minnbuckeye Posted November 17, 2019 Share Posted November 17, 2019 On this dismal pre-winter day, I slipped downstairs and looked at a few handfuls of micro-matrix from Cookie Cutter Creek. Besides a half dozen tiny shark's teeth, I came across this unknown. I am not sure if it is even a fossil. But it is different than anything else I have seen while investigating this interesting matrix. Opinions are welcomed!!!! @digit Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike from North Queensland Posted November 17, 2019 Share Posted November 17, 2019 Hope I am wrong but it looks like modern contamination - a bit of a beetle exoskeleton Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digit Posted November 17, 2019 Share Posted November 17, 2019 There is always a bit of modern contamination found in micro-matrix from this site. Beside the usual glass and plastic bits, I often find insect parts. Quite stunningly detailed and it usually takes a second or two to realize that that are not some new and unusual fossil. My initial thought was some fragment of a fish vertebra but the material looks chitinous and not cartilaginous so I'm probably in the bug camp. I often find interesting triangular shaped pieces that initially looked interesting till I found they were flexible with some pressure from the dental pick that I use like a shepherd's crook to move the micro-matrix around on the plate. These items turned out to be some blackened unopened plant flower buds or something similar. Flexible ≠ Fossils. Cheers. -Ken 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minnbuckeye Posted November 18, 2019 Author Share Posted November 18, 2019 Are modern insect parts "flexible" to some extent? Even though it is likely not to be a fossil, it has me curious what it belonged to. Any entomologists amongst us that could ID this? Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grandpa Posted November 18, 2019 Share Posted November 18, 2019 3 hours ago, digit said: I often find interesting triangular shaped pieces that initially looked interesting till I found they were flexible with some pressure from the dental pick that I use like a shepherd's crook to move the micro-matrix around on the plate. These items turned out to be some blackened unopened plant flower buds or something similar. Wow, I can now totally relate to that experience since I have been searching thru some Peace River gravels. Thanks so much, BTW. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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