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I have found many Pennsylvanian sponge roots in an isolated area of the Naco Formation near Payson, Arizona. The sub parallel root fibers range in size from 0.2 to 1.2 mm in diameter. The roots are often found growing/covering crinoid columnal sections. Near Pine and at my site the roots are found where Chaunactis olsoni sponges are the most common, but not the only sponge species present. Now I need to find a sponge with roots attached to ID the species of the roots. It is unknown if the silicified roots were originally silica or calcite. I noticed that there are grooves from and matching the diameter of the roots in originally calcitic crinoid columnals and head pieces. What caused these grooves? Two hypothesis: the silica roots grew over the softer calcitic crinoid pieces rubbing grooves into them as the currents caused the roots to sway. Second: the roots had living tissue on the outside that secreted acid that caused the grooves. Knowledge of extant sponge anatomy might help answer this question. Photo 1: average root diameter about 0.6 mm. Photos 2 and 3: detail of first photo. Photo 3: roots growing around section of crinoid columnals with grooves in columnals. Dilliard, Kelly & Rigby, J. Keith. 2001. The new demosponges, Chaunactis olsoni and Haplistion nacoense, and associated sponges from the Pennsylvanian Naco Formation, Central Arizona. Brigham Young University Geology Studies. 46. 1-11. http://geology.byu.edu/Home/sites/default/files/geo_stud_vol_46_dilliard_rigby.pdf @TqB
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Alternate title: I found Pennsylvanian fossilized Sesame Wasa Crispbread; is it safe to eat? I have visited the Pennsylvanian Naco Formation east of Payson, Arizona several times this long hot summer and found some interesting sponges. My most interesting find was this 5 cm wide sponge that looked almost exactly like a Wasa Crispbread with sesame seeds on top. I was about to nickname it a Wasa sponge until I found out that it had a genus name: Stioderma. Pennsylvanian Desmoinian Stioderma occur in Texas. Link It is amazing how many fossils I have identified from the Pennsylvanian Naco Formation by reading references from fossils found in Texas and Oklahoma: thanks. link to Collections I found a new 5 cm sponge that sort of looks like a horn coral, but it has spicules. The area contained the usual suspects such as this 165 mm long Wewokella solida Link. and this 50 mm Chaunactis olsoni that the Arizona Museum of Natural History expresses interest in and hopefully will get it.
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