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Showing results for tags 'mazon creek'.
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Fusain (Evidence Of A Forest Fire 307 Mya) [Edited]
Stocksdale posted a topic in General Fossil Discussion
EDIT: These are fusain and not "Coal Balls." They are concretions of fossilized charcoal wood, showing evidence of a forest fire. Note from Jack: (copied from below) These were collected in a Mazon Creek spoil pile from an older underground mine. I understand that the older underground mines would bring up everything from the seam of colchester coal and overlying shale. Then at the surface, they'd remove the "gob" -- non-coal stuff like these and add to the pile.
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I have trouble identifying many of these and thought I'd post them and see what folks think. The location of these was in a spoil pile of an underground coal mine around the border between the Braidwood (terrestrial) and Essex (marine) Biota. Number 1: Worm? Something almost resembles an eye on the 'head' area. Number 2: Didontogaster perhaps? Number 3:
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Poorly preserved shrimp? Do folks agree? There is a noticeable gut line.....my guess is lebotelson given the longish rostrum....any other thoughts? Evan
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Hi Folks- I had this concretion open to reveal a number of black dots. I don't see the traditional halo around the the dots that would make me feel more confident about an egg sack identification. What do folks think?
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Hi Folks- I spent a good part of 2013 focused on essex fauna.....although I would definitely say Mazon Creek is not for the faint of heart....this year alone I battled poison ivy (twice), chiggers (twice) and embarrassingly a bad bout of dehydration that required a trip to Kankakee Hospital. All that said, it was a productive year searching (and purchasing) Mazon essex fauna. I will now start putting a number of these into storage...hope you like them. A few pics are below...
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Hi Folks- Do folks agree that this is JUST a shrimp molt? I have a number of molts - this happens to be the best I have. It is also very difficult to ID from a molt based on my research? Evan
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Hi Folks- I had my first self collected shrimp reveal itself yesterday. If I had to guess - I would say Acanthotelson stimpsoni. After finding 10+ molts...I was happy to find a complete specimen. Also - would you recommend cleaning it in vinegar/water wash? Thanks for taking a look. Evan shrimp - fossil.pdf
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Hi Folks- Can anyone ID this concretion? I believe this is a polychate worm - but I suspect it is in a lateral view presentation. Folks agree? Evan
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Hi Folks- A friend of mine found this fossil and asked me for help IDing. At first glance I thought it was a polychaete worm - Oliver Hardy. But the 3D presentation makes me wonder if it might be somehting else. Any thoughts? Evan
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Hi Folks- Any idea what the two below might be....these are recent Pit 11 openings.
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Folks- Below is an Esconites Zelus - the jaw apparatus is a dead giveaway. This worm is named after the Earth Science Club of Northern Illinois. This is the first one I've ever found - hope I find a one with better preservation or a better split in the near future.
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Mazon Creek - Pit 11 - Beware Of These Tiny Predators
evannorton posted a topic in Fossil Hunting Trips
Hi Folks- A couple of little predators revealed themselves over the weekend. A juvenile (tummy tooth worm) and a simple jaw worm. Let me know if you disagree with either of my IDs. Have a great day.
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Thought this piece was too small to be significant and gave it an initial identification as fossil mulch. Recently as I’ve gotten to know Mazon Creek flora a little better I was wondering if those with more expertise could tell me if a better classification would be cordaite.I think the second photo is cyperites.This one has been a little frustrating since it appears as if more of the fossil is still hidden in the matrix but repeated freeze thaw cycles have only caused the exposed fossil to lose some of its color without revealing anymore of the fossil.
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Hi Folks- The Pit 11 area around the perimeter of the lake is very overgrown at this point - although I have been able to get out and collect some. While the Essex fauna definitely has a higher percentage of duds versus the braidwood locales - the diversity of faunal species is much more robust. Other than one cyperites plant with great points - most of my finds have been faunal in nature. See below. A coprinoscolex
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I think I was able to catch the essence of this rather large jellyfish I found.Hope you enjoy this photo.
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I recently found this along the Mazon river closer to Morris, IL. This is a 9-10” long nodule fragment and a pound or so in weight. There are both sides to the impression. It must have split on its own this winter. Note the interesting lines in it. It looks like some sort of mineral deposit. I notice it goes all the way through the nodule (I can see this on the sides). I am just curious because the geometry and straight lines of it are so interesting. I am assuming this is not a fossil. Correct? Any ideas what this might be? Any thoughts would be appreciated! Thanks!
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Mazon Creek - More Pit 11 (Already Opened Concretions)
evannorton posted a topic in Fossil Hunting Trips
Hi Folks- Here are some more already opened concretions from a recent Pit 11 trip. Let me know if you disagree with any of my IDs. 1) Priapulites konecrniorum 2) Partial Tully (poor preservation) 3) Unknown 4) shrimp molt
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Pit 11 Trip yielded this already opended Cyclus which is the best in my modest collection.
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I would like to know whether this specimen in a Mazon Creek nodule is the polychaete worm Esconites zelus (incomplete, distal part of the body - as suggested by the "tail-like" structure at one end) or a millipede (or something else)? (I also considered Acanthotelson, but there are too many segments in my specimen). The legs are comparatively long, but badly preserved (and only on one side of the specimen). I know this specimen is no beauty. The total length of the fossil is 20 mm, the width (without legs) about 2,5 mm. Picture 4 shows the counterpart (without legs). Thanks, araucaria1959
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I went through some of my previous finds to pull out things I had yet to successfully ID. Any thoughts on the below are appreciated. 1) Stem and branch of pecopteris given how many varities of pecopteris I find in the same location 2) bark/tree or root element 3) Looks like stigmariodes bumps 4) perhaps C. Goepperti 5) Neat piece of a branch with leaf scars and some leaves
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Below are items from Essex trips that have yet to be ID'ed.... Any thoughts appreciated. 1) Looks wormlike - but not sure 2) Paucijaculum perhaps but I doubt it....might be a trace fossil 3) Looks like Lepidocystis (but not sure)
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Eventhough I am dealing with poison ivy break-out....I promised a friend a trip to Mazon Creek. Below are some of my better finds. We were in a Braidwood location. Stems, alethopteris serli and sullivanti, a number of coprolites and neuropteris
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Hi Folks- I had a good two day run at Mazon Creek last week. The weather is finally starting to warm up and the ground has thawed which allowed for some better prospecting. Being excited that I didn't have to dress like an Eskimo - I opted to not wear gloves while collecting. Lesson learned.....My knuckles, wrist and hands are now sporting poison ivy. Don't forget to wear gloves - and apply IvyBlock prior to getting out there. On the much more positive side, I did find a number of concretions and single sided nodules in a Braidwood location that have been quickly resulting in some decent fossils. See the attached. Have fun out there and don't forget to protect yourself from Poison Ivy!!!!! Pictures of poison ivy rash intentionally not included.
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Attached is a picture of mazon creek tree elements - can you identify them? Jack Wittry helped me ID these. Thanks, Jack.
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Do folks agree? The nodule is about 8 inches tall by 3 inches wide
