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Showing results for tags 'mazon'.
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Just popped. I lack the skills to determine genus as I am new to Mazon Creek fossils.
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Every once in a great while one gets lucky with a find. This one is difficult to photograph, but what follows got me pretty excited. Not in any of the books or guides I have found so far. Played with lighting a bit to make the features somewhat more visible.
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- belotelson
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This just split this morning and I’m beyond happy. I’m really thinking it’s a millipede. Thoughts?
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So obviously it’s pretty poorly preserved but I’m pretty confident this is a worm (probably Fossundecima?) I’m just not 100% sure if im correct because of how hard it is to look at. Hope I’m not seeing things.
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The Quest for More Ferns: Mazon Creek, Wheeling, Centralia
bockryan posted a topic in Fossil Hunting Trips
Was able to visit Chicago over the 4th to visit a friend and just managed to sneak in (between torrential rains and everything else to do in Chicago) 4 hours or so of collecting at a site in the Mazon Creek. A few of the concretions have now opened nicely and hopefully more are on the way. First, have to very sincerely thank the Chicago-area Fossil Forum members who were unbelievably generous with their time (and in many cases, their fossils!) and who really helped a total Mazon novice have a successful trip! Here are some of the first finds, with lots more currently in the freezer including a whole bucket of Pit 11 material that was super generously given to me on my way out. Hopefully some more interesting finds await! The next weekend I also took a short trip to a site near Wheeling, WV composed of slate-like rocks in a pretty nice roadside stream that had great scenery and a lot of butterflies floating around. I didn't find a ton aside from one OK (broken) fern frond and some nicer hash plates, but it was a fun trip! And then lastly, I was able to clean up a few more finds from Centralia that are looking good, will likely return to that site soon. A question: is anyone familiar with any reasonable East-Coast sites for Mesozoic plants? I'm planning to investigate some streams in College Park, MD (luckily quite close to home) and then I've done some research on Triassic sites in North Carolina but I'm a little nervous about driving all the way down just to take a look. If anyone has any likely leads they would be appreciated Otherwise I will continue to update this thread as more things pop open from the freezer!
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- carboniferous
- ferns
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The first one is incredibly small and was really hard to photograph so I apologize for the quality. Looks like some kind of arthropod to me, like an insect nymph? On the last picture of it I circled what appears to be antennae. It’s was really hard for me to capture that on camera but it’s much more prevalent in person. Second seems to be some type of flora? But I think it’s poorly preserved and I’m not sure if it can be identified. Any opinions are appreciated. Thanks.
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This one opened today and looks a little funky. I’m guessing worm. Any thoughts?
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Ok I’m pretty sure this is a reach but I’m gonna keep thinking about it until I get clarification. Could this be Mazonova helmichnus? I very highly doubt it is and I’m pretty sure it’s just mineralization but I’d like to know in the off chance it is. Thanks!
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Mazon fossils donated to the Indiana State Museum
Sauropod19 posted a topic in Partners in Paleontology - Member Contributions to Science
I officially got notice that my Belotelsonid and trace fossil cf. Protovirgularia dichotoma were accepted into collections at the Indiana State Museum!
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- belotelson
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Hello again. I got the time to scrub off my finds from Friday and found one of interest (and a second that I haphazardly split open that I think is a dud). The top one’s shape remained after several rounds of intense scrubbing, and feels slightly 3D in the middle. Other views of top one: Is there anything in the top one or is it just suggestive mineral staining? Additionally, since there is a crevice present around the entire perimeter, would you recommend I try and pry it open or leave the concretion as is? Lastly, just so I can document the correct number of concretions collected on my permit, which of these four examples (if any) would you consider to be a concretion or half concretion. “a” and “d” are extremely thin, both likely part of the outer “shell” of a concretion. “b” is just an odd shape, and “c” is thick but flat. As always, thank you!
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- francis creek shale
- illinois
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Hello. I’m currently at Mazon and after about 1 1/2 hours of intermittent hiking and searching, I found a hillside that seems to be rife with concretions. I’m somehow lucky enough to have a tiny bit of cell service. I am concerned, however, that I have stumbled upon someone’s discard pile rather than a concretion gold mine. Most of the 100+ concretions were found either on the surface or very slightly embedded in the soil within a 30 foot radius, and most have jagged edges and are only half a concretion. A couple have even been larger than my hand. As such, I know it is difficult to tell without being here, but is it more likely that I’ve found an area where concretions have been exposed and opened naturally or have I stumbled upon someone’s recent search area? Thank you! P. S. I brought these together in one pile from around to demonstrate the majority of my finds. In situ: Large:
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It has been a couple of years since we went last, but is it too late this year to head back out to Pit 11 area? We have always looked around Monster Lake. The finds are so so, but wondering if there is somewhere else we should try or just stick to that area. Thanks, Todd
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Black shale collected at a private club. I’m not sure just a linear artifact of the shale or a linear structure of something.
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Hello everyone! My name is Paul and I have recently started collecting (or at least trying) and I was wondering if anyone could give me some advice on opening Mazon creek concretions. I made my first two trips last weekend and I think I have some concretions and have been using the freeze thaw method of opening. There are a few I gathered that seem to have what I've been calling an "egg" inside and I am wondering if this is just a rock with an outer layer, or worth freeze thawing until it finally pops. I attached photos of a few of these, one which I stripped of the entire outer layer, and also a picture of my prized blob! Which is the only fossil I have found so far lol. Any help is much appreciated!
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Hello All- I'm hoping to get some help with a few Mazon Creek concretions recently picked up around Braidwood/Mazonia. I believe this is pit 11. Have had some great help here in the past, so hoping to get some help with these 6 specimen below. I have an idea on some of the below but, but not sure if my eyes are seeing what I want to see- so curious to know if others see the same thing! thanks, -tom
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Hey all was outside today at Pit 11. Came across this piece open. Possibly the back half of a tully monster? Will try cleaning more once home if it will help. Thanks in advance. @Nimravis@RCFossils@connorp @Mark Kmiecik
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Hello, I recently went to Mazon Creek for the first time. I have done some fossil hunting with my dad but really had no idea what we were doing. I found a couple other people searching for fossils and I joined them. Below is what I found. I know one is a Crinoid piece. The other two I am unsure if they are fossils. If anyone can give me some feedback, that would be great. As I said, I am new to the hobby so I was hoping to find others in the Mazon Creek area that would be interested in going on a trip there. If you are interested or have any advice you can give, that would be great.
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Hello. I found this piece during my first visit to Mazon last year and just got around to asking about it. I believe it may be tracks of some sort, as they look vaguely like other arthropod ichnofossils. I was wondering if anyone may be able to confirm my suspicions and possibly ID what kind of animal it could be. I understand this second part is difficult without anything else to go off of, and I apologize for lower camera quality than the other images I’ve seen here. Thank you!
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2022 I&M Canal Corridor Fossil Trip - August 27th and 28th, 2022
stats posted a topic in Fossil Hunting Trips
The annual I&M Canal Corridor Fossil Trip was split between two weekends this year. Saturday, August 13th and Sunday August 14th, 2022 were family and beginner days, while more experienced collectors had their opportunities on Saturday, August 27th and Sunday, August 28th, 2022. From the look of what was found, the families barely made a dent in the supply of fossils. In case you are not familiar with the history of the site, the Kodat/Benson farm is designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1997. Statement of Significance (as of designation - September 25, 1997): The Mazon Creek Fossil Beds are important in the history of U.S. geology. When they were discovered in the mid-19th century, the beds provided the best and earliest representations of the oldest plants and animals known. Sites where fragile fossils are common and well preserved (here in distinctive ironstone nodules) are exceedingly rare. The Mazon Creek beds continue to be a prolific source of fossils. This trip is always well attended. The family and dinner event (August 28th) included an informative lecture by Andrew Young and Dave Dolak about the geology, history, and the fossils found at the site. There were quite a few opened concretions found on each day. The finds ranged from a shark tooth, to a huge lungfish scale, and many of the spectacular ferns common throughout the Mazon Creek fossil deposit. I saw many Fossil Forum people at the event. Please post photos to this thread. I gave most of my open pieces away, but will be adding any new fossils as my unopened concretions go through the freeze/thaw process. Please add yourself, if I have missed you. @deutscheben @connorp @bigred97 @Roby Here are a few photos over the 4 days.
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Saturday, October 15th, 2022 was the ESCONI Mazon Creek Open House. It was a great day with about 100 visitors to enjoy a event devoted to Mazon Creek fossils. There were numerous forum members in attendance.@connorp @bigred97 @flipper559 @fiddlehead @RCFossils @Roby @Hurtlady @jdp to name a few. For a full report with videos of 3 of the 4 presentations, please visit the ESCONI website. The fourth video will be posted after the research is published. Recently, we've had a few historical posts about the Mazon Creek Open House events in the past, Mazon Monday #133 and Throwback Thursday #132. @Nimravis supplied me with quite a bit of the historical material. Thanks, Ralph! Paul Mayer and Jack Wittry were on hand from the Field Museum. They provided two display cases of fossils, including the holotypes of Essexcella asherae and Lascoa mesostaurara. Random photos from the day. And, more fossils!
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Hi — I was lucky enough to collect a few dozen Mazon nodules this weekend. But I am not familiar with how to best prepare and understand this material. Is there a guide that would answer questions like these: • Do I freeze-thaw specimens where fossils are already showing? What about 3d fossil that is partially obscured by matrix? • Are fossils best viewed wet or dry? (seems like dry) • How do I know what's a blobby worm or jellyfish vs a blobby bit of matrix? • Are there categories of finds (besides obviously empty nodules) that are not worth posting for ID? I'm having trouble answering many of these questions based on googling around the forum, since so many threads highlight specimens that seem quite conspicuous and outstanding compared to what I'm seeing so far. Tagging @Nimravis Would also love to learn of other Mazon enthusiasts who might like to be tagged in future threads.
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2022-09-17 ESCONI Field Trip to a Spoil Pile Near Danville, IL
stats posted a topic in Fossil Hunting Trips
On September 17th, 2022, ESCONI held a field trip to a coal mine spoil pile near Danville, IL. It was a fairly hot day with temperatures in the upper 80's. However, it was a productive field trip. There had been quite a bit of work on the hill this summer and it was looking quite different from the spring. The road to the top went around from the left instead of the right. There weren't as many exposed fossils in "Red Dog" found this time, but concretions were readily available for collecting. There were a few Forum members present. @deutscheben @connorp I'm sure I'm forgetting a few, please announce yourself! Here are some photos of the trip. Some of the photos were taken with a drone. I need to take some more photos of fossils, so stay tuned... I'll post concretions if/when they open. There was a bunch of poison ivy all around outside of the hill. Mushrooms were plentiful. And, of course fossils!
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so I know that in order to hunt for fossils at the braidwood area you need a permit (https://www2.illinois.gov/dnr/Parks/Activity/Documents/MZB_FossilPermit.pdf), but i’m not entire sure how to get one when i search up online a PDF comes up that can be filled out. Do i just fill this form and then send it to the DNR? Also, who can get the permit? Like, would it be limited to scientists/professionals or can the general public sign up for it too? Any clarification would be really appreciated. Also, let’s say I got the permit. What would be the best places to go if I wanted to look for fossils mainly from the essex biota?
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Hello! I recently went to Mazon creek and was in the process of thawing my concretions when I saw this, and was wondering if y’all could help me ID it. I’m thinking maybe a shrimp, but am not very familiar with the fauna (or flora for that matter) of the area. Thank you!
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Here are the last of recently collected Mazon material with fossils already showing. More to come as the freeze-thaw cycles take effect. Thanks as always @Nimravis @stats @RCFossils @deutscheben @Mark Kmiecik @Runner64 Specimen 1 (4.1 cm long) — A fern, found as is. Enough detail for an ID? Specimen 2 (9.1 cm long) — Macroneuropteris? Found as is. Did a light vinegar wash. Specimen 3 (2.7 cm in diameter) — Found already split. D and E illuminated to show relief. Now that my copy of Wittry's Fauna has arrived, I wonder if this might be Essexella asherae, as there appears to be a semi-circular feature above a more rectangular feature, perhaps most visible in C and E. Specimen 4 (~15.5 cm in diameter) — Found already split. I cannot make much sense of this. Maybe a jumble of plant pieces? D and E illuminated to show relief. There seem to be some fossily features, like 3 or 4 repeated ridges in the bottom right of D, a long linear feature in the upper right of D (some of the material here is dirt, I realized after taking the photos). The patches of different color in B don't obviously correspond to the different relief elements in D.
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