connorp Posted December 3, 2019 Share Posted December 3, 2019 This nodule split a while ago. At first I thought it was just a neat looking dud, but after looking closer there appear to be faint radiating lines on the specimen which makes me think it might be plant material, although I have no idea what exactly. Any ideas? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
connorp Posted December 3, 2019 Author Share Posted December 3, 2019 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
connorp Posted December 3, 2019 Author Share Posted December 3, 2019 @Nimravis @RCFossils @stats @Mark Kmiecik Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RCFossils Posted December 3, 2019 Share Posted December 3, 2019 I am pretty sure that is just mineralization. I find quite a few specimens like that with very similar preservation. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nimravis Posted December 3, 2019 Share Posted December 3, 2019 It looks like faint plant preservation, but I agree with Rob that it is not a fossil. I also run into a number of concretions that look like this and I just dump them- this is always an issue with Mazon Creek concretions. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Kmiecik Posted December 3, 2019 Share Posted December 3, 2019 That's a fossil. Not well preserved, but a fossil. I have many with that "mound" type of preservation and it's usually a small -- less than 1" diameter -- single, nearly circular basal pinnule of a Macroneuropteris. I have seen other species with this pedestal type of preservation including various fragments of larger things. Normally I would also dump a specimen this poorly preserved if it were not for the type of mound/pedestal preservation, which I believe in itself is a collectible byproduct of the MC biota, and its cause begs study. 1 Mark. Fossil hunting is easy -- they don't run away when you shoot at them! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stats Posted December 4, 2019 Share Posted December 4, 2019 My guess is a poorly preserved plant part. I usually dump these at Braceville. As Mark said, I have seen some nice Macroneuropteris orbicular pinnules preserved this way. Cheers, Rich 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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