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Showing results for tags 'carboniferous'.
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What caused the decline of the Eugeneodontids - (Buzz saw sharks)
Joseph Fossil posted a topic in Questions & Answers
I've been fascinated with the Eugeneodontids (the buzz-saw chondrichthyans) and how they managed to practically become the apex predators of most oceanic environments from the Carboniferous to the Permian with famous members like Edestus and Helicoprion. Two genus of this extraordinary group even survived the Permian-Triassic Extinction 252 Million Years ago - Fadenia and Caseodus! http://www.fossilworks.org/cgi-bin/bridge.pl?a=taxonInfo&taxon_no=34456 http://www.fossilworks.org/cgi-bin/bridge.pl?a=taxonInfo&taxon_no=34451 But by the Olenekian stage of the Triassic, the group disappeared. I can understand why the more specialized members of the group like Helicoprion went extinct (ecological specialists and top predators don't do well in events like the Permian-Traissic Extinction event), but what caused the extinction of Fadenia and Caseodus? What occurred in the Triassic that ended the reign of the Eugeneodontids? -
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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Mysterious Insect Fossil Gap Explained A lack of diverse, winged hexapods— not low oxygen levels— could explain the gap in the fossil record By Lucas Joel, Smithsonian Magazine, May 1, 2018 Open access papers that mentions the hexapod gap ar: Engel, M.S., 2015. Insect evolution. Current Biology, 25(19), pp.R868-R872 Schachat, S.R., Labandeira, C.C., Saltzman, M.R., Cramer, B.D., Payne, J.L. and Boyce, C.K., 2018. Phanerozoic p O2 and the early evolution of terrestrial animals. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 285(1871), no. 20172631. Yours, Paul H.
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Back at it again with some more specimens I hope to pin down an ID for. These are also from the Adams Branch Limestone/Winchell Fm of the Canyon Group. My method of slowly scouring through every stone around me paid off when I found these beauties. Finding a nice crinoid crown was a big goal of mine coming into the trip that I was pretty sure I wouldn't fulfill. It feels good to come away with so much more than I expected! We'll call them crowns 1, 2, and 3 from left to right in the images below: Crown 1 was super exciting for me when I initially came across it, but Melvin's enthusiasm amped me up even more. Although it's compressed, the "bulb" (idk the correct terms) is fairly complete with all of the plates and even some little spines protruding off of it. There are the beginnings of arms springing out as well as the first segment of the circular stem coming out the bottom. The plates for this guy are very bumpy. I've come to the tentative ID of Ethelocrinus magister, but I do not have much familiarity with crinoids so please, please correct me if I am mistaken. Once I pin an ID, I plan on making my debut in the find of the month contest! Crown 3 is only the very bottom, but has a similar bumpiness so I think it's the same species. Here are some more angles of crown 1: Crown 2's preservation is worse and I am unable to tell the original texture of the plates. I think it's smooth, from what I can see, so I've arrived to the ID of Delocrinus inflexus, though I realize a solid ID may be impossible. It's not very complete, but it shows some arms and some of the crown so I think it's still pretty neat. Here are some additional pics: The underside doesn't show much: To help inform y'all more, here is a pic of the two types of crinoid plates I found that day. Many bumpy ones and the occasional smooth kind: Thanks for reading
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- adams branch limestone
- canyon group
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Deltodus Shark Tooth? PSoA Pennsylvanian Trip to Brownwood
Mikrogeophagus posted a topic in Fossil ID
So today I went on my first trip with the Paleontological Society of Austin to the Brownwood area to visit a couple of Paleozoic sites. It was a blast and just what I needed after a busy week. However, I'm not gonna go too far into the details because I plan on writing up a trip report soon. I think I found some pretty cool stuff . Instead, I'm writing this topic because I am simply too anxious to wait on hearing an answer to this question I have. Our first stop was along a roadcut that was situated within the Pennsylvanian Adams Branch Limestone (Canyon Group) and Strawn Group. Our trip organizer, Melvin, told me that Petalodus teeth had never been found at this site (I didn't get to ask if Deltodus had been found because I couldn't remember the specific name at the time). I was a little bummed out to learn of this, but that did not totally erase my hope of catching a Paleozoic shark tooth. Anyways, I got to thoroughly looking through the roadcut and eventually came across this tiny specimen that I have yet to clean: I didn't think much of it at first, but I quickly noticed that it had a pattern of white speckles all over its black surface. The specks were so small, I couldn't 100% confirm whether they were pitted, though it felt like there were pits when I gently ran my nail across the surface. I was soon reminded of the Deltodus teeth I had seen in my prior research, though I of course forgot the name . It was quite small and had some strange angular shape to it that somewhat resembled the crinoid crown plates that are common throughout the site. I showed it to some people far more knowledgeable than I in the Pennsylvanian, but couldn't seem to get an answer. After taking it home and looking at some images online, I'm still confused, however I am beginning to slowly favor Deltodus tooth as an ID. My hope is that someone can either confirm this or snap me out of my pareidolia. It's hard to get nice pics using my phone, but I have tried my best. Here are some closeups followed by a Deltodus tooth I saw for sale online from Kansas City that looked similar. Here is the tooth I saw online. I want to note the pattern of the speckles. They are hard to describe, but the way in which they are positioned in wavy lines seem, to me, to match across the specimens. Additionally, I believe the general shape of my fossil, although smaller, appears to be similar to what's pictured below. I am not sure if my "tooth" is complete or fractured. Eagerly waiting to hear what y'all think
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- adams branch limestone
- brownwood
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From the album: Llewellyn Formation
Macroneuropteris pinnule Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania-
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- carboniferous
- llewllyn
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From the album: Llewellyn Formation
ALethopteris and Neuropteris pinnules Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania-
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- alethopteris
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Hi I found this petrified log of some sort in a sandstone cliff near Inverness Cape Breton Island and am wondering if anyone here knows what it would have been interesting looking pattern around the outside its how I would imagine the bark of a giant fern/ palm tree trunk would have looked long ago , also does anyone know how I could clean it up and bring out more of the bark like texture without damaging the fossil?
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- bark
- carboniferous
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Went to a site in central PA today and collected some Llewelyn formation ferns and other Carboniferous plants. Second opinions on the following are appreciated! 1, I thought this is an Alethopteris but the leaves look like they can also be some immature Neuropteris with compound leaves with the leaves pressed together. 2. Is this Sigillaria bark? 3. Wasn’t sure if this is Lepidodendron bark. These crosshatched stem-looking prints are quite common at the site 4. is this a Calamite print? 5. I am fairly certain this is Neuropteris but just would like to be sure. That’s all. All and any help is appreciated! Thanks in advance and let me know if scale is needed.
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- calamites
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So I found a collapsed shale and sandstone pile off the side of the road and it seems to have some neat stuff. This seems to be falling from a layer about 100 feet up on the road cut so unfortunately its mostly shattered and cracked through the layers instead of along the flats of them. A lot of it seems to be similar to the "Kentucky coal fields" finds you see online with the grey shale and black specimens, but some of it seems very different. Below are some attached pictures with nothing done to the specimens other than a decent brushing. What appear to be Neoropteris leaves, branches, fern tree roots mostly. Some really odd Bright orange tree bark with iridescent shine that I can't find anything to compare too in terms of color. They're extremely fragile and I'm already gluing some of the cracked ones back together. I really haven't had much a a chance to find fossils in over a decade, so preparation is a bit new to me. What I'm wondering is, after I clean and chip away a bit more rock off of some of these, if just throwing paraloid on them is good. And I question that because of the odd colors in some of these. I see some white specks in the sunlight that may be pyrite, Some appear to have bits of coal inside or stuck to the outside, and I don't know what to make of these bright shining blue and orange tree specimens and whether or not any special precautions will be needed to preserve them. Hoping to get some advice. Even though these may not be spectacular finds I'd like to practice on them for when I find something bigger and nicer.
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- bark
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New hunt today with few very good finds mariopteris plate
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- carboniferous
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Hello! I have a few dozen plant fossils for ID. I'm going to go one at a time, but if you'd like to see them all, please go to the Members Collections section of the site with the link below. There feel free to offer corrections, specifications or confirmations. All are from the Glenshaw Formation. This first fossil looks like Pecopteris arborescens to me. What do you think?
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- allegheny county
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Howdy! I've been hunting mostly plant fossils in the Pittsburgh area for about two years. This is a sampling of some of my favorite pieces. I hope you enjoy! All are Glenshaw Formation finds. 1. Neuropteris fimbriata 2. Metacoceras 3. Metacoceras 4. Asterophyllites 5. Lepidodendron obovatum 6. Neuropteris Ovata 7. Crenulopteris acadica 8. Brachiopod, Linoproductus? 9. There are over 50 little fossils on this plate, lots of Cyathocarpus arborea and I think Calamites and Psaronius "bark" 10. Cyathocarpus arborea 11. Crenulopteris acadica and stem and bark? 12. Crenulopteris acadica and Alethopteris 13. Crenulopteris acadica, Altheopteris 14. Calamites 15. Neochonetes 16. Crenulopteris acadica 17. Neuropteroid, Neuropteris Ovata? 18. Crenulopteris acadica 19. Cyathocarpus arborea and Calamites 20. Neuropteris 21. Not sure about the one on top, but the other two look like Crenulopteris acadica 22. Big Calamite 23. Crenulopteris acadica and Calamites 24. Aphlebia/Rhacophyllum? 25. Neuropteris scheuchzeri 26. Neuropteris ovata 27. Asterophyllites 28. Sphenopteroid 29. Neuropteris 30. Alethopteris 31. Asterophyllites 32. Petalodus tooth 33. Brachiopod 34. Neuropteroid frond 35. Aphlebia/Rhacophyllum? 36. Annularia 37. Lots of brachiopods 38. Neuropteris ovata 39. Horn coral, stereostylus 40. Cephalopod, pseudorthoceras
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- brush creek limestone
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From the album: Llewellyn Formation
Neuropteris Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania-
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- carboniferous
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Howdy! Pried what looks like a branch out of some shale today. I was hoping someone could confirm for me that this is petrified wood and possibly ID it. Lots of tree fern leaves and stems in the area. Additionally, the fossil seems unusually heavy. Thanks in advance! Pennsylvanian Glenshaw Formation.
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Crane Hill, AL Carboniferous Thoughts about this textured layer of this rock? A few weeks ago, I realized this specimen was too fragile to be cleaned by a newbie. The surface looks sort of like pebbled leather, but it is extremely brittle. I put it in a box to explore later when I have learned how to clean something like this. Tonight, I came across a pic of megaloolithus in old thread about Dino eggs emphasizing texture. I realize my specimen is is not from the correct time period to be an egg shell of anything - but, it piqued my curiosity again. Dino Egg thread Any thoughts? My inexperienced wild guesses: arthropod carapace? Under surface of exoskeleton? I hope the texture comes across in the photos. Thanks for looking:)
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I usually avoid purchasing fossils with little locality information, but this was too neat a specimen to pass up. The only information the seller had was that this trilobite was supposedly collected near Buffalo, Iowa. It looks like a Carboniferous trilobite to me, and the bedrock around Buffalo is Devonian and Pennsylvanian, hence I'm leaning towards this being a Pennsylvanian trilobite. I was hoping the knowledgeable trilobite folks here might be able to help me identify this trilobite (@Kane @piranha). I was also hoping to narrow down a possible formation/locality of origin. The only reference I've been able to find on Pennsylvanian fossils collected near Buffalo is an old post here by @fishguy – do you have any information about collecting sites in this area? @minnbuckeye As you collect all over Iowa, I thought I'd see if you might have any insight. Thanks in advance for any help.
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Localities in the Virginia Area
Andúril Flame of the West posted a topic in General Fossil Discussion
Hello everyone, This is my first posting on TFF (although I've been lurking on the forum for a while) and I am excited to be joining a community centered around one of my main interests. I have seen that this forum houses a very kind and helpful community, and I was hoping that some may be interested in helping a - very new and inexperienced - fossil hunter. I will be in the Charlottesville area for Labor Day weekend and I am in search of any tips for finding fossils in that area or general locations where they might be. I am willing to drive up to 3 hours to other locations in Virginia or locations in West Virginia, North Carolina, or Maryland. I have heard that there are some fossils in parts of George Washington and Jefferson National Forests in Virginia and I would be very glad to hear where I can find fossils there and if a permit is necessary to hunt for invertebrate fossils in that location. I am most interested in hunting for fossils from the Ordovician, Devonian, and Carboniferous periods, but any fossils would be great. I greatly appreciate any tips or information! -
L.S., Specimen in the photographs below was found in the Upper Carboniferous (Westphalian D) of the Piesberg, near Osnabrück, Germany. Scale on last photo is approximate. To me this looks like the rear end of some segmented animal. Any idea what it could be? Thanks, Tim
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What do I know? This piece is Pennsylvanian and probably from Brush Creek Limestone. It was found near marine fossils. I have no idea what it is. All help is appreciated.
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- allegheny county
- brush creeek limestone
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Howdy! Split some limestone (I think it's Brush Creek) to find dozens of poorly preserved brachiopods and now I need some help IDing. Thanks in advance for any help. @cngodles
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- allegheny county
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Hi everyone, I found what looks like bones fossils in a beach that has plant fossils from the Pensilvanian, mostly ferns. I see one smaller bone and a larger partial bone with the ball joint. They are both in the same block. Bone looking mineralization or fossil? If those are fossil bones I would assume some large land or amphibious animal to coexist with ferns. Hope someone can shed some light. Thank you, Marcos smaller bone larger partial bone back of the rock
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Here are two new Mazon Creek finds I'm not positive on. This first one looks very familiar but I can't place it. The second is a nice 3D piece of wood. My best guess is a Psaronius stem (tree fern), but I haven't found anything like this before so I was hoping for a second opinion. @Nimravis @stats @Mark Kmiecik @deutscheben @RCFossils I appreciate any help.
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- carboniferous
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My neice just pulled this out of the creek at my mom's near Ashland Kentucky. I know the area to be Carboniferous. I think it's a coral, but I'm still too much of an amateur to know for sure. Any help would be appreciated by myself and my neice.
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L.S., Would like to call upon TFF's collective expertise to help with the identification of fossil I found in the Westphalian D (Upper Carboniferous) of the Piesberg quarry near Osnabrück, Germany. The specimen (part and counterpart) shown on the photographs below is almost 8 mm large along its longest dimension. The surface is relatively shiny compared to plant material in the same slab of rock and covered in small tubercles (or other little bumps). The shape is subtriangular in outline and seems to be bounded by a "band" of some kind along at least half its circumference. The "bumpy surface" with tubercles makes me think in the direction of something arthropodan (ostracod???, branchiopod???), but honestly I'm quite out of my depth here... Clam??? Would love to hear your thoughts! Thanks for your interest, Tim
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- arthropod
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