Search the Community
Showing results for tags 'pennsylvanian'.
-
5 Mazon Creek specimens that need confirmation or species ID
Mark Kmiecik posted a topic in Fossil ID
Hoping for confirmation and/or species identification. Thanks in advance. Not sure of much anymore with all the recent changes. Annularia inflata? Alethopteris serlii? Calamites cistii? Pecopteris? Crenulopteris? species? Pecopteris? Crenulopteris? species?
- 14 replies
-
- 5
-
-
- alethopteris
- annularia
- (and 6 more)
-
While visiting in Rhode Island recently, my wife and I spent a few hours on the beach at the end of Corys Lane in Portsmouth. While it isn't one of the most productive sites I've had the pleasure of mucking around in, I always feel at home at the edge of the sea. It's a bit of a challenge to find any reasonably well-preserved fossils here, but the challenge just makes it all the more enjoyable. While my wife wandered away, deserting me once again for the lure of an ocean beach, I spread out a square of 4-mil plastic in the always futile attempt to keep the graphite-infused beach gravel off yet another pair of too-good-to-throw-away jeans. The overburden of beach-tumbled shaly gravel and slipper shells (Crepidula) was only 6-inches (15cm) deep here, blanketing a promising layer of Pennsylvanian age shale. Thankfully the tide was low and I could dig without the need to drain water out of the excavation. Regretably, I left my phone/camera in the car and have no current photos to share today, but here's one I took a few years ago: I've had mixed results here at this site, with nothing worth keeping on occasion. This day's finds were slightly above average, by my reckoning. Most of the shale I was uncovering was much too fragile to recover any recognizable plants, but after prying out and splitting a few solid slabs I did come home with some rather nice pieces, even if the preservation wasn't quite as good as I would prefer. I haven't been able to identify these seed ferns. Maybe a species of Pecopteris? The details just aren't preserved very well. The preservation is better in this harder rock. I think these are Cordaites principalis leaves. And a couple additional unknowns: The best find of the day, a modern skull, was found, of course, by my wandering wife. I believe it was formerly put to use by a sea robin (Prionotus carolinus). It was a good day.
- 7 replies
-
- 11
-
-
- corys lane
- ferns
- (and 2 more)
-
The smaller specimen pictured opened this morning and reminded me of the larger specimen which I found earlier this year. They are very similar looking. My first thought was Cordaites borassifolius due to the linear striations, but the specimens are fragmentary and the preservation is not great so they could also just be indeterminate wood fragments. I don't think I've seen a Cordaites specimen in person before so I am not positive either way. Any thoughts are appreciated.
- 2 replies
-
- 2
-
-
- carboniferous
- illinois
- (and 3 more)
-
I collected this specimen last year but still can't decide on an ID, it's pretty fragmentary. Any thoughts are appreciated. @bigred97 @flipper559 @stats @Nimravis @deutscheben
- 9 replies
-
- 2
-
-
- carboniferous
- flora
- (and 4 more)
-
I've spent some time gathering at the plant layer locally. I was able to pry behind the layered shale and pull out some larger pieces unbroken, and also split them. The layer is a delight, just about any piece I recover has some sort of plant impression on it. Immediately below the layered shale there is a more nodular type of rock that no longer breaks apart in neat and tidy planes. So whatever environmental change happened, it happened right at this layer. The first one was a really long and well defined fern frond. The carbon is all still in place. I want to create a parallel cut to remove this part of the specimen, then catalog and store it. I am hoping I can do so in a way that won't dust over the carbon and degrade it. The rock that covered this was a physical impression of these leaves in the rock. It appears more could be exposed at the bottom, but it's not easy to do. The second specimen is a preserved fern frond with very tiny leaves. The larger leaves stick out, but a more complete arrangement like this is very pleasing to look at. The iron staining at the bottom creates almost a work of art. This specimen has a small root or similar structure at the bottom right of the photo. There are repeating points towards the bottom with larger circular structures at the top. These huge fern leaves showed up right before I was done searching during this particular session. Both sides are shown. It would be interesting to know if it continues on in the other direction.
- 16 replies
-
- 9
-
-
-
- carboniferous
- conemaugh group
- (and 5 more)
-
I'm getting better with plants, but I haven't really found anything that says seed or spore pod to me. This one finally does. It's a small depression with texture. I wish I had the other side, but I didn't see it. This was from a layer with many ferns, Calamites, and Cordaites. Concretions are about non-existent here. In fact, there may be none at all. It's the texture in the depression that has me thinking seed pod mold.
-
I found this a few weeks ago at an exposure of the Late Pennsylvanian Colony Creek Shale in west-central Texas. I have no idea what it could be. It seems like a partial something, but I just don't know what. Maybe some type of cephalopod? Any thoughts are greatly appreciated. I thought the pattern was interesting enough to pick it up and try to figure it out. Thank you!
-
Pennsylvanian Caseyville Formation Lepidodendron aculeatum
Raistlin posted a topic in General Fossil Discussion
Trying to decide. Do I leave the piece as is or expose the bit under the rock. There are other plant bits to the right of it that I feel adds to the piece overall. With just enough room to maybe not be damaged if prepped. The last two pics are to the right and on the backside.
- 1 reply
-
- 1
-
-
- caseyville
- lepidodendron
- (and 1 more)
-
Best I can do is call it a stick.
- 1 reply
-
- 1
-
-
- caseyville
- pennsylvanian
- (and 1 more)
-
Since they are so common, I don't keep many coprolites unless I notice they have interesting inclusions. This is one of the more interesting inclusions I've found to date. It measures maybe 2mm in length. I believe it is the branchiopod Pemphilimnadiopsis ortoni (what a name!), and was hoping for a second opinion. @deutscheben, I know you've found some of these before. Any thoughts are appreciated.
- 3 replies
-
- 2
-
-
-
- branchiopod
- carboniferous
- (and 3 more)
-
Howdy! This specimen comes from the Pennsylvanian Period, Conemaugh Group, Glenshaw Formation, in the Mason Shales below Brush Creek Limestone. The area has a lot of Pecopteroids, Neuropteroids and Calamites. However, I've been informed that it is not Calamites. I should also note that this piece was part of a larger fossil cast that was crumbling apart when I found it, and unfortunately, I was unable to save the rest of it. The last picture is the back side. All help is appreciated and thanks in advance!
- 12 replies
-
- 2
-
-
- carboniferous
- glenshaw formation
- (and 3 more)
-
Hi. The geological info for this find is: Pennsylvanian (Carboniferous), Conemaugh Group, Glenshaw Formation. I've been digging at an outcrop near a local stream and finding a lot of pecopteroids, neuropteroids, calamites, some sphenopteroids and possibly lepidodendron/stigmaria, sigillaria and cordaites. Recently the rain washed away the dirt at the base of this outcrop. Cutting away the rock at the base I found at least a dozen instances of these somewhat cylindrical and flat-topped and flat-bottomed rocks sitting one on top of the other. The first picture shows a cavity from which I removed some of these rocks. I don't know if it helps, but there's a lot of iron in this area. Any ideas would be appreciated.
-
Here's a new find from the I&M trip last weekend. The nodule was full of indeterminate plant fragments, and I almost tossed it until this one small bit (~1cm in length) caught my eye. Maybe a wing fragment or am I being hopeful? The texture is much different than what I've seen in plants, but that's a bit hard to capture in pictures. I can try to get better pictures tomorrow in the sun if needed. As usual, any thoughts are much appreciated.
- 20 replies
-
- 3
-
-
-
- carboniferous
- insect
- (and 4 more)
-
Greetings, I’ve recently gotten back into prospecting fossils and I’m looking for some suggestions on sites to visit in western Pennsylvania. I frequently visit Ambridge PA to find fern and Calamite fossils from the Mahoning fm and would like to find more. I also would like to find fossils of early Permian (tetrapods, plants, or invertebrates). I hear that Washington county (south of Pittsburgh) has some great spots and would like to know if it were true. I also would like to show some of my findings from Ambridge as well. Note: I’d like this to be suggested places not just western PA but West Virginia and eastern Ohio as well.
- 10 replies
-
- 2
-
-
- ambridge pa
- calamite
- (and 8 more)
-
Pennsylvanian (Llewellyn Formation, 308-300 MYA) plant fossils from coal mine tailings near Mt. Carmel, PA.
fossilcrazee posted a topic in Fossil Hunting Trips
This was, essentially, a quick scouting trip based on threads on the Forum. Don't know much about these fossils but wanted to confirm the location and density of Pennsylvanian (Llewellyn Formation, 308-300 MYA) plant fossils from coal mine tailings near Mt. Carmel, PA. (NOT St. Claire, which is closed to collectors). There were abundant specimens, many bearing evidence of pyrite replacement: orange stems and plant hash. There was also some evidence of pyrite replacement by pyrophyllite to yield silver-colored films. Against the black matrix, the silver-film plant fossils are beautiful and, in my view, warrant prolonged and determined searching on a return visit. Once upon a time I had a lovely plate from the St. Clair site .... but it is no longer in my possession. Perhaps, with enough effort, and a bit of luck I can find a suitable specimen to replace it - may not be the pretty ferns but a good specimen to illustrate the fossilization process would be most welcome. . Special thanks to @idiot for location advice.
- 7 replies
-
- 5
-
-
- coal
- llewellyn formation
- (and 3 more)
-
From the album: Prae's Collection (REMPC)
REMPC P0021 Fossil Fern Macroneuropteris macrophylla Carboniferous, Late Pennsylvanian Llewellyn Formation, Bear Valley Strip Mine Coal Township, PA, USA-
- 1
-
-
- carboniferous
- fern
- (and 4 more)
-
Fossil Forum members were well represented at the Illinois Canal Corridor Association's Mazon Creek collecting event this weekend. My wife and I were able to make the 11 hour drive out Friday to join them and we enjoyed a productive afternoon in the creek Saturday gathering several buckets of concretions to take our first crack at freeze thaw. We also found a number of already opened specimens to wet our whistle while we do our best to be patient. Here are some of our better finds even if some are a little water worn. New to us, so the trip is already a success regardless of what the unopened concretions may be hiding. A few close ups: No clue about these last 2, the 2nd may just be worn and isn't the center plane so I will probably try to freeze/thaw it. It was nice being able to get out and chat with others while collecting and learning about a new to me location. Special thanks to @connorp for putting up with all our questions.
- 55 replies
-
- 23
-
-
-
- ferns
- kodat farm
- (and 2 more)
-
Here are two interesting Mazon Creek flora nodules that popped yesterday. I believe they are both assigned to Rhacophyllum. If so, I am excited, I have not come across this "genus" before. Rhacophyllum cornutum Rhacophyllum fucoideum I am pretty confident on the IDs but confirmation is always great. I am quite interested however in the second specimen. It appears that there is a root-like structure emanating from the central base. I cannot find many images of R. fucoideum online so I am not sure if this is significant or not. As usual, any thoughts are appreciated.
- 2 replies
-
- 5
-
-
- carboniferous
- illinois
- (and 2 more)
-
Mystery Piece Found Along With Edestus Teeth Illinois Coal Mine Carboniferous
Kurufossils posted a topic in Fossil ID
Hi all, this strange piece came with a batch of edestus fossils that were found in a coal mine in Illinois. Have no idea what it could be, the front seems to be coated in black coal mostly while the back has what appears to be ridges. All I know about the location is it was found in a coal mine along with some edestus teeth that is Carboniferous in age. Hoping with some help to get to the bottom of this mystery.
-
I am somewhat hopeful that this is an example of Amynilyspes (a pill millipede), but would like to get another opinion. It was found open and is a bit worn. @Nimravis @bigred97 @flipper559 A close up of the "tergites"
- 9 replies
-
- 9
-
-
-
- carboniferous
- illinois
- (and 3 more)
-
Hey everyone, scrabbling around Santa Fe and found a nice spot with tons of shells and some crinoid stem parts, when I came across a round piece I thought at first a vertebra. The next time I went out with a friend she found some points and we found more smaller pieces and thought some kind of snail, but not an obvious twist. now I'm leaning toward a mineral formation? Any help would be awesome. Last picture is a shell to give an idea of the surroundings...
-
Hi all, Recently going through some of my Stark Shale material and prepping some of it and this little specimen has me wondering if it’s a tooth. It’s probably pareidolia but the lip at the bottom appears to have a sort of smoothness to it unlike the two protrusions. I'm not sure if the honeycombed structure is bone or cartilage but I’m trying to decide if I should prep it any further and any ideas or thoughts would be appreciated. @Petalodus12 @connorp 1. 2. 3. Thanks!
- 5 replies
-
- 1
-
-
- carboniferous
- missouri
- (and 2 more)
-
A few weeks ago @Jeffrey P and I met up in Eastern Pennsylvania to collect plant material in the Late Pennsylvanian Llewellyn Formation. We started our day at Centralia and then made our way to another site. I have visited Centralia a few times now but Jeff had never been there before. Our hope was to find Jeff a nice Trigonocarpus seed but unfortunately our efforts did not come up with anything. The pickings at Centralia were rather slim. However, we did see in-situ a large segment of Stigmaria ficoides root with rootlets. I ended up only keeping a few finds. The first is this Sphenopteris sp. I also kept this plate with several Lepidodendron branches After about an hour we made our way to the second site and spent the rest of the day there. I love to visit this site because I seem to keep finding something new on every visit. This time around I decided to break down a huge block and ended up with a lot of exciting finds. Lepidostrobophyllum lanceolatum Cross section of a Calamites cistii trunk showing the cell structure Asterophyllites longifolius Asterophyllites sp. Terminal Shoots Asterophyllites sp. (including this really big Calamites branch) Sphenophyllum emarginatum Cyclopteris fimbriata(?) Cyclopteris sp. I have found other seed ferns at the site before, but Laveineopteris rarinervis is definitely the most common fern. It also seems to be the only fern of which you will find blades. While splitting the large block down, I ended up breaking on a plane that exposed multiple Laveineopteris rarinervis blades. Unfortunately the largest blade was cut off by the end of the rock. Perhaps against my better judgment I decided to carry the huge plate out. Even after cutting off the excess rock at home it is still very heavy. And just because it would not be a hunt in the Llewellyn Formation without me finding something that I totally don't know what it is, here is a mystery plant.
-
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!!!
-
This weekend I was able to spend a couple hours breaking rock at one of my favorite Pennsylvanian sites. This site exposes the lowest units of the Carbondale Formation, from the top down: Mecca Quarry Shale (MQS), Francis Creek Shale, Colchester No. 2 Coal, paleosol. At various times both the St. Peter Sandstone and Platteville Group (both Ordovician) have been exposed at the bottom of the pits (they were not visible this trip), representing a major unconformity in the area. The concretions from the Francis Creek Shale (i.e. Mazon Creek fossils) are not productive here - my area of focus was instead the MQS. As far as I can tell, the MQS is no longer exposed here. But at the base of the MQS in some locations are large limestone concretions which is what we find here. The limestone is very hard and when freshly exposed does not split easily, so collecting is best limited to limestone which has been weathering for some time. The most abundant fossils in the MQS here are bivalves, but occasionally brachiopods, cephalopods, gastropods, plant material, and fish bits show up. Here are some of my favorite finds. A partial Listracanthus hystrix shark denticle Dunbarella sp. Fish regurgitant (mainly palaeoniscoid bits) Desmoinesia muricatina with an attached spine Pyritized Dunbarella sp. Pseudorthoceras knoxense with several encrusting serpulid worm tubes Just one of many tiny isolated fish bones found Palaeoniscoid scale The base of a Petrodus shark denticle Possibly a bit of cartilage? This is perhaps my most interesting find, although I am not positive on the ID. I believe the spine is a fin spine from an acanthodian, and thus would assume the scales are acanthodian scales? Any thoughts are appreciated. @jdp
- 9 replies
-
- 15
-
-
- carbondale
- illinois
- (and 1 more)
