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Hey everybody! I'm Korey and I'm a bit new here (and to the world of paleontology in general) so I apologize if things might be a little messy. Regardless, I'll try my best in keeping things as crisp as possible. I was hoping I could have some help identifying a few fossils on the exterior of these rocks I found. The following three fossil matrices were collected in a single trip along Cape Fear River in the Wilmington area. Each one contains numerous fossils of a variety of species embedded within a limestone matrix. Mineral composition was confirmed by a professor of paleontology (specialized in microfossils) at UNC Wilmington, meaning they likely originated from the Castle Hayne limestone deposit. I would really appreciate some help in identifying some of the fossils found in these matrices, as while a decent number are somewhat recognizable, there are some that are completely mysterious. Specifically in matrix B and C. Matrix A: Measuring roughly 61mm in length, and 40mm in width, this is a cluster of what appears to be remnants of steinkerns and their remaining impressions. I counted over 10 individual snail shells, the exact number being a bit unclear, and a single bivalve impression. The snails appear to be some form of teribridae, while the nature of the bivalve impression is unknown. The largest snail impression measured at roughly 14mm in width. Length was unfortunately not easily measured as there are seemingly no complete impressions left behind. Much of them simply stretch across the entire matrix. The bivalve impression takes up much of it's side of the matrix, measuring at a rough 38mm. Matrix B: Measures roughly 52mm in length, and 43mm in width. This matrix is host to an intact unidentified bivalve shell, what appears to be a pair of concretions, encrusting bryozoa, and an unidentified organism. The bivalve shell is roughly 25mm wide. A bryozoan colony is visible to the left of the shell's beak. You can also see the concretions top right of the shell. What species of bivalve is it? Each concretion is roughly 5mm in width. The edges of the concretions appear to be encrusted by bryozoa. (It is very hard to get good pictures of this feature, I'm sorry). The final feature of Matrix B is this unusual shape closely resembling a reverse impression of a coral cup. Measures 17mm at it's widest and 10mm at the thinnest. Seems to consist of a central undefined and weathered shape surrounded by a series of 10 striated symmetrical structures resembling the septa of a coral polyp cup. There is no other apparent evidence of similar structures within the matrix, and it seems to be entirely on it's own. Matrix C: Measuring 174mm long, and 97mm wide, this chunk of limestone has some heft to it. Contained within is the fossil of highest interest to me, what I originally thought to be petrified wood. Also present is what appears to be a eutrephoceras shell, and a single unusual ring-shaped organic artifact. This particular matrix was discovered under the water, where only a small part of it was sticking out of the submerged mud. Jutting out of the matrix is a partly exposed branch-like structure of unknown biology. This picture depicts the anterior end of it where it appears to have been broken off, revealing the interior cross section of the branch. This structure is roughly 25mm at it's widest I had originally thought it to be petrified wood, but the paleontologist I consulted disagreed, stating that petrified wood typically looks different. It is most certainly not coral either, so perhaps it is a species of branching bryozoan? Here is a side view of the branch structure, showing the deep striated appearance of it's exterior. At this point it looks almost more geological than biological, but the interior shapes tell a different story. I honestly suspect that it may have been eroded. A scant 19mm of this structure is exposed from the surrounding substrate, which I suspect might be hiding a much longer specimen. Here is another branch that appears similar to the prior one, only much smaller. Measuring a mere 5mm in width at it's widest point. Unlike the larger branch, the entire 25mm of this structure has been left exposed, revealing a very similar striated exterior. Could both of these have belonged to the same organism? This little limpet-like organism was hiding in a tiny recess, merely 4mm at it's widest. Not sure what it is, really. I appear to have forgotten to measure this one while I had my fossils out so I apologize, but this appears to be some form of coral-like structure. If you look closely you can just barely make out what appears to be a defined exterior ring nigh indistinguishable from the surrounding limestone. And finally we have what appears to be Eutrephoceras or at least some other similar mollusc. It's fairly small and measures around 18mm wide from the lip to the anterior of the whorl. Only three chambers can be seen, though there might be one or two more. I'm excited to see what everyone thinks of these fossils, and what they think they might be. It's a mystery that's been nagging at my mind for weeks now, and I have unfortunately yet to find answers. Please let me know if any more angles or pictures are needed, and I will try my best to provide.

Not sure what this is but wondering if anybody knows what this could be? Found it laying around a dirty fields in Washington state. Thanks.

Hi I recently found this on Agate beach in OR. The rock itself is very brittle and crumbles easily, it crumbled a little just trying to take mud off. Any tips on preservation for the specimen? I'm also sharing a fission worm rock I found on the same beach.. not a fossil, but pretty interesting.

Hello friends, I am very new so hopefully i’m doing this right. A few days ago I was walking on a sandy beach, (CA) and found this scallop impression? It’s really blue which I thought was interesting. I actually think there’s another impression on the back, but maybe it’s just from where the rock was sitting? I’m not sure if it could be any living thing at all. Thanks to anyone who stops by to read this, I appreciate it a lot

Found these last summer but just getting the energy to find somewhere to ID them. I'm not sure what the crystallized impression is, but I know at the very least that the others are probably crinoids of some kind. Thank y'all, even if nobody can ID at least others can enjoy.

Hello! A couple weeks ago my family and I drove to Mazon Creek and found our first nodules. I was keeping my eye out for the tell-tale round layered shale, and picking up already split ones too. I also saw a similar thread posted recently, just want to confirm if these are indeed duds or not! Most of the finds are about 3cm #1, The most intriguing one to me #2 #3, all of them together to show frequency and variety of circle pattern Thank you very much for reading!

I’m an intern in the history collections department of a museum and the soon-to-be ex-husband of a geologist just donated six boxes of fossils, rocks, and minerals to us. Unfortunately I am the only person working in collections, and I really specialize in history. I don’t have any fossil knowledge at all, aside from the research I’ve done the past few days, and we don’t have a lot of information about the specimens donated. All we know is that some came from Germany and some came from various US states (but we don’t know which ones) and I believe many of them were found in the 80s based on the newspaper they were wrapped in. These pieces have been particularly frustrating because I can’t find anything on this forum or elsewhere that looks similar. I believe these were found in Gerolstein, Germany because the rock is the same as the trilobite and plant fossils we also received that we know are from there (I think shale? Again my knowledge is very limited). There also seems to be obsidian or some other shiny mineral included. All this to say, I’m sorry I don’t have more information, but I hope someone will know what this is/what caused it! I apologize for the lighting - our lights are dim to protect the artifacts so I did the best I could with a lamp.

I've got this piece of Oligocene amber from Montana which has a very odd hole running straight through it. I at first though that this could be from where the resin seeped out around a twig of its tree and the twig eventually rotted away, leaving this hole. Do you think that could be the cause? The hole was filled with dirt before I cleaned it.

Hi all.... A visitor brought this into our museum this morning. Very unusual. Of course she wanted to know what it is. Two of us independently thought jellyfish impression. But things like that are super rare. It is from the Jurassic marine deposit here in Wyoming. The Fm has some invert impressions and tons of belemnites and the occasional ichthyosaur bones and ammonites. There are worm traces on this surface that you might be able to see. Anyone have any insights into jellyfish fossils? I am familiar with the Mazon Creek Essexellia and such, and Solnhofen jellies, but this is different. That's my thumb for scale. Any other thoughts... if it is not a jellyfish... what the heck is it? Impression of....???? Thanks and happy fossiling... its getting to be springtime. Wait... it is Spring. Happy Equinox folks. jpc

So deciding if this is one thing or two things. I am currently leaning towards it being a skinny coral with burrow/root trace around it. What do you see?

Hello: Would like to know if anyone can help identify the several impressions on the rock in the attached photos? I am guessing that the roundish impression could have been made by a crab shell, but the other one is a mystery. There are also numerous tiny white all over the rock surface and wonder if these were left by small creatures. The "crab shell" measures 1.5 mm across. The other impression measures approx. 4 mm in length and approx. 2 mm tall. It was collected years ago just north of Santa Barbara. Thank you.

Hello: Would like to know if anyone can help identify the attached fossil image? This fossil impression was collected years ago north of Santa Barbara. The impression measures approx. 10.5 mm long. Thank you.

I could probably fill the back of a pickup truck with ironstone I've picked up for closer inspection because it looked like it may have fossil possibilities, have only found a few and this is one. Found in Grayson formation Tarrant co, first thought was ammonite impression but there's a second faint impression on opposite side that doesn't fit with that and the outline isn't right, or am I not imagining the overall shape correctly?

I just found this piece in a parking lot in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The stone was taken from some quarry and dumped here, so there is no geographic or temporal control, but I was wondering if it was a trilobite (since that's what it looks like to me). Thanks!

Upon doing some research on exposures near Great Falls, and from a tip I received from a fellow member of my local prospector's group, I found an exposure just outside of Belt that is somewhat known for its plant fossils. Roadside Geology of Montana has this area of the state marked as early Cretaceous, but the large Jurassic coal seam cutting through the middle of this exposure was apparent as soon as I parked. I scrambled up the loose shale and sandstone to the seam, where I almost immediately began to spot small impressions in the dark-gray shale. The shale was incredibly fragile and would often crumble at a slight touch, and it was a new experience for me in handling rock that didn't need a hammer and chisel to split. I spent most of the trip sifting through the loose shale that had slid from the exposure and gently prying open larger pieces with my fingers or a small, thin chisel. This was definitely an exercise in patience, as I had to really slow down and be gentle with the shale as to not shatter the pieces in my hands. After about 2 hours, my husband and the dog were incredibly bored, as their adventure down to Belt Creek was unexciting, and the heat was getting to them. So, as is often the case with my hunts, I had to leave earlier than I wanted. But I am incredibly happy with my finds, small as they may be, and I plan on returning to this little spot soon. I'm not too familiar with plants in this area, as most of this part of the state is Cretaceous or Mississippian marine, so if anyone would like to offer some IDs, I would love them! I'm trying to be diligent in cataloguing all my finds, so anything helps! Some of them really shine when wet, as I found when I was cleaning them up. The dark-gray of the shale is also much more apparent. I know they're small and not particularly impressive or rare, but I am incredibly happy with my little haul. Thanks for stopping by on my adventure; I hope you have a great day!

We found this yesterday outside of Sedan Kansas on a 4-H Geology field trip. It was with a thinner layer of sandstone just below a thick layer of Ireland sandstone. One of the leaders thought it was ripple marks. I also thought it looked like ripple marks but wanted a second opinion. We would hope to be able to display this in her geology exhibit as a fossil if it is truly ripple marks.

Hello everybody! I have another U.F.O here (Unidentified Florissant Object) and to be honest, this one has really stumped me! It isn't a carbon stain, it isn't one of those pumice chunks 'fireballs' that are common at Florissant, and it has a strange texture and shape. Weirdly preserved petrified wood? That is my best guess as of now... @piranha @Top Trilo @Tetradium The fossil is 1/2 an inch long. The first 2 pictures are the fossil by itself and the third I circled it. The rest are microscope pics of the texture. Pics 5,6, and 9 show the edges. 7 shows the top.

Howdy everyone. :-) I think I've gotten a little better at identifying the Pleistocene fossils I've found (and figuring out when an ID is probably hopeless), but on the few things I've found that don't fall into that era, I'm still pretty lost. I found the rock below a while back in a sand and gravel matrix near South Texas. It looks like a regular nondescript rock on its rounded face (top left), but on the flatter face (the other three pictures), it looks like it was cracked open at some point and revealed something. Tiny fin? Leaf? Impression fossil or marine creature fossil fragment? I'm hoping some of you experts can give me some info. Thanks as always!

Wondering whether this is a trilobite or brachiopod impression. (Hoping its a trilobite.) Found it in a spoil heap at a small outcrop across from Gore Grocery Store, Gore, VA. Outcrop is Devonian in age. Anybody know what formation it is?

Hello, I went on a walk a few days ago to the local chalk pit and of course couldn't resist spending a few minutes scouting for fossils. This is one of two specimens that I found, the other being a shell fragment. At first I thought the pattern might be formed by ice but I wasn't convinced and kept searching, managing to recover two other small pieces. My suspicion of it not being ice related was confirmed when at the bottom of the slope I found the more complete counter slab, with a layer of ice still covering part of the fossil. Needless to say this made for cold hands on the walk back but I wasn't going to leave it. And an enhanced version of the positive using RTI. If I had to guess what it is I would say bryozoan but I haven't hunted the chalk much before and don't know. The fossil comes from the Upper Chalk and is Turonian in age. Hopefully someone has a better idea what I've brought back. Thank you, Benton

Heres another. This is some sort of impression? Dunno. Does not look like much can be made from inspecting it but thought someone might find it interesting...or not.

Hi everyone, Wondering whether or not you think this looks like a Hadro skin impression. Basic Info: South Dakota Hell Creek FM Cretaceous 65 MYO

Good afternoon everyone, I’ve previously seen some skin impressions on the auction site but not one for a low price like this one. However, I have trouble seeing where the scale impressions are on the fossil and was wondering if you guys could make them out, if this even is a skin impression. Fossil is 2.5 cm x 1.5 cm From the Hell Creek Formation near Baker, Montana.

Found sifting through little flinty pebbles on South Isle of Wight beaches First, which I am most interested in, was actually found by my landlord. He just picked it up saying "a stone in a stone" but I noticed some striations coming out of the hole. So took it home and pulled the smaller stone out and you can see a teardrop shaped impression with radial striation and pimple markings. Impression is 10mm long by 6mm wide. Second is just a band of tiny circlish markings 3.5x2mm. Third is a little hole with vertical ridges, probably nothing. 4.5x2.5mm And finally a nice echinoid print. I've found something similar years ago and someone posted an even more similar picture of a Temnocidaris species so I'm sure that it's something like that. Area of clearest three circles 6.5x4mm