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Found 14 results

  1. Triatica

    An ex situ arthropod possibly?

    Folks, I am a newbie and this is my first post. There is a single 12 inch square siltstone tile in my bathroom that has been driving me nuts. It looks like it may include a few examples of a fossilized arthropod of some sort, but then could also just be a product of its lithogenesis… or my imagination, for that matter! Attached are some photos of two of the suspected ‘fossils’ in the tile…but, to be fair it is speculative at this point to call this a fossil unless someone with a lot more experience in this forum can suggest that may indeed be the case. I would love to post details of originating geological epoch, stratigraphy or in situ location, but cannot since it is just a tile that looked suspiciously like it may include an animal kingdom fossil. I realize that I may be suffering from ‘target fixation’ so that after a while, it is easy to will this to be a fossil, and start to ‘see’ evidence one would otherwise not see! Best regards and thanks for the consideration.
  2. From the album: Fossil Amber and Copal: Worldwide Localities

    Ethiopian Amber Wenchit River Valley North Shewa Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia “Tertiary Sediments” (23-16 Ma) Lighting: 140lm LED Longwave UV (365nm) Specimens: Spec. A (Marcasite): 11.2g / 27x20x31mm (in image) Spec. B (Large Yellow): 8.0g / 41x30x20mm Spec. C (Flow Lines): 8.4g / 34x31x20mm Spec. D (Run [Large Half]): 5.3g / 24x21x17mm Spec. E (Run [Small Half]): 2.8g / 23x19x14mm Spec. F (Green Flow): 5.7g / 26x25x20mm Spec. G (Green Angular): 3.1g / 27x20x15mm Spec. H (Umber [Large Half]): 3.3g / 26x18x17mm Spec. I (Umber [Small Half]): 2.2g / 22x12x12mm *With the exception of Specimens D and E, all present slight matrix on the exterior, consisting primarily of siltstone. Specimen A has a large cluster of iron sulfide mineral concretions on its rear side, accounting for the majority of the piece's weight. Mining, Properties: While there are several other amber and copal deposits on the African continent, Ethiopian amber deposits discovered back in 2010 have proven to be the most productive: on average, at least 20kg is mined by the locals every year. The amber is hard, and ranges in color from dark brown, red, and yellow, as well as varying shades of green; the green coloration is a natural base color, although a green fluorescence can be seen in some Ethiopian material when exposed to high-intensity LED light or sunlight: similar green fluorescent response is seen in some Dominican, Mexican, and Myanmar ambers. The green base coloration seen in some Ethiopian amber was likely caused by significant pressure and heat: volcanic layers of basalt of varying thickness overlie and underlie the deposits, and acted as a natural autoclave. The size of recovered amber specimens ranges anywhere from 5-25cm in size. Geology and Age of Deposits: Amber is found in sandstone and siltstone layers along the valley walls of the Wenchit, Jemma, and Mugher rivers; the amber-bearing layers were originally attributed to the Debre Libanos Sandstone, a Cretaceous geological Formation within the Blue Nile Basin 200-500m thick: this assignment was based on local observations, a geological map, and fossil spore identification. However, due to incorrectly-dated and some then-unidentified fossil spores, as well as arthropod and plant inclusions from genera with living relatives, the amber is believed to be Early Miocene in age. The amber occurs not in the Debre Libanos Sandstone, but in Tertiary sediments comprised of siltstone and sandstone situated between basalt layers, which often display columnar jointing. These basalt flows vary in age from Early Oligocene (~30 Ma) to Quaternary (2.58 Ma to Recent). Inclusions, Botanical Source: Ethiopian amber is frequently rich in inclusions, especially bacteria and fungal spores; plant inclusions include liverworts, various angiosperms, and rare examples of mosses and lichens; arthropods are abundant, including mites, spiders, and over 13 families of hexapods (e.g., beetles, flies, ants, etc.). Comparing the spectrographic results of Ethiopian amber with Dominican and Mexican ambers, has shown that this is a Class Ic resin, most likely produced by a member of the Fabaceae family; fossil leaves and flower parts of trees belonging to the Hymenaea genus have been found in this amber, adding weight to the chemical analysis’ findings. Sources: “A review of copal and amber occurrences in Africa and their paleontological significance.”; Bulletin de la Société géologique de France, 2020, 191 (1), p. 17; Valentine Bouju, Vincent Perrichot “On the ages of flood basalt events Sur l’âge des trapps basaltiques”; Comptes Rendus Geoscience, Volume 335, Issue 1, pp. 113-140; Courtillot, Renne 2003 “Stratigraphic and structural evolution of the Blue Nile Basin, Northwestern Ethiopian Plateau”; Geological Journal Issue 44, pp. 44, 47-50; N. Gani, et. al. 2008

    © Kaegen Lau

  3. Barrelcactusaddict

    Ethiopian Amber (Debre Libanos Sandstone; 23-16 Ma)

    From the album: Fossil Amber and Copal: Worldwide Localities

    4.7g polished specimen of amber from one of several deposits near Alem Ketema, Amhara Region, Ethiopia; piece measures 35x24x17mm. There is a thin vein of transparent material, while the rest is heavily included with organic detritus; some small fragments of plant material are seen in the transparent portions (see associated photo). The green coloration is partly due to the amber's autofluorescence initiated by the LED light (transmitted) during photography; the clear portions of this specimen present a yellow-green base color in incandescent light, and emit a greenish fluorescence in sunlight or LED light. Ethiopian amber deposits have been described relatively recently (2010), and the amber occurring in the siltstone layer of the Debre Libanos Sandstone was initially believed to be Cretaceous in age; later studies have proven the initial determination to be false, and further study of palynomorph and insect inclusions have provided a new estimated age of Early Miocene. The amber-bearing layer is over- and underlain by basaltic layers, some of which display columnar jointing; volcanic-derived pressure and heat has naturally changed the base color of some of this amber to varying shades of green. This amber is also believed to possibly have been produced by a member of the Hymenaea genus.

    © Kaegen Lau

  4. Barrelcactusaddict

    Ethiopian Amber (Debre Libanos Sandstone; 23-16 Ma)

    From the album: Fossil Amber and Copal: Worldwide Localities

    4.7g polished specimen of amber from one of several deposits near Alem Ketema, Amhara Region, Ethiopia; piece measures 35x24x17mm. This view of the specimen displays organic detritus inclusions: in particular, a long fibrous subject (at center, beneath fluorescent layer) can be seen. The green coloration is partly due to the amber's autofluorescence initiated by the LED light (transmitted) during photography; the clear portions of this specimen present a yellow-green base color in incandescent light, and emit a greenish fluorescence in sunlight or LED light. Ethiopian amber deposits have been described relatively recently (2010), and the amber occurring in the siltstone layer of the Debre Libanos Sandstone was initially believed to be Cretaceous in age; later studies have proven the initial determination to be false, and further study of palynomorph and insect inclusions have provided a new estimated age of Early Miocene. The amber-bearing layer is over- and underlain by basaltic layers, some of which display columnar jointing; volcanic-derived pressure and heat has naturally changed the base color of some of this amber to varying shades of green. This amber is also believed to possibly have been produced by a member of the Hymenaea genus.

    © Kaegen Lau

  5. From the album: Fossil Amber and Copal: Worldwide Localities

    "Ajkaite" Ajka-Csingervölgy, Ajka District, Hungary Ajka Coal Fm./Csehbánya Fm. (~86.8-83.4 Ma) Chemical Composition: C: 80%, H: 10%, O: 9%, S: 1-2% Refractive Index: 1.541 Specific Gravity: 1.0 Weight of Specimen: 2.4g Dimensions: 18x14x13mm Lighting: Longwave UV (Convoy S2) Ajkaite is a fossil resin with chemical composition markedly different from succinite (i.e., Baltic amber); it also contains low levels of sulfur. Ajkaite is found within layers of fossiliferous marl (numerous fossil shells can be seen in the matrix in the images): the marl is also accompanied by layers of coal, sand, sandstone, and siltstone. Ajkaite is found in both the Ajka Coal Fm. and the Csehbánya Fm., which two Formations are roughly the same age, and laterally transition into each other. The coal mines roughly 4km southeast of Ajka first began production in 1872, and continued until the last mine was closed on September 3, 2004. Now, Ajkaite specimens can only be found in spoil-banks or refuse piles (Jókai coal refuse) near the city. Various arthropods have been found trapped within Ajkaite, e.g., Araneae (spiders), Diptera (flies), Coleoptera (beetles), and Hymenoptera (ants, wasps). Since much of this amber is typically cloudy, X-ray tomography (CT scan) is often used to visually document the inclusions. Sources: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0195667121003451?fbclid=IwAR2in5-wXBSojVWPQKkSwSuEPuZ5Wd77Z5I0iYfRPWHbc5PAHI7gegfmr3o https://pubs.usgs.gov/bul/1627/report.pdf?fbclid=IwAR142uewIjbJxH2oQDfnoX3j4C0K-cH33lTKfDd7AePr-rfIUQCkPylTmXg https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-03573-5.pdf?origin=ppub&fbclid=IwAR2- https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-03573-5.pdf?origin=ppub&fbclid=IwAR2-JvTOC8CPgd4eft49V5vrItPEtiXd1iWmKkjzd8Vdw75ZXmjGGOIz5jU https://pubs.usgs.gov/bul/1627/report.pdf?fbclid=IwAR142uewIjbJxH2oQDfnoX3j4C0K-cH33lTKfDd7AePr-rfIUQCkPylTmXg

    © Kaegen Lau

  6. From the album: Fossil Amber and Copal: Worldwide Localities

    "Ajkaite" Ajka-Csingervölgy, Ajka District, Hungary Ajka Coal Fm./Csehbánya Fm. (~86.8-83.4 Ma) Chemical Composition: C: 80%, H: 10%, O: 9%, S: 1-2% Refractive Index: 1.541 Specific Gravity: 1.0 Weight of Specimen: 2.4g Dimensions: 18x14x13mm Lighting: Longwave UV (Convoy S2) Ajkaite is a fossil resin with chemical composition markedly different from succinite (i.e., Baltic amber); it also contains low levels of sulfur. Ajkaite is found within layers of fossiliferous marl (numerous fossil shells can be seen in the matrix in the images): the marl is also accompanied by layers of coal, sand, sandstone, and siltstone. Ajkaite is found in both the Ajka Coal Fm. and the Csehbánya Fm., which two Formations are roughly the same age, and laterally transition into each other. The coal mines roughly 4km southeast of Ajka first began production in 1872, and continued until the last mine was closed on September 3, 2004. Now, Ajkaite specimens can only be found in spoil-banks or refuse piles (Jókai coal refuse) near the city. Various arthropods have been found trapped within Ajkaite, e.g., Araneae (spiders), Diptera (flies), Coleoptera (beetles), and Hymenoptera (ants, wasps). Since much of this amber is typically cloudy, X-ray tomography (CT scan) is often used to visually document the inclusions. Sources: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0195667121003451?fbclid=IwAR2in5-wXBSojVWPQKkSwSuEPuZ5Wd77Z5I0iYfRPWHbc5PAHI7gegfmr3o https://pubs.usgs.gov/bul/1627/report.pdf?fbclid=IwAR142uewIjbJxH2oQDfnoX3j4C0K-cH33lTKfDd7AePr-rfIUQCkPylTmXg https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-03573-5.pdf?origin=ppub&fbclid=IwAR2- https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-03573-5.pdf?origin=ppub&fbclid=IwAR2-JvTOC8CPgd4eft49V5vrItPEtiXd1iWmKkjzd8Vdw75ZXmjGGOIz5jU https://pubs.usgs.gov/bul/1627/report.pdf?fbclid=IwAR142uewIjbJxH2oQDfnoX3j4C0K-cH33lTKfDd7AePr-rfIUQCkPylTmXg

    © Kaegen Lau

  7. From the album: Fossil Amber and Copal: Worldwide Localities

    "Ajkaite" Ajka-Csingervölgy, Ajka District, Hungary Ajka Coal Fm./Csehbánya Fm. (~86.8-83.4 Ma) Chemical Composition: C: 80%, H: 10%, O: 9%, S: 1-2% Refractive Index: 1.541 Specific Gravity: 1.0 Weight of Specimen: 2.4g Dimensions: 18x14x13mm Ajkaite is a fossil resin with chemical composition markedly different from succinite (i.e., Baltic amber); it also contains low levels of sulfur. Ajkaite is found within layers of fossiliferous marl (numerous fossil shells can be seen in the matrix in the images): the marl is also accompanied by layers of coal, sand, sandstone, and siltstone. Ajkaite is found in both the Ajka Coal Fm. and the Csehbánya Fm., which two Formations are roughly the same age, and laterally transition into each other. The coal mines roughly 4km southeast of Ajka first began production in 1872, and continued until the last mine was closed on September 3, 2004. Now, Ajkaite specimens can only be found in spoil-banks or refuse piles (Jókai coal refuse) near the city. Various arthropods have been found trapped within Ajkaite, e.g., Araneae (spiders), Diptera (flies), Coleoptera (beetles), and Hymenoptera (ants, wasps). Since much of this amber is typically cloudy, X-ray tomography (CT scan) is often used to visually document the inclusions. Sources: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0195667121003451?fbclid=IwAR2in5-wXBSojVWPQKkSwSuEPuZ5Wd77Z5I0iYfRPWHbc5PAHI7gegfmr3o https://pubs.usgs.gov/bul/1627/report.pdf?fbclid=IwAR142uewIjbJxH2oQDfnoX3j4C0K-cH33lTKfDd7AePr-rfIUQCkPylTmXg https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-03573-5.pdf?origin=ppub&fbclid=IwAR2- https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-03573-5.pdf?origin=ppub&fbclid=IwAR2-JvTOC8CPgd4eft49V5vrItPEtiXd1iWmKkjzd8Vdw75ZXmjGGOIz5jU https://pubs.usgs.gov/bul/1627/report.pdf?fbclid=IwAR142uewIjbJxH2oQDfnoX3j4C0K-cH33lTKfDd7AePr-rfIUQCkPylTmXg

    © Kaegen Lau

  8. From the album: Fossil Amber and Copal: Worldwide Localities

    "Ajkaite" Ajka-Csingervölgy, Ajka District, Hungary Ajka Coal Fm./Csehbánya Fm. (~86.8-83.4 Ma) Chemical Composition: C: 80%, H: 10%, O: 9%, S: 1-2% Refractive Index: 1.541 Specific Gravity: 1.0 Weight of Specimen: 2.4g Dimensions: 18x14x13mm Ajkaite is a fossil resin with chemical composition markedly different from succinite (i.e., Baltic amber); it also contains low levels of sulfur. Ajkaite is found within layers of fossiliferous marl (numerous fossil shells can be seen in the matrix in the images): the marl is also accompanied by layers of coal, sand, sandstone, and siltstone. Ajkaite is found in both the Ajka Coal Fm. and the Csehbánya Fm., which two Formations are roughly the same age, and laterally transition into each other. The coal mines roughly 4km southeast of Ajka first began production in 1872, and continued until the last mine was closed on September 3, 2004. Now, Ajkaite specimens can only be found in spoil-banks or refuse piles (Jókai coal refuse) near the city. Various arthropods have been found trapped within Ajkaite, e.g., Araneae (spiders), Diptera (flies), Coleoptera (beetles), and Hymenoptera (ants, wasps). Since much of this amber is typically cloudy, X-ray tomography (CT scan) is often used to visually document the inclusions. Sources: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0195667121003451?fbclid=IwAR2in5-wXBSojVWPQKkSwSuEPuZ5Wd77Z5I0iYfRPWHbc5PAHI7gegfmr3o https://pubs.usgs.gov/bul/1627/report.pdf?fbclid=IwAR142uewIjbJxH2oQDfnoX3j4C0K-cH33lTKfDd7AePr-rfIUQCkPylTmXg https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-03573-5.pdf?origin=ppub&fbclid=IwAR2- https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-03573-5.pdf?origin=ppub&fbclid=IwAR2-JvTOC8CPgd4eft49V5vrItPEtiXd1iWmKkjzd8Vdw75ZXmjGGOIz5jU https://pubs.usgs.gov/bul/1627/report.pdf?fbclid=IwAR142uewIjbJxH2oQDfnoX3j4C0K-cH33lTKfDd7AePr-rfIUQCkPylTmXg

    © Kaegen Lau

  9. cl8n

    Devonian placoderm?

    Hi all! I pulled this fossil out of Red Hill, a Devonian site in central Pennsylvania. I thought it looks like it could possibly be part of a placoderm but I’d love to get some help with further identification. Thanks in advance!
  10. Righteous

    Sandy Siltstone Plate

    This plate was in with a bunch of other fern fossils I picked up. What all can you tell me you see in it please.
  11. The other day I posted trilobite pics in this ID page thread I just used a beat up drywall saw to cut the section with the trilo out of the slab, then tried to "split" the whacked at the rest of it hoping for more. The siltstone (noncalcareous dolomite maybe?) was so soft it just crumbled. I tried tapping around the edges, which just sort of mashed in, and also tried a chisel, which just took off crumbly flakes (and I wish that was as easy when I try to nap flint). I knew if I found another specimen I'd destroy it trying to get at it, but went for it anyway as a technique-learning excercise. No joy, lots of bits and pieces but no bits and pieces of trilobites Today I collected more of what I THINK is the same material. Before I make a mess of this too, I thought to ask you experts here..... how do you hunt fossils in slabs of really soft crumbly rock? Thanks!
  12. Not counting lits bits and piece, finally found my first trilobite. It goes to show that you can find fossils in unexpected places, too. I was waiting to meet a friend and was just kicking over rocks in a misc (man made) rubble heap on the edge of town. Then this fragile soft siltstone broke apart badly, right across this beauty. I have no idea what formation it's from, and since its a junk pile along an abandoned RR I can't say for sure that's even from the county (Hollidaysburg, Blair County, PA, USA). About all I can say is it failed the fizz test, and there is a lot of parallel coloration running perpindicular to the bedding plane. For the fossil, there is a mold and cast. and part of me sees parts of more than one animal. I'm all new to trilos though. I think the closeup is a trilo eye, and was struck by the repeating details along the.... eye ridge maybe? What ID features leap out at you? Any advice on removing more material? That flake with the eye in the closeup just looked like waste, and I pried it off with my fingernail only to be surprised! (You might say my eye popped)
  13. Hi everyone, Once upon a time, I was a young college student at UF whose favorite hobby was spending hours trudging through swamps and up and down creekbeds in search of gravel beds and limestone banks. There were no other types of stone worth noting, so every stone was either limestone or imported. Fossils might not always have been easy to find, but when you did find them they generally were sturdy things that were practically falling out soft limestone or clay. My tools were a hand spade and a homemade screen in a wooden frame, that's it. Fast forward a decade (or two...) and I'm trying to get my kids into the hunt from our new home in the Pacific NW. But things are so different here. The rocks are all strong! So many of the fossils seem so relatively weak! I heard about the Lincoln Creek concretions and that sounded like fun until I saw what you guys go through to prepare those things ... I'd need a whole new workshop just dedicated to that! As I read about all these fossil-bearing formations in the Cascades and Olympic peninsula, most of them sound similar in terms of the difficulty and gear required. So... I'm probably going to take the older kid at least to collect concretions in the next few weeks, but we'll have no plans for what comes next. Actually, I'm pretty sure it will end up with him smashing them "carefully" (with proper eye and dust protection, of course).
  14. This was a prep I've last year, but for some reason I've never posted it on the forum. So I thought I might change that. Last year I was fortunate enough to take a visit to the Ernst Quarries and dig for some shark teeth. Although most of the fossil I've taken home are either bones, four partial regular-sized teeth, and mostly tiny partials (some of which I accidentally damaged while digging ), the biggest find of the day was this large Cosmopolitodus hastalis tooth with its crown partially sticking out of the matrix. When Rob noticed the tooth, he initially estimated it to be ~2 inches long and insisted that I keep the tooth in the matrix, saying something like "The tooth itself is worth about $15. If you keep the tooth in the matrix, it'll be worth $60". Although my reason for visiting the Ernst Quarries was to find shark teeth to keep rather than to sell, I for some reason decided to keep the tooth in the matrix. However, I still had to prep this baby when I got home! Below is the tooth how I found it. This was going to be my first (and so far only considerate) prep I've ever done. Rob told me that the matrix can easily be scratched away using a fingernail and so taking his words and some advice I've gotten from the forum regarding something else, I grabbed one of my mom's needles and started quite literally digging off the siltstone. After around 10 minutes, a perfect root base showed up. This tooth is obviously going to be a perfect whole, so you just gotta keep scraping off the matrix. One really helpful thing I've realized at this point is that the needle I was using was perfect for such beginner's prep- it was strong enough to remove matrix effectively but not enough to do any damage to the tooth itself.
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