The PotashCorp Fossil Find tent was abuzz with happy young fossil hounds at the Saskatchewan Children’s Festival June 4-7 in Saskatoon.

One of the youngsters, Saskatoon’s Matthew Dyck, discovered a memento that will keep the 2008 installment of Fossil Find fresh in his mind for years to come.

"My favorite part of the (children’s) festival was finding this big tooth," said Matthew, referring to the prized shark tooth he dug up while hunting for fossils in earth transported from PCS Phosphate Aurora, North Carolina.

PotashCorp Fossil Find is an interactive exhibit that mixes fun along with a hands-on educational experience kids are unlikely to encounter anywhere else. That’s because the earth they’re digging in comes from an area of the eastern United States that contains some of the richest fossil resources in North America. That area is home of PCS Phosphate Aurora.

Phosphate is an essential plant nutrient. It formed when soil reacted with phosphorous contained in the remains of sea life from an ancient ocean that once covered much of North America. Some of this organic material was so dense it resisted reacting with soil. These fossilized coral, shells and shark’s teeth are the treasures Matt and several thousand other kids searched for in the Fossil Find tent at the Saskatchewan Children’s Festival.

"PotashCorp is very pleased that Fossil Find is so popular with kids here at the festival," PotashCorp Manager of Public Relations Rhonda Speiss said, adding this year the event attracted about 8500 kids. "Fossil Find blends the excitement of discovery with information about phosphate mining and geology to present a unique feature kids really enjoy. And judging by all the happy faces we saw this week, I believe parents had a good time here, as well."

Children can keep the fossils they find and view displays of larger fossils such as whale vertebrae. PotashCorp employees volunteer their time to help provide information and answer questions from kids and parents.

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