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Hey all, I believe I found a fossil. I came across this while rockhounding. I found this in Monroe County, Valmeyer, IL in the USA. I found it in a stream bed, with running water. Chiefly, and this may help, I found many imprints of seashells on rocks. I also found a complete bivalve (I think that is the term for both top and bottom) seashell that had crystallized into quartz. I have pictures at this link, along with a picture that has measurements in 3 forms. I tried to upload to the forum but there was issues doing so. If it matters, the surface feels bumpy and unlike any rock I've ever seen texture wise. I'm fairly certain it's a fossil..it sounds different on the darker areas when I tap on it. Thank you for any help. https://imgur.com/a/S2Fg51T
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Saivodus striatus and the Graham formation Gilkmanius: Which one was bigger?
Joseph Fossil posted a topic in Questions & Answers
The Ctenacanthiformes are an impressive group of prehistoric sharks, emerging in the Devonian period before surviving the two Devonian extinction events that gave rise to the Carboniferous. During the Carboniferous, the Ctenacanthiformes diversified rapidly, even becoming some of the Carboniferous Oceans Apex Predators. But of all the members of this impressive (yet almost unknown to the general public) group, two species stand out as especially impressive and awe inspiring - Saivodus striatus and the Graham formation Gilkmanius (this species currently doesn't have a name yet). Duffin, C. J., & Ginter, M. (2006). Comments on the Selachian genus Cladodus Agassiz, 1843. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 26(2), 253–266. https://doi.org/10.1671/0272-4634(2006)26[253:cotsgc]2.0.co;2 Ivanov, A. O. (2005, September 1). The revision of "Cladodus" occidentalis, a late Palaeozoic ctenacanthiform shark. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica. Retrieved December 29, 2022, from https://www.academia.edu/49013029/The_revision_of_Cladodus_occidentalis_a_late_Palaeozoic_ctenacanthiform_shark Artist reconstruction of the skeleton and size of the Graham formation (Upper Pennsylvanian, Carboniferous) Gilkmanius sp. By J. Maisey. Image Source: https://www.amnh.org/explore/news-blogs/research-posts/ancient-supershark-fossils-found-in-texas Maisey, J. G., Bronson, A. W., Williams, R. R., & McKinzie, M. (2017). A Pennsylvanian ‘supershark’ from Texas. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 37(3). https://doi.org/10.1080/02724634.2017.1325369 Artist reconstruction of an Adult Saivodus striatus and its size compared to an adult Human and adult Great White Shark (Carcharodon carcharias) by artist HodariNundu. Image Source: https://www.deviantart.com/hodarinundu/art/Super-Sized-Saivodus-866628428 Hodnett, J.-P. M., Tweet, J. S., & Santucci, V. L. (2022, August 8). The Occurrence of Fossil Cartilaginous Fishes (Chondrichthyes) within the Parks and Monuments of the National Park Service. researchgate.net. Retrieved December 30, 2022, from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/362806168_THE_OCCURRENCE_OF_FOSSIL_CARTILAGINOUS_FISHES_CHONDRICHTHYES_WITHIN_THE_PARKS_AND_MONUMENTS_OF_THE_NATIONAL_PARK_SERVICE Both were giant members of the Ctenacanthiformes and were on par in size with the largest Great White Sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) (which can reach lengths of 20 feet). But the question I have is which species was bigger (in weight and in length)? Which one was the biggest of the Ctenacanthiformes? @Elasmohunter @BobWill @connorp @deutscheben @jdp What do you think?
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I've heard recently that the Glen Dean Formation (Carboniferous) outcrops in Illinois are very fossil rich, especially with Invertebrates. However, I haven't heard much about vertebrate fossils coming from that formation. https://igws.indiana.edu/IGNIS/GeoNamesDetails.cfm?ID=805C6AF7-75E2-40C8-A8D2-C7535D35F7C8 Hoenig MMJ - MS Thesis - Chondrichthyan Diversity (Updated) (1).pdf Does anyone know what kind of vertebrate fauna (mainly fish) fossils are found at the Illinois outcrops of the Glen Dean Formation and if it's connected to the Burlington-Keokuk Fish Beds?
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Help identifying locations of Mississippian era formations in Northern Illinois
Joseph Fossil posted a topic in Questions & Answers
I've recently been trying to locate some new fossil sites (particularly those of Mississippian age) to go to and I found some places that might seem interesting. I found them looking at a slightly old geologic map of Illinois and I was wondering if anyone can tell me where exactly these locations are and if they are particularly fossil rich? https://www.mindat.org/loc-14607.html
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My dad found this skull in the Mississippi River on a gravel island that has since disappeared. He says it was identified as a cave bear skull from the pliocene Era but he is not quite sure if that's what the person said as it was a very long time ago. Any help identifying this would be greatly appreciated
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I was hoping to get some help identifying these bivalves. They were collected from Pennsylvanian (Desmoinesian) limestones in Illinois. They appear to me to be the same form, but I could be wrong. The shells are fairly featureless. The three specimens range from 0.5cm to 1cm in width.
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Tips for Fossil hunting in the St. Louis Area of Missouri
Joseph Fossil posted a topic in General Fossil Discussion
Recently, I've been thinking about conducting an exploratory fossil hunting trip in the St. Louis area of Missouri. I've never been there before, but I've heard there is a lot of caves and limestone outcrops near the city. I've also heard there is a decent amount of Ordovician and Mississippian fossils in the area. I'm just wondering if anyone's been fossil hunting in the St. Louis area before and what fossils can be found there? -
Hello. I found three pieces in the Mazon Creek area that I’ve finally split open and am interested in. While there is a very good possibility that all three are just consequences of opening the concretion and not actually fossils, I figured I’d check. Image 1: I thought there was a slight possibility it was a leaf or a worm, but due to lack of detail, I imagine it is not. Image 2: Potentially the top of E. asherae or something similar. Image 3: I am actually just curious about what causes the small, light circles on the right side of the bottom piece and in the middle of the top piece. I’ve noticed these on many Mazon rocks and wonder if it is a mineral inclusion or something else. Thank you for taking a look!
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Curious if anyone recognizes this. Looks floral but I don't recall having seen anything like it before. @Nimravis @stats @Mark Kmiecik @deutscheben @RCFossils
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This concretion opened up a couple weeks ago. When I first looked at it, I could tell there was something there, but the contrast between it and the surrounding matrix was very low, so I didn't think much of it. I got around to looking at it again yesterday. In very bright oblique light, I realized it was actually a very beautiful spider with legs and all. It measures about 1cm. I am not sure on the ID. Colors inverted
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Fossil Hunting Trip on the shores of Lake Michigan, Illinois December/5/2022
Joseph Fossil posted a topic in Fossil Hunting Trips
On Monday I went on a little trip to one of my top secret places to fossil hunt on the shores of Lake Michigan. It's a small beach in Northeastern Cook County, Illinois which I've always found lots of Silurian aged fossils. (1) This trip was no different!! https://silurian-reef.fieldmuseum.org/narrative/392 I found a large amount of small but pretty interesting Silurian fossils which demonstrate the diversity of reef supported aquatic life in the Chicago land area 444 to 419 million year ago during the Silurian era! (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12) (13) (14) (15) (16) (17) (18) (19) (20)
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How Fossiliferous are Cambrian Period Rock Formations in Illinois
Joseph Fossil posted a topic in General Fossil Discussion
I've recently been looking over the geologic formations in Illinois and I found one that's a bit interesting - it's a Cambrian period outcrop but it seems to be a bit small, only found in parts of Ogle and Lee County, Illinois. http://ebeltz.net/firstfam/1stfam.html https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1202269 https://ilstratwiki.web.illinois.edu/index.php/Cambrian_System I haven't heard of a lot of fossils coming from this area so I'm wondering if anyone's been fossil hunting in that region of Illinois before and how common are Cambrian Fossils from Illinois's Ogle and Lee Counties? -
This concretion opened up tonight. I'm not entirely sure what it is. I thought it might be a cross section of a small bone, but I could also seeing it being some weird pyrite formation - the site that this was collected at produces a lot of those. Any thoughts? A couple shots under a microscope.
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I spotted this on the outside of a concretion this week while sorting some buckets. It looks to me like it is possibly a wing, but it's pretty water worn so it could also just be a suggestively worn fern pinnule. I was hoping for a second opinion. @Nimravis @stats @deutscheben @RCFossils @Mark Kmiecik @flipper559 Thanks. A couple shots under a microscope.
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I collected this fern from the Middle Pennsylvanian of eastern Illinois. It is not a form I recognize. Do any of the plant enthusiasts here have any thoughts?
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I had this concretion open today. I immediately noticed what I believe is a coelacanth scale, but on closer inspection there looks to be some other bits that might be related. Any thoughts? @jdp @RCFossils
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Today I woke up at 6:30 am and drove 105 miles (one way) to Freeport, Illinois to visit the Northwest Illinois Rock Club Show. This is a very small / local show that is held at the Eagles Club. The show opened at 9:00 am and I was out of the show before 9:30 am. Unlike last year, there was not much in regards to fossils. This show runs through Sunday and is 95% rocks and minerals. Heading out there this morning, I ran into a snow flurries, as it was 33 degrees and I also saw a rainbow. Here are a couple pics of the show. Since it was cold and early, there were not a lot of customers, but I know it gets busier as the day goes. I like to support these local shows, but only picked up this Oreodont jaw section for $15. I did not need another White River piece, but I do like things in matrix. After I left to start the 105 mile drive home, I stopped at a road cut at the corners of routes 20 and 26 and did a little collecting. I believe that the rock is dolomite, but did not search on the age or formation. Here are the couple pieces that I came across and pics of the roadcut.
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I had this Mazon Creek concretion open today. It was collected from the Braidwood biota (freshwater/terrestrial). My best guess is a partial millipede (Amynilyspes?) but I'm not sure and wanted to get other opinions. Thanks for any help. @Nimravis @deutscheben @bigred97 @RCFossils @stats @flipper559 @Mark Kmiecik
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This Saturday I went over to Oglesby again joined this time by fellow user @Joseph Fossil. We hunted for about six hours straight, the trip being the most productive I've had here. I showed him and his friend what to look for when searching for Chondricthyan teeth. Joe collected 2 Cladodont teeth, and we both walked out with two partial Petalodus specimens. Here's a very complete Echinaria. Neospirifir dunbari, they'll look nice when prepped and put back together. An Antiquatonia portlockianus Linoproductus cora A pair of Parajuresania nebrascensis Composita argentia: A few of these I found had their brachidiums intact. Chonetina flemingi: Found this by mistake while washing material at home. Petalodus ohioensis: Long have I searched for this fish, and here it is. Wilkingia terminalis: easily my favorite find from this location. It's like an ancient razor clam analogue. Always a pleasure to hunt with fellow forum members. Having the company can make the long drives not feel as so. He and I have made arrangements to hunt more of his homestate in the future. Edit: Images added for clarity on the *tooth* pictured below. Found in some rubble, within the shale layer of the locality. Some form of texture is visible from the top of the piece. Top down: From the side: Upside down + a brachiopod for comparison: It appears to be flat, with some depth in its shape taking the form of ridges on the face. There are what appear to be some form of serrations on the *top* end of the structure as pointed out above.
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I've been looking at the records of the Carboniferous Eugenodontid Chondrichthyan Edestus in Illinois (famously referred to as the coal shark) in Illinois and I've found that there are a large amounts of reports from Underground mines at Sparta and Coulterville, Randolph County Illinois. I also found a record from fossilworks.org simply listed as "Coal mines of western illinois" at the coordinates 38.7° N, 90.0° W. http://www.fossilworks.org/cgi-bin/bridge.pl?a=collectionSearch&taxon_no=34453&max_interval=Carboniferous&country=United States&state=Illinois&is_real_user=1&basic=yes&type=view&match_subgenera=1 O. P. Hay. 1909. On the nature of Edestus and related genera, with descriptions of one new genus and three new species. Proceedings of the United States National Museum 37:43-61 I'm wondering what are the actual best pits and mines by Sparta and Coulterville Illinois to find Edestus fossils, which ones and either still open or (if closed) still accessible, what safety precautions should one take if fossil hunting in one of these mines or pits, and is Mecca Quarry on the Indiana-Illinois border a good place to find Edestus specimens?
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I found this on Sunday, Oct. 2, 2022, open, in the Mazon River. I am wondering if it is a fiddlehead, or "birth-of-a-fern" It came from an area of the creek where the concretions seem to be heavy, and iron laden, so I am concerned that it may eventually disintegrate from "pyrite " disease, so I wanted to share it while it still exists! Any help will be appreciated. Thank you!
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2022-09-17 ESCONI Field Trip to a Spoil Pile Near Danville, IL
stats posted a topic in Fossil Hunting Trips
On September 17th, 2022, ESCONI held a field trip to a coal mine spoil pile near Danville, IL. It was a fairly hot day with temperatures in the upper 80's. However, it was a productive field trip. There had been quite a bit of work on the hill this summer and it was looking quite different from the spring. The road to the top went around from the left instead of the right. There weren't as many exposed fossils in "Red Dog" found this time, but concretions were readily available for collecting. There were a few Forum members present. @deutscheben @connorp I'm sure I'm forgetting a few, please announce yourself! Here are some photos of the trip. Some of the photos were taken with a drone. I need to take some more photos of fossils, so stay tuned... I'll post concretions if/when they open. There was a bunch of poison ivy all around outside of the hill. Mushrooms were plentiful. And, of course fossils!
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Hello. I recently acquired a fairly high-quality Edestus specimen (9 inches long; with two 'complete' teeth and two partial teeth). Location: Lively Grove, Illinois. However, when it arrived I immediately noticed an artificially added dark-purple colored type of "stain" material that is covering significant parts of several teeth. (Please see attached photos). I know that it's common to glue the entirety of Edestus fossils owing to the materials' fragility, but I've never encountered an additional 'stain' like this. Notably, the enamel looks a bit 'restored' in the areas where the stain is most evident (as the surface clearly changes both color and texture in those areas, particularly near the serrations), but it appears to have dripped down onto otherwise well-preserved sections of the base of several teeth, and/or been added to serration edges that are, I think, authentic.. Can anybody help me to better understand what I'm dealing with here? Any insights are deeply appreciated, Ryan
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It's been a busy summer out here in Wisconsin, but fortunately I was able to make multiple trips out to Oglesby in Illinois. Here were some of the top finds. Perepristis semicircularis, found on my second trip. The chip on the top was from my unlucky Dremel stroke. The white dots on the left are not damage, but tooth coloration. My first and only connularid, of unknown affinity. I'm pleased to have this despite it being fragmentary. What I believe to be an ameura trilobite pygidium, nicely preserved. Composita argentia found a ton of these, but this rock contained a nice presentation of them. This nice complete large brachiopod. I'd give a name, but I've seen it called like three different names in other posts, so I'm not sure myself. A nice whole neospirifer, mostly whole anyways. Lastly something I wanted to show, it almost looks like a younger smaller version of those giant brachiopods like from image five. I have about 50 pounds of rock from Oglesby now, and most of that has yet to prepped, which my family is really happy about seeing in the garage I assure you.
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This evening I had a little bit of time to do some collecting. It was not my best day, but it was still enjoyable. Here is a large Annularia, I was tapping the “crust / outer shell” off of the concretion, and it split open. Also found a nice Lepidostrobophyllum majus. And I am thinking that this is Sigilaria. Here are some concretions as they were found. Sometimes you find concretions near other collectors footprints, as below. I have found concretions next to my footprints, not knowing I missed a piece unti I circled back. Time of day, lighting, etc. are the main causes. Here are my concretions for the day, about 45 of them. I love fossil trackways and found these possible future fossils. The sunset on the drive home.
