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A short while ago I unintentionally stumbled across a poorly preserved carbonized plant fossil at one of my favorite fishing streams - a place that I had never imagined would hold fossils. I posted an image of the specimen in the Fossil ID section where several members of the forum kindly confirmed my suspicions that it was a plant fossil. Here is the link to the original post in Fossil ID: @patelinho7 and I have been jointly looking into the Culpeper Basin (a Triassic rift basin within the Newark Supergroup) and its potential fossil content, and it seemed to the both of us that this could potentially be Culpeper Basin material. There were some red sandstones present that seemed to have originated from the Manassas Sandstone (a formation - or member? - within the Culpeper Basin) and the map that I inserted into the original post indicated that Bull Run Formation/Manassas Sandstone was exposed in the area where the specimen was found. However, further exploration of the site has led me to believe that the fossil originated not from the Culpeper Basin, but from Potomac Group (Early Cretaceous oxbow swamp deposits in Maryland and northern Virginia) sediments. From what I know, this could be very intriguing since the locality is in an area quite far from the traditional Potomac Group outcrop belt. However, I hope that this post and interpretations from more versed members of the forum will help establish whether these are indeed Potomac Group fossils. As a small forewarning, this will be a rather picture-heavy post. Aside from including a plethora of specimen images, I have also included images of rocks found at the stream locality in case they may help to interpret the site. Based on what I have gathered from the site thus far, my current working hypothesis is that I have found an area where a formation within the Potomac Group (hopefully someone more experienced with these fossils could shed light on whether they originate from the Patuxent Formation, Patapsco Formation, or Arundel Clay) overlies strata from the Culpeper Basin. However, this hypothesis is based solely on my observations and my limited stratigraphic knowledge and any revisions are very welcome. Before diving into the report itself, I want to thank everyone that has helped me thus far and that comments on this post. Your help and comments have greatly helped me on my quest and I would still be very clueless if it were not for this forum! To begin, I have included images of a few loose clasts that I believe may originate from the Culpeper Basin (from the Manassas Sandstone, specifically). The first specimen that I would like to mention is a piece of red, fissile shaly mudstone. The fissile nature of this specimen interested me most since most rocks I have encountered have been massive, often without clear bedding planes visible. Due to the locality being in close to the Manassas Sandstone according to the map in Dr. Weems's article (see map in the original Fossil ID post) I automatically assumed that it was one of the red sandstones from that formation. However, I have next to no experience with Potomac Group sediments and cannot say whether this may belong to the Potomac Group. Above are images of two more stones that are pretty good representatives of the general rock type found at this locality. The bottom one is another fissile mudstone much like that shown in the first image. The top specimen is a relatively flat slab of stone that seems to represent some sort of bedding plane. Loose flat slabs that resemble bedding planes are relatively common at this locality. Now, for a very shocking find! In my explorations I came across a very rare specimen of a fossilized Shoppingia cartdumpites. Unfortunately this specimen was what might be called a leaverite as it was far too large to take home and was located in relatively deep water . On a more serious note, I came across a specimen of very fissile red sandstone/siltstone. The thin layers of stone easily came apart, revealing very dark red stone within the specimen. The presence of this specimen seemed also to indicate that the Manassas Sandstone could be present at this particular locality. Now, for something a bit intriguing that could potentially represent a fossil. Unfortunately the lighting was not very good at this time of day, but there was an interesting inclusion in this piece of stone. Now, for a few more photographs before the fossils. They are a bit difficult to see due to the glare on the water, but these may be the source beds from which many of the flat bedding planes and perhaps where the fossils are coming from. I plan to add to this trip report as I continue to explore since there were a number of intriguing features that I did not photograph on my last outing. Here are a few additional things that could be important to note: 1.) When some of the rocks shown in the above photographs were flipped over, they bore a very dark red coloration. This reminded me of the oxidation that is present on some ironstones found in the Arundel Clay. 2.) Farther downstream there was a thick clay layer on the bank. This clay layer, which was composed of a whitish grey clay, was positioned between a layer of strata that coated the stream bottom and Pleistocene/modern soils. Now that I have posted some intriguing geological features, here are some photographs of the fossils that I decided to collect. Specimen 1: This is the original specimen that I posted in the Fossil ID section. Other members confirmed that it is a piece of poorly preserved wood. Specimen 2: More poorly preserved plant material. It is very hard to tell from the first photograph, so I have outlined the approximate shape of the plant fossil in the second photograph. The third photograph shows some carbonized material on the edge of the specimen. Specimen 3: An example of a stone containing a few carbonized plant elements. Stones with a few scattered plant elements are relatively common, though from my current explorations they seem to occur in rather localized areas. Specimen 4: Another indeterminate carbonized plant fossil. It is a bit larger than most of the specimens that I have found and the shape is rather different from that of most of the plants. Specimen 5: Three views of the fifth specimen: front (top image), bottom (middle image), side (last image). Specimen 6: This specimen probably represents one of the best preserved plants that I have found. However, I am not sure whether the specimen in the top image is preserved well enough to be identifiable. On the other side of the specimen a compressed plant specimen is preserved. It is difficult to tell from the photographs, but the fossil cuts diagonally across the bottom of the specimen on the lower image. Specimen 7: This plant hash plate is one of my favorite specimens of those that I recovered. Again, not sure if any members would be able to tell what these specimens may be. Specimen 8: I am entirely unsure what this specimen may be. I do not know whether these are fossils, impressions, mineral deposits, or some sort of sedimentary impressions. At any rate, the colors and depressions made for an intriguing rock. Specimen 9: A very large slab with some of the best preserved plant remains that I have recovered at this point. On one side of the slab (the first few photographs) an articulated plant seems to be preserved. This one is pretty intriguing... would any plant or Potomac Group experts have any ideas on what it may be? The other side of the slab (the last photograph) seems to contain what might be a poorly preserved plant.

Found this hastalis shark tooth in a florida creek was just wanting to share, but also wanting to ask whats the biggest lesser great white tooth people have found or personal found. Ive only been fossil hunting for two years but this is my personal best hastalis tooth its about 2.7 inches.

Wondering if anyone could ID this tooth from a south carolina creek. I found it a while back during a creek walk im more or less new to fossil hunting but im hoping its a worn down Parotodus benedini tooth. thanks

Hey, wondering if anyone could ID this… tooth I think? Found it in a creek near the peace river my guess is that its some type of mammoth tooth but im not entirely sure. Last photo is the best results of the trip’s finds from the creek.

Found this tooth on a trip to south Carolina a while back. Wondering if anyone can give an ID too it along with like how old it might be? Thanks in advanced

Found in situ in a creek bed in Cleburne , TX. Is this a Nautiloid or an Ammonite ?

Dallas Texas , duck creek , found under water , very very heavy

Found in a creek. Interesting textures and shapes for a rock.

I think these are fossils but need someone to verify and possibly identify. I found these in a creek bed along the Little Harpeth River in Brentwood, TN. They were all within a 30’ area in the creek bed. Some may not even be fossils but figured I’d post pictures just in case they were. I’ve taken close ups of the first row and if I need to take some of the other rows I can. “A” and “B” are the ones I’m most curious about because to me they look like actual fossils. ”C”-“E” feel like a shell of some sort, like a turtle. “G” & “H” are cylindrical looking and sound like porcelain when you tap them against something. “T” looks like a finger and has ripples in the sides and is fairly heavy. Not light like a regular fossil would be. “U” almost feels and sounds like porcelain and I found it in the same area as these others. The last one is what I think is a turtle shell that doesn’t look to be a fossil but I’ll leave that up to you all to decide.

My family made a trip up a creek the other day... we all did well, but my two youngest children each found a Ptychodus polygyrus tooth! It is my understanding that these are pretty rare in America. My children agreed to donate the teeth to the Alabama Museum of Natural History... I did not find anything as exciting as this!

Found in a creek In Vermillion county Indiana. it’s light and covers the entire length of my hand. Looks to be a joint but I am VERY new to all of this

I have a find from a dry creekbed in Apison, Tennessee (Hamilton county). It appears like little segments of columns but doesn't look like the crinoid fossils from the area. The segments are 1-2 centimeters long but some (if connected would be 6-7+ centimeters).

Hello, I found this in a dry creekbed where I have found crinoid stem fossils, and initially thought this might be two stacked crinoid segments or a brachiopod imprint. I thought it slightly resembles a trilobite. What does this look like to you? Found in a creekbed in Apison, Tennessee (Hamilton county).

Can anyone help me identify this shark tooth I found in a creek in Goose creek, Sc.? Thanks. It being a part of one and my first bigger tooth I found on my first hunt, I am unsure on what it is.

Hello, I posted previously on a tooth found on a creek gravel bar in central Oklahoma that may be bison or cow. I did some additional looking around in the same area of the creek and downstream about a hundred yards and found the specimens in the attached photos. For reference I am also including a picture that shows where the horn and skull fragment were found (bottom of embankment, indicated by red arrow). I also found a rib bone piece here but am not including any pictures of that one as it was a pretty small piece. The tooth was found in a gravel bar in the stream at the same location. The humerus (pretty sure that is a humerus?) was found mostly buried in stream mud about 50 feet downstream on the same side of the creek. I would be happy if anyone has any thoughts on what these bones originally belonged to. Sorry for the standard tape measure, I don't have a metric ruler at home. Thanks in advance for any ideas!

Hello, I am brand new to The Fossil Forum, so I hope I am doing this all correctly! I found the tooth shown in the attached photos this summer on a gravel bed in a creek in central Oklahoma. I have gotten some feedback from a few folks with experience in bones and fossils locally, with suggestions for possibly bison, horse, antelope or camel, but no definitive answer yet. I am hoping that this forum can provide some additional feedback and maybe a more certain identification. Thank you very much in advance!

I visited a creek that connects to Lake Ontario, and I found this rock. The black area looks like some kind of imprint to me, and more specifically a flower or leaf - but I really have no idea. Maybe coral? I did find a beautiful rock with crystallized favosites coral there too. Does this look familiar to anyone?

Found this in a dry riverbed downstream from a waterfall and next to an active stream. Near Mt. Baker in Whatcom County, Washington. Other plant fossils were in the area. Think it might be a partial fossil of a large palm frond or leaf, but I have no idea. If anyone can help identify I would appreciate it; it's really stumping me. Let me know if any additional information or pictures are needed. Thanks.

New to the site, I found this tooth like fossil in a creek bed in benewah county. It was mixed with smaller rocks of varying looks. Lots of interesting rocks. Curious of anyones thoughts! Thanks

Can someone tell me if this is a fossil? Or can tell me anything about it. It looks like some type of fish. The back was unusual so I added a photo

All I know of it is after I left it out to dry in a safe location to determine that it is a fossil that I found in a creek cutting through the wennonah formation of Monmouth county New Jersey. I reached out to a friend and as far as he got was that it is a phalanx of some sort like finger/toe bone? From what I recall until I can arrange an in person inspection of it. Any and all help in this mystery specimen is appreciated. The background size reference is in inches”

Hello All, I am a long time 'lurker' of this forum, and have been interested in fossils ever since I found my first shark tooth back in the 90s. I only recently got serious about the hobby in the last year and a half. And have spent a lot of time researching potential sites, and hunting (mostly with success). I generally hunt by canoe/kayak, and hunt in central VA and MD. Here are some of the display worthy teeth/fossils/indian pottery I have found in the last year and half. I am most proud of the Alopias, which was found in the same creek as the large warn Megalodon (5.25 inch). Goals moving forward Are to get into some new stuff, and currently need a couple more teeth such as an intact auriculatus, a GW, Parotodus B. etc.

Hello everyone, I went to visit family this past week in Gilmer County, West Virginia and found these mammal teeth in a creek. They were found pretty close to each other, which makes me wonder if they were from the same animal. They appear to be old, but I don’t think they are completely mineralized. They remind me a lot of the bison teeth I find down in Peace River, FL, but this is weird considering there are no cow or buffalo farms very close to the area I found these (that I know of). Anyone have any idea what these are, why they’re here, and how old they could be?

I went fossil hunting out near the nearby creek today, since i had some free time. Here’s what i found: while i’m sure this first one is a concretion, i wanna know what yall think! Here’s the second one, which interested me way more- first one is 5cm, second one is 9 and a half centimeters: if you look closely- you can see weird markings on the second fossil that look almost like a tire track. Let me know what yall think that is.

Last weekend I found a few fairly small pieces of fossil, and I am not entirely sure on their identifications, but I have guesses. Location: Mississippi creek. (I am unsure on how much to share location-wise, in regards to name of creek, etc.). This area is outside of Hattiesburg, Mississippi. I thought the first one was a piece of wasp nest until I felt it. Some sort of coral? The second is perhaps also coral? The last one perhaps a crinoid stem? I do note there is a circular fossil next to it. The last one looks pretty distinctly like a shell impression. Any tips or suggestions are much appreciated. I keep doubting myself when I think I've figured them out.