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The Rhynie Chert preserves one of the oldest terrestrial ecosystems, which is a hot spring environment. It's Lower Devonian, and the oldest know harvestman was also found there. These are some photographs of my thin sections from this environment. This first thin section is one of my favourites, it has several Aglaophyton major plants that contain fungal cysts of Palaeomyces gordoni, containing spores. These are more Aglaophyton major cross sections. In this and the one above, there are a few vascular bundles, these consist of thin-walled protoxylem cells, surrounded by thicker metaxylem cells, which is then surrounded by the phloem. In the cortex of some of these is the mycorrhizal fungi Glomites rhyniensis. Their hyphae look like a darker-coloured ring. These both are Aglaophyton major. This one has Aglaophyton major, as well as Retusotriletes spores and some more Palaeomyces gordoni cysts without spores. This section contains a few Retusotriletes spores. This has the plant Horneophyton lignieri in it, which had a rhizoids instead of roots. In the upper left of this one is an arthropod coprolite consisting mostly of spores. Lastly, this is a piece of the Rhynie Chert containing Aglaophyton major.

This is the first time I've tried to go looking for fossils and found this while breaking apart some sedimentary rocks. I don't know if I'm seeing the cross section of something. The lighter grey, white area really stood out against the normal red yellow white of the surrounding stone. Located near the edge of a creek bed. According to the usgs the area is Felsic Metavolcanic Rock and in the period of Cambrian/Late Proterozoic.

Heyo! I had one more fossil I was looking to get an ID for and it looks to me like it might be a cross section of some kind of coral. It is rather faint so it might actually be nothing but I figured id give it a shot here as you guys are much better at ID than I am (until I catch up!) /\ Main pciture. /\ Here is a little closer showing the details. /\ Cross-section in case its needed. Thanks for help as usual, you guys are always great!! -Em

Hey everyone, I was just wondering what the difference between a compressed and robust cross section of a tooth is. Thanks! - FossilsandScience

Found these in eastern NC.