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Showing results for tags 'maquoketa'.
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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.
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- brachiopod
- illinois
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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
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I discovered these two rollers in Fayette County , Iowa in the lower Maquoketa, Ordovician. This location is well known for Anatophrus borreaus trilobites. Though the next lower formation changes abruptly to almost 100% Isotelus. Did I find one of each? Rollers make IDs tough on me. Then as long as you "trilo" experts are looking, can you ID the trilo-bits 1,2 and 3 in the next picture? Thanks for helping!!
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- fayette co.
- iowa
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Due to an upcoming order from our Governor to stay at home, I took the opportunity to fossil hunt last Sunday afternoon before it begins. The ground was white with an unexpected snowfall overnight when I left the house but soon melted. My goal was to look at road cuts for rock slides from the winter's freeze thaw cycle. Digging and splitting would be tough with frost still in the ground. The first spots searched were Ordovician, Galena. Here are a few representative fossils from the Galena of SE Minnesota: From there, I slipped over the border into Iowa to look at Ordovician, Maquoketa. A sluffed hillside provided me with some rock that I wasn't that familiar with. Here are some finds: The first picture is almost clay like, different than the normal Maquoketa that I am used to.
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Here are a few fossils I recently collected from the Maquoketa Group (Upper Ordovician) in northern Illinois that I'm not sure about. 1) Maybe some kind of trace fossil? 2) The two things in question here are to the left and right of the pentagonal crinoid columnal. The small fossil on the left looks like it might be part of a trilobite genal spine? And the three-pointed fossil to the bottom right I have no idea about. I feel like I've seen something similar before but can't remember.
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This past Sunday, I had a chance to explore a few roadcuts near Dubuque Iowa. i came across a very unusual fossil that had me stumped. After reading through an old paper, I found a match to my fossil. The guide listed the name as Climaconus. I was unfamiliar with what it might be so I did a Google search which did not yield any helpful results. I am hoping that someone on the forum might be familiar with this animal and enlighten me as to what it is. Is the name still valid? The Rock is part of the Maquoketa Formation which is upper Ordovician. It was found in the Brainard Shale member. Any help will be appreciated.
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- brainard shale
- iowa
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I found this nice little Crinoid calyx at a roadcut near Dubuque Iowa. i was wondering if anyone might know what species. It was collected in the Upper Ordovician Maquoketa Formation.
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Last Autumn, I took a side trip to Graf, Iowa in search of it's "elusive" cephalopods. Fortunately for me, a large piece of rock had released itself from the overhanging cliff and I proceeded to use my sledge hammer on it until broken into eight 50 lb pieces. This then was loaded into my truck without further exploration as I knew, each chunk contained maybe 50 cephalopods within it. These chunks of matrix were to provide me with a little winter entertainment while the landscape of Minnesota remained white. Two weeks ago I began splitting these boulders, looking for the treasures contained within. At the same time, @Ludwigia posted an image of belemnites , that made me think how similar his finds were to cephalopods of Graf. <img src='http://www.thefossilforum.com/uploads/gallery/album_1563/gallery_2384_1563_281093.jpg' alt='Acrocoelites (Acrocoelites) gracilis (Hehl in Zieten) ?' title='Acrocoelites (Acrocoelites) gracilis (Hehl in Zieten) ?' data-role='theImage'> After complimenting him on his finds, he asked to see my hash plates of Isorthoceras sociale. It is for this reason that I have put a trip report together. This location continues to perplex me a bit. How so many cephalopods over such a long period of time could keep collecting here. From my understanding, Graf, Iowa back in the Ordovician period was a very shallow marine environment where wave action altered how these cephalopod carcasses were deposited. Due to the wave action, many examples of one cephalopod being washed inside the shell of another cephalopod exist. This is very unique!! The septa of these creatures were thin and broke down readily in the surf, leaving space for other cephalopod shells to be deposited within. To show this better, here is a specimen that had all of it's septa dissolved, but the siphuncle still remained!!! Another picture showing the decayed cephalopod with remnants of a siphuncle yet no septa This I understand. But from my perspective, there are several odd factors that defy explanation from my limited knowledge with regard to the cephalopod deposition in Graf. The most prominent cephalopod rich rock is a bit orangish in color, as can be seen above. But there are 2 separate grey/brown zones that the specimens look completely different. First is an area where the cephalopods are flattened like pancakes. If you notice, the gastropods (circled) contain no distortion/ flattening. A mystery to me. The second darker zone contains cephalopods that are very small in comparison to the orange zone. They reach only about10 -20% of the "normal" size of Isorthocerus socialis found in the orange zone. A different species? Or a stress environment where they just didn't grow well? Obviously the matrix changed, so then should their environment have changed. An unknown mystery again for me.
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- cephalopods
- elgin member
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This gastropod was found in a block of matrix from Graf, Iowa that I split open last week. I have never bumped into this type of gastropod from there before. Research has left me stumped. Suggestions are welcomed! Elgin member, Lower Maquoketa formation, Ordovician. Thanks for the help Mike
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Getting My Feet Wet In the Ordovician of Wisconsin and Iowa
RCFossils posted a topic in General Fossil Discussion
2018 was the year that I finally took some time to explore Ordovician aged sites in Southwestern Wisconsin and Eastern Iowa. Inspired by past forum posts (special shoutout to Caleb Scheer who was unfortunately taken from this world way to young) along with an invite from a fellow Fossil Forum member, I was able to make several trips into the fossil rich Platteville and Maquoketa formations. I was mainly focused on finding some of the amazing trilobites that these formations are known for. I also collected some nice representative examples of the various other fauna. Most of my experience collecting Ordovician fossils has been in the Cincinnatian of Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky. For those not familiar with collecting in the Cincinnatian, the vast majority of trilobites that you will find are Flexicalymene meeki along with lots of bits and pieces of Isotelus. One of the things that struck me right away in the Platteville and Maquoketa was the quantity and diversity of trilobite types that are readily found. While almost all of the trilobites will be fragments, occasionally you get lucky and find something complete. There is definitely a learning curve sorting through the various trilo-bits and learning to recognize the various species. Forum member Piranha was always willing to help out with identifications. My first trip out was in late Winter. I spent a day with forum member Fossilized collecting a few roadcuts in both Wisconsin and Iowa. The first relatively complete trilobite that I came across that day was also possibly my rarest find of the year. It is a very rare Cheirud: Acanthoparypha sp. Unfortunately the cephalon was gone but still an impressive specimen.
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- maquoketa
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I have been to Graf, Iowa three times in the last 10 years and am always amazed at this site with the shear number of cephalopods exposed in the rock face. This fourth trip was made to find some material for a forum member. In doing so, I took the time to look closely at the matrix present at Graf. There were gastropods, brachiopods, bivalves ,graptolites, and even trilobites hidden in the rock. I had never noticed this on my previous trips since the cephalopods are overwhelming. I would love to go back another time soon and NOT look at the cephalopods at all, to see what I could find. I am here today to get Identification of the trilo-bits that I found at Graf. My guess is Thelecalymene mammillata. @piranha @DevonianDigger, if you still are looking for trilobits, I can send a few of these. 2018-10-009.cxf
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This past weekend, I had a chance to collect a well known roadcut outside of Clermont Iowa. The site is Ordovician in age and exposes the Clermont section of the Maquoketa Formation. one of the interesting pieces that I collected was this tiny trilobite. As you can see from the picture,There is not much to go on however the hypostome is preserved. I am hopeful the Trilobite will be complete and was wondering if anyone might know what species it is/could be. Any help is appreciated.
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Mike @minnbuckeye kindly sent me a package of orthocone nautiloids from his area recently. It's one of the taxa that are sparse in my collection so I was happy to accept the offer. I'm posting them to show what a generous guy he is and to elicit more info about them that might be missing... I don't think that big one in the lower right was labeled - Is it the same as the other large one, Elgin IA?
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@piranha, could you assist me in identifying this Isotelus to species? l
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Locating the Maquoketa Formation and other fossil-bearing shales in Missouri
chickenbutt posted a topic in General Fossil Discussion
Hello all, first post here but have been a long time lurker. I graduated a few years back with a degree in earth science (primarily geared towards groundwater hydrology) but still consider myself a fossil amateur. I've done some fossil hunting in the past and have researched over some paperwork that I have but am curious if any of you guys have any experience finding the Maquoketa formation and other fossil bearing shales here in Missouri. I have found one small outcrop that has yielded trilobite parts and other fun things, but I'm looking to get back in the hobby and would love to hear if anyone can give me a general idea where to begin. Or if anyone wants to share their super secret spots feel free to let me know :P. Thanks all. -
From the album: Fayette County Iowa
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From the album: Fayette County Iowa
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From the album: Fayette County Iowa
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From the album: Fayette County Iowa
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From the album: Fayette County Iowa
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From the album: Fayette County Iowa
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From the album: Fayette County Iowa
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I was recently looking at the hashplates I collect a year ago near Green Bay, WI from the maquoketa formation. It is upper ordovician. As I was enjoying the look through my loop, I spotted a pinhead size dark rounded section under the blue ash layer...( that layer comes from the volcanoes in the Appalachian region). I use my 10x loop, and a pin and started scratching away the hardened material, discovering little by little a cute little trilobite. As I was moving around it, I found another cephalon, sort of "bumping into it" but I haven't worked on that one too much. But since it is a cephalon only (thus far) , I am wondering if someone can ID it for me. I have attached a view of the hash plate, an out of focus view of the trilobites with a measure, and an in focus view taken after I attached my loop with rubber bands to my cell phone. Thanks for the help.
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Found near Green Bay, WI. The Maquoketa Formation. Interesting fossil not sure what is it as its lil unusual
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