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My First Echinoids

Started by Mango, Sep 07 2010 12:09 AM

30 replies to this topic

#1 Mango

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Posted 07 September 2010 - 12:09 AM

Got a chance to go into a materials quarry in SW Florida this weekend.
Collected a 5 gal bucket of the sand dollars. Got a few biscuits. The urchin was a gimme. I couldn't find an urchin all day, so one was pointed out to me just under my feet by the host. He either felt sorry for me, or wanted me to stop whining about not finding one. He found 7-8. It still took me a minute to spot it after the hot/cold game ended next to my feet. They were too camouflaged for me. My eyes are used to looking for black triangles, not balls of dirt.

I will be doing some reading to uncover the species. From what I am told, my bucket should contain 2-3 species of dollars, and possibly 2 biscuit species. Found a couple of small crab claws too.
I will also be researching cleaning techniques.
Ouch. I need a thimble.

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#2 Auspex

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Posted 07 September 2010 - 12:19 AM

Quote

My eyes are used to looking for black triangles, not balls of dirt.
:P

They're gorgeous, by the way :wub:
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#3 MikeD

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Posted 07 September 2010 - 12:26 AM

Those are cool.

#4 WI Parrothead

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Posted 07 September 2010 - 12:56 AM

Those are great!

#5 danwoehr

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Posted 07 September 2010 - 01:38 AM

Encope tamiamiensis, very cool, found some myself a few years back, probably in the same quarry.
Regards,

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#6 Shellseeker

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Posted 07 September 2010 - 01:58 AM

Like Daniel, I have found some of the same in a SW Florida Quarry.. almost exactly the same.. I know what you mean about needing a thimble. It is really hard to get that combination of Limestone, sand , and water off.

I also know what you mean about "not seeing"... My host was standing next to me picking up 1...2...5...7...9 of the urchins, and I never saw a one of them before they came up in his hand... Reminds me of a bible verse... they have eyes .., but they can not see...

Edited by Shellseeker, 07 September 2010 - 01:58 AM.

#7 jason longboard

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Posted 07 September 2010 - 03:48 AM

View PostAuspex, on 07 September 2010 - 12:19 AM, said:

:P

They're gorgeous, by the way :wub:
I thought that was funny as well, stood out. lol
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#8 Terry Dactyll

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Posted 07 September 2010 - 05:33 AM

Mango..... Great finds.... lol @ hot cold with the urchin.... sounds like you had fun..... :)
Cheers Steve... And Welcome if your a New Member.... :o)

#9 Mango

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Posted 07 September 2010 - 11:59 AM

View PostAuspex, on 07 September 2010 - 12:19 AM, said:

:P

They're gorgeous, by the way :wub:

They are gorgeous enough to be displayed in my house. Most of my finds are subjected to a dark life in my garage.

Thanks for the responses.

I will add to this post when I come accross a different species, or one that cleans up very nicely.

I got some large clusters of the dollars. Cleaning them to display as a group is going to be a challenge.
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#10 barefootgirl

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Posted 07 September 2010 - 12:06 PM

Those are gorgeous! :wub:
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#11 Shamalama

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Posted 07 September 2010 - 01:09 PM

Beautiful, and you got 'em in matrix too, even cooler!
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#12 lordpiney

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Posted 07 September 2010 - 03:46 PM

they are beautiful chuck. nice job on the prep too.

#13 N.AL.hunter

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Posted 07 September 2010 - 06:09 PM

Very nice. They almost look modern/recent.

#14 keedler

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Posted 07 September 2010 - 07:45 PM

Any chance we can see a matrix shot?
And they do look fresh off the beach, very nice.

#15 Hawkeye

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Posted 07 September 2010 - 08:37 PM

Really nice finds Mango!
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#16 danwoehr

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Posted 07 September 2010 - 09:26 PM

Didn't notice the nice regular echie on my first look....probably some species of Arbacia, but I'll defer to the locals on that. I found a few of them in the pit the morning I was there too.
Regards,

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#17 Crinoid Queen

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Posted 07 September 2010 - 11:08 PM

View PostAuspex, on 07 September 2010 - 12:19 AM, said:

:P

They're gorgeous, by the way :wub:
Yes they are nice finds!

#18 Mango

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Posted 08 September 2010 - 12:08 PM

I will post some pics of them in the matrix. I got quite a few that are in clusters. So far I have been only able to clean a cluster containing two dollars. It looks ok, and is practice for some of the big clumps I got. Cleaned up a barnacle chunk last night too. I will post pics tonight.
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#19 Mango

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Posted 09 September 2010 - 12:10 AM

Not a very colorful bunch of photos, but inside are my treasures.

Mid cleaning on the barnacles.

Couple of piggy backers. I haven't had success yet keeping more than two together. I also broke the smallest one that I have come across in my bucket so far. It was about the size of my middle fingernail. 7/16".

I am guessing the large chunk holds 5-10 dollars. They probably wont stay together. The sandy looking matrix crumbles fairly easily. Add my impatient prepping job, and I will be cleaning them individually.

I have been using vinegar with satisfactory results. Still a lot of picking and scratching.

The work (beginner at best) that I am doing makes me appreciate more all of the craftsmanship and artistic skill that goes into prepping a lot of the beautiful fossils that are posted on this forum. Thank you for the motivation. I am starting somewhere, and having fun learning.

Mango

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#20 jpc

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Posted 09 September 2010 - 12:37 AM

Hey, that barnacle cluster is pretty cool, too.
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