Search the Community

Hi All, I'm new to the forum and I have no paleontology experience other than a class from undergrad 20 something years ago. My background is structural geology, hence my post here in hopes that I may confirm my suspicion as to the genesis of the specimens in the attached pictures. First a little background: I was in the field yesterday doing some reconnaissance work in east-central Wyoming. The land owners whose property I was on are multi-generational ranchers and they were extremely welcoming and enthusiastic about the geology of the area, despite having limited knowledge. At the end of the day, standing in their yard saying thank you's and goodbye's one of the college-age sons came running up with 2 specimens of what I presume to be concretions. However, the texture was smoother than other concretions I have seen and there was a dimpled character to the extremity of both which I found odd. The kicker is that the southern end of their property has a full section of Jurassic Morrison Fm exposed. When I asked what the rock looked like in the area that he found them, his description matched what could be interpreted as the variegated sands and shales of the Morrison Fm. Of course, it could also describer some of the Miocene sediments unconformably overlying the Cloverly Fm in the area as well. Regarding the photographs attached: I did not take the specimens with me, only the photos attached with my phone in the land owner's front yard. Therefore I do not have scale other than to say the index finger of my left hand is 9.5 cm and my left thumb is 7 cm from tip to base knuckle. Any help would be greatly appreciated as I told the landowner's son I'd be happy to do a little research on his behalf. Much thanks in advance! -WyoOtto