easy to describe: fronts strip, shell ridges concentrate, lag becomes huntable.

Overall
85
Balanced
85
strong fossil-bearing formation evidenceactive erosion or reset mechanismgood lag or spoil concentration setupdocumented finds support the geologyreal trophy upsidehigh diversity potentialpublic access is clear
Why the logic likes it
  • • Public beach access is straightforward
  • • Storm and frontal resets are strong and repeatable
  • • Texas shell ridges concentrate darker enamel well when the beach is freshly cut
Evidence profile
Formation
Strong
Exposure
Strong
Concentration
Strong
Trophy upside
Strong
Diversity
Strong
Confidence
Strong
Access and next step

Public beach prospect. Best used with the live condition layers already in Toothhound.

A calm week can bury the whole setup. This is a condition-sensitive prospect, not a constant producer.

Open related dossier →
Basis: existing Toothhound Surfside dossier · Gulf storm-reset beach logic
TexasPublic

McFaddin Post-Storm Cuts

One of the best evidence-backed storm-only public prospects in Texas: low baseline, high reset upside, very broad find diversity.

Overall
84
Balanced
84
strong fossil-bearing formation evidenceactive erosion or reset mechanismgood lag or spoil concentration setupdocumented finds support the geologyreal trophy upsidehigh diversity potentialpublic access is clear
Why the logic likes it
  • • Remote beach means less pressure than town-access beaches
  • • Storm cuts and heavy lag lines can concentrate mixed fossil material dramatically
  • • The site is already known for broad beachcombing diversity, which usually tracks with strong concentration behavior
Evidence profile
Formation
Strong
Exposure
Very strong
Concentration
Very strong
Trophy upside
Strong
Diversity
Very strong
Confidence
Strong
Access and next step

Public, but functionally remote. Treat logistics and weather as part of the access question.

Travel only after checking conditions and access. This is not a casual go-anytime recommendation.

Open related dossier →
Basis: existing Toothhound McFaddin dossier · storm-cut concentration logic
CaliforniaPublic

Capitola Winter Gravel Windows

A classic public California prospect where the logic is clean: winter swell strips sand, coarse gravel appears, and the underlying fossil signal becomes searchable.

Overall
84
Balanced
84
strong fossil-bearing formation evidenceactive erosion or reset mechanismgood lag or spoil concentration setupdocumented finds support the geologyhigh diversity potentialpublic access is clear
Why the logic likes it
  • • Public beach access with a proven fossil-bearing regional formation context
  • • Winter wave energy provides the exposure mechanism
  • • Gravel-window hunting is easy to explain and monitor visually
Evidence profile
Formation
Strong
Exposure
Strong
Concentration
Strong
Trophy upside
Moderate
Diversity
Strong
Confidence
Strong
Access and next step

Public access is simple; the timing logic is the real filter.

Can look dead under summer sand cover. Treat this as a winter and post-swell prospect.

Open related dossier →
Basis: existing Toothhound Capitola dossier · winter gravel-window logic
MarylandPermission

Matoaka Private Calvert Beach

Private Calvert exposure with strong geology and lower pressure than public trail beaches, but permission is the whole game.

Overall
83
Balanced
83
strong fossil-bearing formation evidenceactive erosion or reset mechanismgood lag or spoil concentration setupdocumented finds support the geologyreal trophy upsidehigh diversity potentialworth contacting for permission-based access
Why the logic likes it
  • • Same Calvert Formation system as the strongest Maryland public beaches
  • • Private access can reduce daily hunting pressure substantially
  • • Cliff-fall plus bay wash gives a proven release-and-concentrate mechanism
Evidence profile
Formation
Very strong
Exposure
Strong
Concentration
Strong
Trophy upside
Strong
Diversity
Very strong
Confidence
Strong
Access and next step

Approach as permission-based access through the property operator or booking office only.

No collecting without explicit property permission or a booked stay/access arrangement.

Matoaka Cottages office
Request access only through the property's official booking or office channel before making plans.
Open related dossier →
Basis: existing Toothhound Matoaka dossier · Calvert Formation logic shared with nearby public sites · private-access lower-pressure hypothesis supported by access model
TexasPublic

Post Oak Gravel Bars

Beginner-friendly Cretaceous prospect with a clear logic chain: fossil-bearing units, public creek access, and gravel-bar concentration after rain.

Overall
80
Balanced
80
strong fossil-bearing formation evidenceactive erosion or reset mechanismgood lag or spoil concentration setupdocumented finds support the geologyhigh diversity potentialpublic access is clear
Why the logic likes it
  • • The geology is known and accessible
  • • Easy scouting conditions make this ideal for teaching the prospecting model
  • • Repeated rain-reset gravel bars mean the process is inspectable, not mystical
Evidence profile
Formation
Strong
Exposure
Strong
Concentration
Strong
Trophy upside
Weak
Diversity
Strong
Confidence
Strong
Access and next step

Public-first, family-accessible prospecting control site.

Best for diversity and learnability rather than giant trophy expectations.

Open related dossier →
Basis: existing Toothhound Post Oak dossier · creek gravel-bar concentration logic
KansasPublic

Kanopolis Runoff Fans and Spillway Gravels

Interior Cretaceous public prospect where rainfall, runoff, and exposed shale make the prospecting logic unusually visible to users.

Overall
78
Balanced
78
strong fossil-bearing formation evidenceactive erosion or reset mechanismdocumented finds support the geologyhigh diversity potentialpublic access is clear
Why the logic likes it
  • • Public recreation access is relatively clear
  • • Western Interior Seaway formations are known and productive
  • • Runoff fans and spillway gravels are easy for users to understand and inspect on the ground
Evidence profile
Formation
Strong
Exposure
Strong
Concentration
Moderate
Trophy upside
Limited
Diversity
Strong
Confidence
Strong
Access and next step

Public prospect with strong teaching value for the scouting engine.

This is a weather-reset spot. Dry periods reduce exposure fast.

Open related dossier →
Basis: existing Toothhound Kanopolis dossier · runoff-fan prospect logic