Ruck's Pit, located in Fort Drum, Florida, is celebrated for its exceptional fossils of calcite-filled clams, known as Mercenaria permagna. These clams, which once thrived in the warm, tropical seas that periodically engulfed Florida during the Pleistocene Epoch, have left behind a fascinating geological legacy. After the clams died, the unique conditions allowed for the transformation of their shells. The calcium carbonate of their original shell material underwent a process where it dissolved and then recrystallized, forming stunning amber-colored calcite crystals within the voids of the shells.
These fossils are not just remarkable for their crystalline beauty but also for their ability to fluoresce under ultraviolet light, displaying a captivating range of colors, most notably a bright glow and a distinctive green phosphorescence following exposure to long-wave UV light. This combination of historical significance, geological transformation, and visual allure makes the calcite-filled clams of Ruck's Pit a prized find for fossil and mineral collectors alike, offering a tangible and luminous link to the ancient past of Florida's undersea realms.
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