connorp 470 Report post Posted December 3 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? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
connorp 470 Report post Posted December 3 @Nimravis @RCFossils @stats @Mark Kmiecik Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RCFossils 1,037 Report post Posted December 3 I am pretty sure that is just mineralization. I find quite a few specimens like that with very similar preservation. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nimravis 4,998 Report post Posted December 3 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. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mark Kmiecik 695 Report post Posted December 3 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. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stats 216 Report post Posted December 4 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 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
