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Showing results for tags 'pennsylvania'.
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On December 4 my mom and I traveled to the well-known Seven Stars Quarry of Seven Stars, PA a second time (#1 in a post soon!), and our goal was to find more trilobites and cephalopods. This locality is Middle Devonian Mahantango Formation shale, full of a bounty of species. We had found many Dipleura and Greenops on our previous trip, as well as the cephalopods Michelinoceras and Bactrites. Many trilobites that I found were pyritized, the golden Greenops and red Dipleura. But surprisingly, Eldredgeops is absent from the site! Nearly every Mahantango locality includes Eldredgeops rana in the fauna! It seems that the larger and more powerful Dipleura outcompeted Eldredgeops in the large predatory trilobite niche. I wanted to learn more of why Dipleura is everywhere, so I picked through a 7-foot vertical shale hill on the hunt for more clues. I grabbed a large sheet of rock with well preserved Chonetes brachiopods on it and moved it into a bucket. Then I looked back at the spot where it was and sitting there was a small, nearly complete trilobite (above). I thought it was a Greenops at first. I wrapped it in some napkins from the Rutter's nearby, because two chunks were breaking off and it needed protection from further damage. When I got home, I got out my New York Devonian fossil guide (because it's helpful for many Hamilton Group fossil IDs such as Mahantango fossils) and searched for Greenops in the trilobite section. I observed the diagrams and descriptions, and after I checked my fossil for features, I determined that I had not a Greenops but a Bellacartwrightia. This is a rare species outside New York (mainly at Penn Dixie FP), which explains why I had only found one in my multiple trips to similar sites with fossils like Penn Dixie's. I was naturally excited. But as time progressed from Dec. 4 to today, I began to get suspicious of my highly thoughtless conclusion. I had no backup species to think about, if I had made a wrong ID. Today I was reading a paper on a group of phacopids and realized that a diagram of a pygidium on the paper was almost identical to my trilobite. I came to a much more acceptable conclusion: I had a species of Asteropygine trilobite. Annoyingly, I had no knowledge of what genus/species it is AND I had accidentally posted this cool bug as an entry for IPFOTM. I need to redo it. But, overall, a rare trilobite in Asteropyginae is awesome. What a trip!
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These three fossils in the upper left of the picture were found in central Pennsylvania. I am relatively new to the world of fossils so I'm hoping someone can help identify what I have found. Are these crinoids? Thanks in advance!
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Hi everyone, I live in southeastern Pennsylvania in a small town just north of the Delaware/Pennsylvania border. I live on the edge of a large neighborhood next to a very old plot of woods with very large old growth trees. Next to my house is a stream that exits out of the neighborhood through a drainage pipe and into the woods. The streambed cuts down through into the ground about 6 feet below grade and when it rains heavy, the stream becomes a torrent of runoff that dredges up rocks making it an interesting place to walk after a storm. I've found many interesting rocks and even some petrified wood, most of which I believe is of the sandstone variety, but interesting none the less. About a year ago I found an interesting rock that I couldn't identify as anything specific but it was odd enough to place it up on the embankment on a wall of rock along with lots of other interesting finds I've made. It sat there for about 6 months, during which time the rain cleaned off the dirt and loose debris until one day I though this is really interesting and I brought it inside. I found this piece just down stream from a spot where a large pipe dumps storm water into the stream and cuts a large hole or pothole in the streambed and dredges up rocks from deeper below, maybe 3 to 4 feet deeper than the 6 feet below the floor of the woods. I'm not sure what to make of this but to my untrained eye, it looks very similar to bone structure that I've seen and also looks similar to other skull fragments discussed on this forum. I'd like to get some opinions as to what this might be. The location is about 2 miles north of Marcus Hook PA in Delaware County in a section of woods that as far as I can tell, has never been developed at lease not as far back as the 1800's when the entire area was farmland. During that time and now, these woods follow a stream that has been here for a long time undisturbed but surrounded by development. So here are some photos. If you needs any more photos or measurements please let me know. Thanks. Berwicker
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Hello everyone! This is my first post on the entire forum, I read the rules, the ruler thing doesn't work out too well since these are in a burrow - which I don't really want destroyed. I can try getting clearer images if anyone wants. Tried my best with these. Some people on another site mentioned one of these could be a worm in the Serpulidae family, another was mentioned as possibly being a barnacle. I live in Dayton, PA - this rock was found in a hill which was dug into for a pool few years ago. Have been looking around the area for interesting rocks and happened upon this, put it into a pile with other interesting rocks. Finally got around to brushing dirt off them and noticed the small white bits on this one. Any help would be appreciated !
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Beltzville State Park is one of those rare parks where collecting is allowed. The adjacent federal land, owned and operated by the Corps of Engineers to operate the dam there, is accessible ONLY WITH A PERMIT. It is a functioning spillway and there is a gun range for the local police, so you and USACE need to make sure you are safe. With that important disclaimer out of the way, here's the good stuff! Beltzville is a very productive Middle Devonian site which includes the PA State Fossil, the trilobite Eldredgeops rana. Although no one in the group found any definite complete buggies, a lot of froglike trilo faces went home in our buckets! It wasn't all trilos, though. We found bryozoa, corals, pteria oysters, gastropods, crinoids and probably a dozen kinds of brachiopods. I led this trip for the Natural History Society of Maryland. The trip director made this lovely video of our day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdB5atWQmeQ Yes, I realized about 20 minutes after she took that video of me showing off the pop-outs that I was holding the fronts of the cephalons of one species, not the eyeballs of the other. This is what I get for not looking with my reading glasses first! Most of my finds I gave to whoever was sitting closest to me, but here are a few I kept.
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I got out again to gather a few small specimens of pet wood. Found in the Triassic of the Newark supergroup deposits in southeastern Pennsylvania.
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Hello TFF friends! During the summer, in August I was able to take a trip to northwestern PA to collect some fossils at various locations. One of them had many different types of trace fossils which I did not collect (something I regret doing as those ichnofossils were quite interesting and beautiful), but I also found this piece, it is a thin sandstone piece containing multiple bivalve steinkern a from 1 to about 2.5cm in length. I am not sure what formation it was, the closest I can think of that is present in the area is Lock Haven but that one mostly has brachiopods and I didn't get a single one of those. I know these are bivalves because the shells have very similar form, some are paired just like two opened valves of a bivalve and two display growth lines along the shell, unfortunately those are very hard to see on camera. I was wondering if anyone knows what these might be as I have tried researching the topic myself but have gotten very few results. Thank you very much, Misha
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Unwelcome Attendee at the 2021 NJ Gem and Fossil Show-kill on sight!
Biotalker posted a topic in Members' News & Diversions
There was one particularly unwelcome visitor to the NJ Fossil Show parking lot this past August. I didn't know what it was at the time and followed it around the parking lot for a few minutes before I could get this pic of it. It's a clumsy flyer and displays a bright red abdomen as it flies. It is the Spotted Lanternfly, a true bug, a hemipteran and is potentially one of the most damaging invasive species to arrive on US shores. They drain the sap out of trees and while their main food source is/has been another invasive species, the tree ailanthus (Tree of Heaven- its a tropical looking tree seen on the sides of highways in the NYC area and elsewhere), here in the US they are attacking many plants of vital importance! Spotted Lanternflies have little or no natural enemies here in the US and are multiplying at an alarming rate. The invasion started in Pennsylvania and is quickly radiating outward. I can't give all the details here but look it up, it is bad. https://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/terrestrial/invertebrates/spotted-lanternfly https://www.cbsnews.com/news/lanternfly-invastive-species-pest-united-states-kill/
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Yesterday, after a very uneventful couple of hours of searching, I happened upon several fossils in close proximity right as I was about to call it a day. I believe four are horn coral, but would like confirmation, and would also like an ID on the other. One photo shows the four that were similar, and then a few angles of the one in the best condition. There is also one more I believe to be another type of coral. Thanks in advance!
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PA fossil rock ID, very heavy, found near Devonian fossils
LindsayWilson posted a topic in Fossil ID
I found this in our backyard in a rock pile. I find many Devonian fossils in the shale lined creeks around Erie, PA. This rock appears to be similar but is extremely heavy and different colored. I can make out fossils but don’t recognize some of the imprints abs it appears folded and is SUPER heavy. For comparison, the rock I found with it, also pictured here is about 3-4x the size but the smaller one weighs 3x as much. No magnetism, but has a burnt spot. Was it perhaps originally a large piece of the lighter fossil plate that someone burned (possibly in a fire pit?) and that is how it appears metamorphic and significantly heavier or more dense? does not look like a meteor...no shiny smooth surface, etc.... any ideas?
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Need Help With Woody Structures from Glenshaw Formation: Mahoning Shale of Western Pennsylvania
minnbuckeye posted a topic in Fossil ID
I had the opportunity to collect plant fossils in Western Pennsylvania a few weeks ago. Success was had IDing the fern leaves. But I am having difficulty identifying the woody pieces found that are not Calamites. These came from the Glenshaw Formation, Mahoning Shale which is Pennsylvanian. I realize that a decaying swamp is full of twigs that likely are unidentifiable, but there seems to be structure in at least some of these which could lead to some sort of identification. I am hoping those knowledgeable with the Pennsylvanian flora can chime in. 1. Here are some larger pieces of plant material. Probably unidentifiable. Is the orange all plant with the centers structure being the piths or is the orange area staining and the only "wood" is the "pith" area? 2. Some smaller "twigs": 3. This one has evenly spaced projections which hopefully aid in identification. 4. This piece has some unique pattern to the wood: 5. Many circular items were exposed by spitting the shale. Would these be seeds or seed pods? 6. I like how busy and colorful this piece is. Is there anything identifiable? 7. Different types of plant material. Ideas? 8. This stem exhibits a pattern to it that may help with identification Thanks for looking!! I will try and post a trip report after improving my IDs!!!
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From the album: Fossildude's Upper Devonian Fish Fossils
Unidentified bivalve. Upper Devonian Catskill Formation. Route 15 Upper Trout Valley Pennsylvania.© 2021 Tim Jones
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From the album: Carboniferous from PA.
Laveineopteris rarinervis Gymnosperm Frond Upper Pennsylvanian Llewellyn Formation Locustdale, PA A gift from historianmichael. Thanks Mike.-
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Central PA USA Found just as you see it lying in the reworked rubble of coal strip mine
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Hello again! I was wondering if anyone had suggestions for places in the north east US (around PA) that I could research? As was suggested to me, I’ve narrowed down the things I’d like to collect. I’m really interested in fossils that.. well look like things. Don’t get me wrong, shells and crinoids are exciting! But I’d be so jazzed to have fish, crustaceans, insects, or plants. Anomalocaris are so rad, though I fully understand that those are hard to find so I’m going to focus on other stuff for now lol. Maybe someday. My dad in particular wanted me to ask if anyone knew of any east coast places to find ants. I saw posts about an amber site in NJ but my understanding is that it’s pretty well picked through. He and I are going to the Montour pit next weekend to look for trilobites but I thought I’d ask for stuff he’s into. I’m going to be doing more research when I get home (I’m on mobile atm), but I’d love to pick your brains in the meantime! Thanks so much as always!
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My husband purchased this landscaping rock in a pallet from a Bath/Bethlehem, PA area supplier about 20 years ago. Most of the supplier’s stones are from Pennsylvania. I’m guessing this is sandstone??? I’ve been staring at this rock for sometime and before I place it back, I wanted to get some opinions if anyone sees any type of tracks on this rock? I feel like my fingers fit in the specimen very nicely. Can’t tell if I’m seeing 3, 4 or 5 “toes” ? Maybe I’m just an imaginative newbie. Thanking anyone in advance who looks at these photos.
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Greetings, all! After exploring outcrops and spoils piles from Quebec down to Florida, we are heading west from Delaware to Crawford, Nebraska and back this fall. Planning to stop by Sylvania, OH and Clear Lake, IA. Probably Richmond, IN. Any other suggestions? Thoughts on these three?
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From the album: Fossildude's Upper Devonian Fish Fossils
Turrisaspis sp. hash plate. Upper Devonian - Catskill Formation Rte. 15 roadcut - Upper Steam Valley Pennsylvania.© 2021 Tim Jones
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From the album: Fossildude's Upper Devonian Fish Fossils
Plate from the Upper Steam Valley Road cut. Assorted scales, and a Hyneria lindae tooth.© 2021 Tim Jones
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I went back to Beltzville recently and found a few more fossils with which I would like help identifying. Last time I found what may have been a partial trilobite, and this time I found another that seems more likely. I also found a fossil that I originally picked up for the crinoid stem, but later noticed a dome with an almost honeycomb-like pattern on it. I am very curious as to what it is. And lastly, what appears almost like a large ring. Any help is very much appreciated. Thanks as always!
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I'd really like to get more into fossil hunting and rock hounding after how much fun I had at the beach. Are there any good sites I can access around Eastern PA? Specifically up to an hour or two of driving distance from Berks County. When I search for sites in PA I usually see suggestions for Central and West PA. I'm not looking to join any groups atm for personal reasons, but I'll take suggestions for when I feel up to it (there's a group in Reading I'm keeping an eye on). Any tips would be appreciated! Thanks!
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Help requested: Western NY / PA Late Devonian eurypterids & sponges
pefty posted a topic in Fossil Hunting Trips
This Missourian is headed out to the Late Devonian of western New York state and Pennsylvania this coming week and hoping for a little help from y'all on localities for eurypterids and the sponge Hydnoceras. Are Clarke's (1920) Hydnoceras localities at Brown Hill (near Cohocton, NY) and Irish Hill (near Bath, NY) still productive and accessible? Are Ehlers' (1935) eurypterid localities at Bush Hill (near Smethport, PA)? Or are there other spots I should be checking out? I understand that the Trimmers Rock Formation in the vicinity of Bloomsburg, PA, is also worth a look for eurypterids, but I don't have any pinpoints mapped. If you're local to the area and want to show me the way yourself, I'll gladly bring you some Missouri crinoids Thanks in advance . . . -
Hi all! I have this fossil (at least I'm fairly certain it's a fossil lol) that I've had for a very long time now but I haven't been able to figure out what it is. It came into my possession through some weird means, long story short a classmate of mine from first grade found it out in the middle of our elementary school field (this was about 12-13 years ago) and gave it to me because I was known as the "dinosaur kid". Because it was just sitting in the middle of a grassy field I suspect that it was moved from its original location, possibly by a kid or a construction worker when the school was built, but the general location was most likely Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. To me it looks like reptile skin or scales of some sort, but I'm by no means an expert so I'd like some other opinions. I also plan to get it checked out by a museum sometime (hopefully) soon but I'm not exactly sure how long that will take so I decided to post it here. The "scales" are raised are there are black, squiggly lines going across some parts of it that sort of resemble veins (yes I know veins don't really fossilize and that it's probably just part of the rock, that's just what it looks like to me so that's how I'll refer to them). The "veins" are also raised slightly from the surface of the rock. I've included some close up shots of both the scale-like features and the vein-like features (the "veins" are sort of hard to see in the photo, they're more pronounced in real life), as well as a shot of the back of the rock and a shot taken from an angle so you can sort of see the texture. Thanks for your help!
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