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Showing results for tags 'severn formation'.
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In parts of the Severn Formation in eastern Maryland, I will periodically find layers that are very dense with nodules. Has anyone else noticed something like this?
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- cretaceous
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It has been quite a while since I have written a trip report and I thought I'd share the results of some of my most recent fossiling adventures. Before diving into the fossils, this past weekend I had the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful fall foliage of the east coast. The Appalachians, usually quite unassuming hills that are nothing near the grandeur of the mountains to the north and west, were quite a sight to behold. The fall foliage was clearly quite popular, as I did not expect the entrance to Shenandoah National Park to be quite as backed up as it was. I made it up to the overlook as the sun was setting, as it is said that the colors are most impressive under the light of the westering sun. Unfortunately, the sun was mostly obscured by clouds, but the views were breathtaking nonetheless. Now, for what I am sure everyone has come here to see: the fossils! Over the past couple of months, I have acquired a renewed interest in the fossils of the Maastrichtian Severn formation of Maryland. As any who are familiar with this formation know, it is quite elusive and its most famous exposures were temporary construction sites in decades past. Several weeks ago, I visited a small creek that I had heard exposed the fossiliferous shell layer of the Severn. Initially, exploration of the creek did not seem promising and I only managed to locate only one poor exposure of the Severn at creek level. After some searching and many shell fragments later, I was rewarded with two relatively complete specimens: Crassatella vadosa Cyprimeria alta Although the yields had not been high, I was quite satisfied with these specimens due to the relative rarity of sites containing original-shell mollusks. A huge thanks to @historianmichael for identifying these specimens and for the preparation tips (unfortunately the shells have begun to crack but I am hoping they may remain salvageable). Inspired by my recent success and hoping for some vertebrate remains, I headed out to a new site. After taking quite a circuitous route through some woods and tall grass I made it to the exposure. The invertebrate fauna at this locality was not incredibly diverse, consisting almost wholly of the oyster Exogyra costata. A handful of Exogyra costata A more complete specimen of Exogyra costata with both valves intact. After encountering these first few Exogyra, I was left with a few hours to devote to searching for vertebrate remains. With my lack of experience with these fossils and their notoriously poor preservation, I only managed to recover a small selection of possible fragments. The entire haul of possible vertebrate remains. If any members have any insight on whether these are identifiable vertebrate remains, it would be greatly appreciated . Below are isolated photographs of some of the more intriguing finds of the day. This fragment bears some resemblance to a partial mosasaur tooth. However, it may be too fragmentary to assign a confident ID. Scapanorhynchus texanus I cannot say what this is, though I am hopeful that it might be bone. I believe that mosasaur and turtle remains can be found at this site. I am very grateful for any opinions. With the weather cooling I do not anticipate that I will be able to get out as often as I would like, but I hope to make a few more forays into the Severn before the year's end. Thanks for taking a look and happy hunting!
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- appalachians
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Having the opportunity to review some literature today, I came across an interesting figure that I had not noticed beforehand. In their paper describing the fauna of a Severn Formation locality in Maryland, Harstein et al. (1999) include a photograph of a tooth assigned to Deinosuchus rugosus (Specimen 59). This struck me as strange since the Maastrichtian is typically considered to be early to middle Maastrichtian in age. However, from what I gather it seems that the youngest confirmed occurrences of Deinosuchus are in the late Campanian. Have I missed some literature and is Deinosuchus known to occur in Maastrichtian strata? It may also be important to note that in the paper, the particular lens where the tooth was found is described as a thin lag layer occurring at the contact between the Severn Formation (Maastrichtian) and the Matawan Formation (Campanian). I am inclined to believe that the fossils are from the Severn Formation and that they are indeed Maastrichtian in age, but is it possible that they may instead be from the Matawan formation? As always, any expertise is greatly appreciated . Hartstein, E. F., Decina, L. E., & Keil, R. F. (1999). A Late Cretaceous (Severn Formation) Vertebrate Assemblage from Bowie, Maryland. The Mosasaur, 6, pp. 17-23. https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1HtUwlDORQ0Q29JZjF2NUg1QXc/view?resourcekey=0-5BbGrGtBu1LIFY7jLj8LGQ.
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- atlantic coastal plain
- campanian
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From the album: Cretaceous
Cyprimeria alta Verneridae Bivalve Upper Cretaceous Severn Formation Monmouth Group Brightseat, MD. a generous gift from HistorianMichael-
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I collect in the Severn, a late cretaceous marine formation in Maryland regularly. Found an odd bone. I think it is a furcula but am uncertain and open to other interpretations. If it is a furcula can it be identified further, is it bird, is it dino can a guess be made as to species? It is appr 2-3 cm on a side with a significant narrow fossa along the entire internal margin of the bone. All suggestions will be valued.
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- furcula?
- late cretaceous
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From the album: Cretaceous
Agerostrea nasuta Oysters Specimen on right- 1 and 5/16 inches Upper Cretaceous Severn Formation Monmouth Group Prince George's CO., MD. A gift from HistorianMichael-
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From the album: Cretaceous
Cuneolus tippana Bivalve Specimen on the left 1 and a 1/2 inches long Upper Cretaceous Severn Formation Monmouth Group Prince George's CO., MD. A gift from HistorianMichael-
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A Pair of Trigonias from the Severn Formation, MD.
Jeffrey P posted a gallery image in Member Collections
From the album: Cretaceous
Gabbigonia (Trigonia) eufalensis Trigoniidae Bivalve 3/4 inch wide Upper Cretaceous Severn Formation Monmouth Group Prince George's CO., MD. A gift from HistorianMichael-
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From the album: Cretaceous
Micrabacia marylandia Micrabacidae Coral 1/4 inch wide Upper Cretaceous Severn Formation Monmouth Group Prince George's CO., MD. A gift from HistorianMichael-
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I found what I think are some mosasaur parts in Maryland. The site I was looking is an ~80 MYO marine site in the severn formation in Prince George's county just outside of DC. Here are a few pictures of the best pieces - a big tooth, nice neural spine, and a smaller vert. Am I correct thinking this is mosasaur? If so, potentially either a Prognathodon or a Hoffmanni? These are not in the best state of preservation, but typical for this location.
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Cretaceous Bivalve from the Severn Formation, MD.
Jeffrey P posted a gallery image in Member Collections
From the album: Cretaceous
Nuculana rostratruneata Bivalve 1/2 inch long Upper Cretaceous Severn Formation Monmouth Group Prince George's CO., MD. A gift from historianmichael. Thanks Mike.-
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Cretaceous Bivalve from the Severn Formation, MD.
Jeffrey P posted a gallery image in Member Collections
From the album: Cretaceous
Anomia argentaria Bivalve 1 inch wide Upper Cretaceous Severn Formation Monmouth Group Prince George's CO., MD. A gift from historianmichael. Thanks Mike.-
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Cretaceous Bivalve from the Severn Formation, MD.
Jeffrey P posted a gallery image in Member Collections
From the album: Cretaceous
Crassatella vadosa Bivalve 1 and 1/2 inches wide Upper Cretaceous Severn Formation Monmouth Group Prince George's CO., MD. A gift from historianmichael. Thanks Mike.-
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Cretaceous Bivalve from the Severn Formation, MD.
Jeffrey P posted a gallery image in Member Collections
From the album: Cretaceous
Nucula slackiana Bivalve 1 and 1/4 inches wide Upper Cretaceous Severn Formation Monmouth Group Prince George's CO., MD. A gift from historianmichael. Thanks Mike.-
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Cretaceous Clam from the Severn Formation, MD.
Jeffrey P posted a gallery image in Member Collections
From the album: Cretaceous
Legumen ellipticum Bivalve 1 and 1/2 inches long Upper Cretaceous Severn Formation Monmouth Group Prince George's CO., MD. A gift from historianmichael. Thanks Mike.-
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From the album: Cretaceous
Cymbosphora berryi Bivalve 5/8 inch wide Upper Cretaceous Severn Formation Monmouth Group Prince George's Co., MD. Thanks to Michael Historian for ID-
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From the album: Cretaceous
Longitubus sp. Serpulid Worms .4 inches Upper Cretaceous Severn Formation Monmouth Group Prince George's Co., MD. Thanks to Michael Historian for IDs-
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From the album: Cretaceous
Liopistha protexta Promomydia Bivalve 1 inch wide Upper Cretaceous Severn Formation Monmouth Group Prince George's Co., MD. Thanks to Michael Historian for ID-
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From the album: Cretaceous
Ringicula pulchella Gastropod 1/3 inch long Upper Cretaceous Severn Formation Monmouth group Prince George's Co., MD. Thanks to Michael Historian for ID-
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- cretaceous
- gastropods
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From the album: Cretaceous
Baculites vertebralis Baculite pieces 2 and 3/4 inches long Upper Cretaceous Severn Formation Monmouth Group Prince George's Co., MD. Thanks to Ralph Johnson for ID-
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Help will be greatly appreciated in understanding this bone that I found. It looked like a large piece of turtle shell when I found it. Like most at this site it is poorly preserved and broke in to several pieces as I went to pick it up. I thought it was turtle plastron (common in the area) until I washed it and saw significant texture. Now I dont know what it is at all. Too much texture for turtle, too little for croc. Any help to identify what it is, (or even what it isnt) will be well received.
- 8 replies
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- flat bone/skull?
- marine
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- cretaceous
- paleocene
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found a large 4cm by 2 cm by 2 cm vertebra in a maryland marine cretaceous formation. I am guessing the vertebrae is a batomorpha ,all other opinions are welcome. two other odd pieces of bone were found adjacent to it. I dont know if they are actually associated or what they might represent. help will be greatly appreciated.
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- cretaceous
- other associated?bones
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- cretaceous
- paleocene
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