Search the Community
Showing results for tags 'maquoketa'.
-
I have recently discovered my interest in rock hounding. From my small/moderate amount of research, I am guessing that this is Stromatolite. I found it in a yard bordering a graveyard in Maquoketa, IA. I would love to know a little more about it,. It weighs right around 4 lbs. At the one end, it appears that some form of fossil had burrowed in.
-
These questionable fossils were collected in eastern Iowa from the Brainard Formation, Maquoketa, Ordovician. All of the fossils seen contained pyrite or iron oxide on the surfaces, something that I am not used to in other areas of Maquoketa strata. This makes identification confusing for a few of my finds. Hopefully you can help!! #1 I suspect a trace fossil. Or maybe mineral deposit. #2 @Tidgy's Dad will be up to IDing this strophomena like brachiopod (I hope!!!) #3 Is this a craniid sp., or a bryozoan, or crania ancovered with bryozoan or pyrite. #4 This looks like a bryozoan to which something else attached and grew. Or maybe just a pyrite nodule?? The bryozoan stem goes completely through the nodule. #5
- 3 replies
-
- 1
-
- brainard formation
- eastern iowa
-
(and 2 more)
Tagged with:
-
My last trip exploring the Maquoketa of Minnesota, a formation that is abundant in cephalopods, provided me with a serpenticone shaped specimen that I do not recognize. Help IDing this would be appreciated. The siphuncle is not visible in this specimen. I did some infill with putty to enhance its look (in my opinion). The small repair is delineated by the red marks.
- 3 replies
-
- 5
-
- cephalopod
- maquoketa
-
(and 2 more)
Tagged with:
-
This tiny gastropod has me stumped. Does anyone recognize it? Thanks for any suggestions!!!! It reminds me a bit of Trochonema, but seems much different from those I have found in the past.
-
A few months ago, I stopped at a location exposing the Brainard Member of the Maquoketa, Ordovician. Fossils are not well preserved at this exposure, but occasionally a decent crinoid shows up. When splitting a piece of matrix from that days collections, this basal plate popped out. If fully exposed, it would measure roughly 4 cm across, making it much larger than I am used to seeing. I am suspecting it is Carabocrinus, but would like an opinion from someone much more versed in crinoids than I. Just after I found this, I was processing, the next rock contained a reddish cavity that I just thought was a vug. Iron oxide stains many fossils at this location. After just finding that large plate, my eyes came back to this rock and I suddenly saw it as a crinoid calyx. Am I exhibiting Pareidolia???? Or is this a large calyx?? Red dot is where the aboral cup's end would be. Blue dot is centered on what looks like a worn basal plate. Other pics also show a hint of this. Some linear structures are present inside the "calyx" as marked with the green dot.
-
From the album: Purchased Trilobites of Isotelus2883
Maquoketa formation, This one was bought in-person from the Past and Present shop in Blasdell. It has a genal spine preserved, which is somewhat uncommon. -
A sizeable mineral coming from the ever famous Graf roadcut that exposes the Elgin of the Maquoketa. Im thinking calcite, but im gonna be honest I haven't a clue.
-
Here are a few trilobites, damaged and partials that were found this summer. After cleaning these up over the last few days, I still am unsure of their identities. The first one I will venture is an Isotelus roller. Rollers always confuse me! It is from the Maquoketa/Ordovician and Isotelus are common. @Kane, @piranha 3. is also from the Maquoketa/Ordovician. Maybe not enough present to tell. The rest are from the Platteville/ Ordovician. 4. Popped out of the matrix during prep. It measures 2.5cm by 2.0cm. I count 9 thoracic segments. This is the back side showing a probable pygidium. Interestingly, the depression in front of the pygidium has a positive to it (saved) which makes me wonder whether it could be a hypostome. I will research further once I can identify the species, or at least genus. 2. Is a smaller trilobite, 2cm by 1.5cm and contains 8 visible thoracic segments, though the end is not complete. 5. This specimen is the real reason that the post was created. It has me completely stumped. Unfortunately a piece is missing. I did not see this in the rock until I began processing a different fossil. Hence the other piece is back at the roadcut that this was found at. Anyways, I suspect but not convinced it is a trilobite. The green dots in the first picture show the fractured area. The dark fuzzy area delineated by the red dots is perpendicular to the fractured face. It was hidden in rock until the Dremel exposed it, The exposed surface is very rough compared to other trilobites I have found. Because of this I was hoping to have a better understanding of what is within this rock before prepping further. Here is what I envision as a possibility Thanks for taking a look!
- 11 replies
-
- maquoketa
- ordovician
-
(and 2 more)
Tagged with:
-
Last weekend was to be spent with a Fossil Forum friend touring the formations in my area. Unfortunately the weather forecast showed that a rainout was likely resulting in a change of plans. Connor decided to head south to Kentucky. Being “stood up”, I decided to venture out on my own, in spite of the gloomy forecast, in hopes of creating jealousy with my finds. But based on his recent post showing his wonderful finds down in Kentucky, he was the one who made me jealous. Grudgingly, I will show my findings anyways! These were found in the Elgin Member of the Maquoketa, which is Ordovician. First up are the brachiopods. Then some inarticulate brachiopods. Awhile ago, someone had posted a brachiopod, I believe Strophomena with bumps all over it. Here is another example. Bivalves, sponges, and crinoids are uncommon in this formation. I am not sure if this is a sponge. Your thoughts are appreciated! I am calling the next group of fossils epibionts, though I do not know if they were growing on living or dead animals. Would love to know what these fried eggs are!! Cephalopods of many types are commonly found. The site I looked at is known for trilobites. In fact the lessee of the site and his grandson, who I had the honor of collecting with that day, found some impressive ones. I was probably too busy cleaning up all the non trilobite fossils that they discard to train my eyes on the trilobites!!! In spite of this, I did manage one whole trilobite that is damaged (missing an eye and more) plus many partials. Pygidiums The next pygidium is TINY!!! Only 1/2 cm in width. Can anyone ID it? A few hypostomes were collected. Cephalons are next. Their IDs remain a mystery to me. The rain did hold off until noon, at which time I headed back to Minnesota to collect, where it was dry. @connorp @isotelus
- 13 replies
-
- 14
-
- elgin member
- maquoketa
-
(and 2 more)
Tagged with:
-
Early in the summer, an attempt was made to hunt a different Ordovician formation than I normally collect in. It provided me with a learning experience and some new and neat fossils. Having enjoyed my finds so much, a return trip was made 2 weeks ago. Not to the same site but to a more extensive exposure of the Elgin Formation of the Maquoketa close by. The location is in NE Iowa in some beautiful farm country. Even if I found no fossils the view from here made the trip worthwhile. Now for the finds. I am a novice at identifying fossils from this formation and am open to any suggestions or changes to my identifications. Here is a sediment filled cephalopod with Dalmanella on it. Only one was truly part of the find. Which brachiopod belonged to the cephalopod? This one!! Cephalopods of all types and sizes abounded in this formation. This is one cephalopod I would love an ID of. The linear stripes are new to me. Epibionts were common on the brachiopods. Now on to the trilobites. First up is a picture of a u shaped structure just 5 mm long. Is it a hypostome. If so, what trilobite? Many pictures that I hope you enjoyed! Mike
- 13 replies
-
- 13
-
- elgin member
- maquoketa
-
(and 2 more)
Tagged with:
-
Last month I was able to make a brief trip to hunt the Ordovician rocks of the Upper Mississippi Valley. The stratigraphy up here was very confusing to me at first since a lot of the units are very similar looking. To that end, I am endeavoring to include more site pictures in my trip reports of this area, in the hope that it will assist others when collecting this area. My first stop was in SE Wisconsin. Unfortunately the right of way was much narrower in person than on Google Earth so I did not feel comfortable collecting here. But it was a great site to observe the three lowest members of the Platteville Formation. The lower massive dolomite is the Pecatonica Member, the middle thinner bedded limestone layer is the Mifflin Member, and the slightly thicker bedded limestone above is the Grand Detour Member. These can be tough to differentiate on unweathered outcrops, but become quite distinctive after weathering. Next I checked out a couple of my favorite Maquoketa Formation stops in NE Iowa and had some luck, although I have nothing to show as everything is off being prepped. I also stopped at a very long roadcut exposing the top of the Decorah Formation and the entire Galena Formation. This picture shows the contact of the Ion Member of the Decorah and the overlying Dunleith Member of the Galena. The Ion is well known for having an abundance of the gumdrop bryozoan Prasopora. The one on the right below is itself encrusted with other bryozoans. This was the end of the first day. On the second day, I made my way up to SE Minnesota for the first time. The picture below shows the contact between the Prosser (Dunleith equivalent) and Stewartville (Wise Lake equivalent) Members of the Galena Formation. The Stewartville is well known for the lovely large gastropod molds that can be found, such as this very displayable Maclurites. I finished off the trip at two sites in the Maquoketa. Graptolites were probably the most commonly encountered fossil, although they weather quickly and you need to split rock to find nice fresh examples. And to finish off the report, here is the best of the trilobites I found. The cephalon has some damage, but it is otherwise a nice inflated specimen. Anataphrus vigilans Elgin Member, Maquoketa Formation Fillmore Co., MN Prepped by Malcolm T. Thanks for looking, hope you enjoyed!
-
Here are two bugs not in great shape from the Elgin Member of the Maquoketa Formation (Upper Ordovician) of Minnesota. I am leaning towards Flexicalymene sp. for the first and guessing Isotelus or Anataphrus for the second. Any thoughts are appreciated.
-
Last week, some fossils were collected from the Elgin member of the Maquoketa/Ordovician of NE Iowa. A few of my unidentifiable ones are posted here today for you to look at. 1. The first one was a cephalopod mold that upon closer look at home had these 2 "things" stuck to it. I have not come across these before. 2. Next is a partial trilobite that I initially thought was Anatophorus. But after some cleaning , I am uncertain how to label it. It appears to be crushed.
-
This specimen was found in the Maquoketa Formation (Upper Ordovician) of Minnesota. My best guess is part of an echinoderm (crinoid or cystoid calyx?) but I'm not sure, I've never found anything similar. Any thoughts?
- 3 replies
-
- echinoderm
- maquoketa
-
(and 2 more)
Tagged with:
-
I was checking out my photos this evening and came across this "unknown" from a recent hunt in NE Iowa. The geology is Ordovician/ Maquoketa. The "fossil" was found with only the surface of #1 showing. It looked a bit sponge like to me. I tried splitting the surface off and found the left over rock had a surface shown in 2. I further split the rock into pieces 3, 4, 5, and 6. As you can see, the unknown flares out again at 6. This is probably "just a rock" but tis better to ask first. Mike
- 1 reply
-
- iowa fossil
- maquoketa
-
(and 2 more)
Tagged with:
-
My recent trip to the Maquoketa Formation of Iowa produced a brachiopod that baffles me. It appears to have both shells but it is extremely flat. Help needed with ID!!! Mike
- 3 replies
-
- brachiopod
- flat
-
(and 2 more)
Tagged with:
-
I found a tiny object locked in matrix yesterday late in the afternoon and threw it in the bucket thinking it was a brachiopod. So when I cleaned it up a little this morning, I was surprised!! My wife fell in love with this trilobite (loves anything petite) and insisted I enter the FOTM competition. I am torn between a very small Isotelus or the more likely Anataphrus vigilans. HELP so I can enter before today's deadline (for her sake!!!).
-
Graf, Iowa Orthocone Shell remnant or epibiont?
Crusty_Crab posted a topic in General Fossil Discussion
This is Isorthoceras sociale (Hall, 1877) from the Ordovician Elgin member of the Maquoketa from the well known Graf, Iowa location. They exhibit unusual preservation, including nacre and hollow camerae. According to Invertebrate Fossils (1952) by Moore, et al,, shells of nautiloids have an inner annulus layer, middle nacreous layer and outer porcelaneous layer. Is the circular pitted texture on the outside then the remnant of the porcelaneous layer of the shell or some sort of epibiont like a bryozoan? Plate 220 of Shimer and Shrock's Index Fossils of North America (1944) has orthocone shells illustrated, but the texture appears wavy.- 4 replies
-
- maquoketa
- ordovician
-
(and 3 more)
Tagged with:
-
I'm slowly making my way through finds from the summer and have come across a couple specimens I don't recognize. The first one is from the Platteville Formation of SW Wisconsin (Middle Ordovician). The second one is from the Maquoketa Formation of NE Iowa (Upper Ordovician).
- 10 replies
-
- 2
-
It has been 7 years now since I became hooked on the "fossil thing". My hunts seem to creep a little further from home with each passing year. Greener pasture syndrome. So a few days ago, I purposely started my adventure close to home. Here are a few finds from the Ordovician. @ClearLake Let me start with a few unknowns: This last one could just be a squished brachiopod, but seems to be a coiled organism. IDed as Trilobite eye, probably Isotelus The pygidium pictured came from a new spot I tried, expecting to find Isotelus. The pygidiums look more like Bumastus???? Actually IDed as Homotelus(?) florencevillensis. Again, not Bumastus, but Homotelus(?) florencevillensis. The trilobites came from the Maquoketa, the others from the Galena. I collected a few brachiopods (Galena) to please @Tidgy's Dad The Galena locally has many gastropods.
- 30 replies
-
- 11
-
These two finds are stumping me a bit. Both are from the Maquoketa Fm (Upper Ordovician) of Iowa. The first one initially struck me as a 3D graptolite, but it could be a crinoid stem. I couldn't get a good photo of the cross section, but it is rectangular.
- 3 replies
-
- graptolite
- iowa
-
(and 2 more)
Tagged with:
-
Found this while splitting some slabs I brought home from an outcrop of the Maquoketa Group (Upper Ordovician) in Illinois. Started a bit of prep work but figured I'd try to see what I'm dealing with before going any further. My completely uneducated guess would be a lichid pygidium or something of the sort?
-
Today I decided to revisit a stream exposure of the Upper Ordovician Maquoketa Group in northern IL. I believe these outcrops are all Brainard Shale, which is the second highest member of the Maquoketa in Northern Illinois. The olive-gray shales exposed at the base of the outcrops are packed with Tentaculites, and the few times I've been here I've always searched for those. Today I wanted to explore more of the creek and see what else I could find. The stream was running pretty fast but wasn't too high, despite all the recent rain. Shale and dolomite outcrop for quite a distance along the stream, although the water is usually too high to get to many of them. I probably won't come back until the water level drops quite a bit so I can wade through, the stream isn't super deep. The stream runs near shops and well-traveled footpaths, so to be respectful I don't hammer here. That makes it a little tough since most rock faces are highly weathered and covered with vegetation, but some nice things can still be found. Water-worn brachiopods are common sights, though rarely worth collecting.
- 6 replies
-
- 2
-
- brachiopod
- illinois
-
(and 3 more)
Tagged with:
-
- 3 replies
-
- maquoketa
- ordovician
-
(and 1 more)
Tagged with:
-
In order to ID a find of mine, I came across an article that appears to have my answer. Does anyone possibly have access to this? I can't seem to get it: Carabocrinid crinoids from the Ordovician of northern Iowa and southern Minnesota Thanks, Mike