December 7, 2009

Damp cool bordering on cold, breezy overcast was the atmosphere Bob and I charged with anticipation. A day off and a few hours from Central Texas found us in a Lower Cretaceous quarry. Here, the Albian aged Washita Group formations could offer up some uncommon echinoids and other marine fauna. Bob thanked me for the invitation and the chance to find some different species for his collection. He had just shown me an intricate, Edwards Formation matrix piece that had a crisp, silicified Goniopygus echinoid tucked into a crevice. It reminded me of a few discoveries I had made at our current location. So, as we wound our way through the outer areas, I worked off my adrenaline with an orientation of what had been found at the site and what potentially could be found. Bob patiently listened, but I could see that his fossil detector was red-lining.

The formation alternated between a soft limestone and blue-gray marl. We dropped to our knee pads at the base of a small spoil pile. A few months of rain had weathered the marl into a mound of fossil studded hoo-doos. The series of "ooohs" and "aaahhs" coming from the other side of the pile sounded like a 5th grader on a field trip! Fragments of pyrite covered Neithea texana and delicate Plicatula dentonensis fossil shells perched on small pedestals. Along with a few of these, Bob plucked a fat, quarter-sized gastropod cast and a large cidarid urchin spine from the clay for a good start.

Neithea shells

We finally moved into the heart of our search area. I pointed out the site where my eyes were going to vacuum the ground. Last April, a friend and I had discovered some Globator whitneyae echinoids in this spot. Then, on a subsequent solo trip, I figured out the stratigraphic key to finding these Globators. It was like working a successful pattern while bass fishing. However, in the excitement of bagging several of these uncommon urchins, I accidentally unlocked one of the site's real treasures when a knobby, walnut-sized echinoid rolled out of a rock that I had just split. It turned out to be a species of Tylocidaris (probably new) that is undescribed in any literature for North America. Since then, I had been here on a periodic mission to find another one.

Various views - probable new species of Tylocidaris fossil echinoid

While there was not any mist falling at the time, it seemed like the wind whipped humidity reminded me of every weak point in my layered clothing. I flipped my 4X visor down and crouched between the rocks. "Wow, the rain has been good for this site," I whispered to myself. Bob agreed as he crawled through the rocks nearby. The ambient moisture in the rock and clay created great contrast with the fossils. In places, it was like looking at a treasure chest just opened; you had to force yourself to slow down and absorb the information in front of you. "Goniopygus!" I whooped! "Really?! Let me see it!" Bob replied from behind a few large rocks.

Hidden treasure - Goniopygus sp.

Close-up and actual size

I barely noticed the wind as I photographed the small echinoid. Back in May at this location, Goniopygus budaensis became one of my favorite little urchins when I found one with associated spines. This species doesn't seem to be a common find - likely due to the lack of exposed strata and their small size.

May 2009 discovery with spines - Goniopygus budaensis

Within ten minutes, I had worked my way back to the edge of the rock pile and looked up at another Goniopygus peeking from the side of a large boulder. "Bob, you're not going to believe this, but I found another one." I thought I heard something from his direction, but I wasn't sure if it was my bandana flapping over my ears, or him mumbling.... Thinking it may have been the latter, I didn't even mention the Globator whitneyae echinoid barely showing in another rock two feet away. He came over to glance at the small Goniopygus and gathered more inspiration for his search.

2nd G. budaensis

1st Globator whitneyae

It wasn't long before Bob called me over to look at something. "Is this one of the Globators?" he inquired. It was. Although slightly damaged, it was still a nice find. Now that he was "on the board" with a different species added to his collection, Bob began to settle into a grid search of another large, marly rock pile. I reminded him of some noteworthy finds that came from the rubble he was working, then I settled back into the rocks. A small, tree-shaped, form immediately caught my attention. It was an echinoid spine...unlike any others I had found at the site! I'll have to do more research, but my initial thoughts had me wondering if I had found a spine to my elusive Tylocidaris! I found it in the actual rubble of my original discovery, and the characteristics reminded me of the spines on European-found Tylocidaris species.

17 mm echinoid spine - possibly Tylocidaris sp.

Several minutes later, I spotted another Goniopygus in a foot-sized rock. This was starting to be 'one of those days'. "Another one," I hollered. There was little movement in the rock pile next to me, but I clearly heard some mumbling. I grinned at Bob's humorous sarcasm and positioned myself to photograph the little echinoid. Silent disbelief and a big smile merged at the sight of yet another G. budaensis in a small rock by my knee! I didn't say anything, but I picked this little 5 mm gem up and photographed it first. Pyrite crystals had erupted through the test like golden micro mountains; a very cool find. It was one of 'those' days.

Pyrite G. budaensis

G. budaensis in matrix

After prep

I returned my attention to snapping a few shots of the other echinoid when Bob called out, "Hey, I've got something over here!" His jacket looked like one of the rocks until he rose up with a smile. "I think I found another Globator!" This one was in excellent shape when it popped free of the matrix. He added an exclamation point when he revealed some crab claw fragments he had picked up. The best trips - when quality finds are made by everyone.

Globator whitneyae found by Bob C.

The wind had picked up quite a bit more. I had already wrapped my bandana over my head and ears; so I geeked it up even more by buttoning my collar and flipping it up...at least it was warmer. I thought I had detected mist in the air, but it vanished - just leaving the damp wind and cold. I split more rock to generate some warmth, taking care to scan both of the newly created surfaces. Doing so, revealed two more slightly damaged Goniopygus urchins about 5 mm in diameter and my best Globator of the day!

Close-up of worn G. budaensis

My best Globator sp. find of the day

Bob wandered the site, taking in its various features. I stayed a little longer where we had been. A nicely sutured Mortoniceras sp. ammonite rewarded my efforts. Shortly after, the mist returned, and my hunting partner thanked me again for the invitation. He made it to the vehicles before me and left. Incredibly, as I side-tracked along the rim of the site on my way out, I found the blade of an Early Archaic / Late Paleo dart point! The impact damage on the tip and snapped base had their own story to tell. The search was over and the rain began, but I'll remember this tale as a marly trip with Bob.

Mortoniceras sutures

Late Paleo/Early Archaic broken point