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Cedar Creek Lake Alabama fossil finds


butchb

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Hi guys,

   This is my first posting on the forum, constructive criticism is appreciated. Each year, when the water level in the lake is lowered in late fall, I go there in search of crinoids

 

The first set of photos shows one of my better finds of 2017. This small slab (approximately 9 x 12 inches) had partially eroded from the shore. I was more than pleased to see all crinoids exposed along the weathered edge. Hopefully, there are some nice ones hidden in the center.

 

 

5e06cc4012dc9_crinoidslab.jpg.13cb0ecba7efc5c480b117b68ca099b7.jpg5e06cc61c2a7d_crinoidslaba.jpg.aef31f4ada40fb38347115f03203c275.jpg5e06d667bb57d_crinoidslabb.jpg.002e3b53015657cb2b639439db5a6ed6.jpg5e06d674c8b17_crinoidslabc.jpg.5bc88d9a7a79061fc5ea577087632f50.jpg

 

 

 

Last year, while walking up a watershed near the lake, I found a slab of bedded limestone with the calyx pictured below. I decided to downsize the slab.

 

 

5e06d6fc43be7_IMG_0970(2).thumb.JPG.1e7f01a062743d50957ef08d8de7178a.JPG

 

 

The rock split along the bedding plane to reveal this:

 

 

IMG_0965.thumb.JPG.9240a04fd5ddb137e3534060fa6e23b0.JPGIMG_0967.thumb.JPG.be93b2e764de5b5cd71a03c25627d2e9.JPG

 

 

There were a couple of similar but smaller slabs nearby. I carried them back to the truck to split at home. I found one more nice calyx embedded in the rock.

 

 

IMG_3508.JPG.fe1a156563c532483147114f17e3edf5.JPG

 

 

Pictured below are two more of last year's finds:

 

5e06dcca30a8c_IMG_0962(2).thumb.JPG.8d2db882caff1f78188d68ebb2694880.JPG

 

 

 

5e06dce378ba4_IMG_3492(2).thumb.JPG.fd6f723dcc2a057d5e2d4590814f1963.JPG

 

 

  While walking next to the waterline, I found the fragmented cephalopod pictured below. I was not sure if I wanted to keep it, so I set it aside to examine more closely on my way back.

It was only after I looked at it again on my return that I noticed the tooth at the top.

 

IMG_1038.JPG.73f39e2a0d002dd1089f7302a0b10a09.JPG

 

 

IMG_1039.JPG.0074396fc339f77dd6b478fb609b4c6c.JPG

 

 

 

This year has not proven to be as fruitful as last year. The first photo pictures a calyx in somewhat rotten matrix. What should I use to stabilize it?

 

IMG_2149.JPG.5e9e4925aa60b3aecf3666f5b078f44f.JPG

 

 

One more

 

IMG_2161.JPG.3deb52fc9d2a709184b9012793079684.JPG

 

 

Does anyone know the bryozoan to which the funnel shaped appendage pictured below belong?

 

 

IMG_3238.JPG.c5f9434f011c5b40c548b5b9ed9a4379.JPG

 

Thanks for looking

 

 

 

 

IMG_2152.JPG

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Nice stuff! I've got a few specimens from the Bangor Limestone but I'm afraid to venture any guesses with the IDs offhand.. Someone here should be able to tell you the names including that horn-shaped bryozoan, which is a nice specimen, by the way! (I believe that's the whole bryozoan, not a part of something larger).

The main glues that are recommended are Paraloid or Acryloid (B72) or similar, which you buy as beads and dissolve in acetone. It is easily reversible with acetone too, which is an important feature. Sometimes crazy glue is OK as long as you're sure you're not going to want to undo it. It will come apart with acetone too but it's more troublesome.

If I were you, I'd glue that one split calyx back together and then prepare from the outside (or get someone to do it for you)... and then please show the results here. :rolleyes:

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Those are some excellent finds. That first slab looks particularly promising. If properly prepared no telling what you might find. What you can actually see is worthwhile enough. 

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Welcome to the Forum. :)

 

Those are potentially some awesome crinoids. 

Can't help with ID, but I would look into getting them prepped out. 

 

@crinoid1   @crinus

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@crinoid1, @crinus, or @Archimedes should be able to help with IDs.  Crinus also has an excellent web site that includes images of his many crinoids from Alabama, which should be useful for you to ID your finds.

You certainly found some very nice crinoids.  :wub: :wub: :wub: The first slab in particular has potential to be spectacular, and may merit professional prepping if you don't have a lot of experience.  I have found crinoids and blastoids around the Cedar Creek Reservoir, but nothing with the density of complete crinoids you have on that first slab.

 

Don

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Welcome to TFF from Austin, Tx.  You certainly know how to make a grand entrance - beautiful specimens, esp. the large slab with multiple species.:P

 

Looking forward to more of your posts.  :popcorn:

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Hello and welcome! A nice crinoid calyx is on the bucket list for me to find, and here you are with a boatload of them! Very nice ones at that! :wub: Looking forward to seeing more of your finds and I agree with the other opinions about getting them prepped. It would make them even more spectacular! 
 

:envy:

The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it.  -Neil deGrasse Tyson

 

Everyone you will ever meet knows something you don't. -Bill Nye (The Science Guy)

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Welcome to the forum. Great finds.

 

 

Mark.

 

Fossil hunting is easy -- they don't run away when you shoot at them!

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19 hours ago, butchb said:

 

Look for my comments below each picture.

Joe

 

19 hours ago, butchb said:

Hi guys,

   This is my first posting on the forum, constructive criticism is appreciated. Each year, when the water level in the lake is lowered in late fall, I go there in search of crinoids

 

The first set of photos shows one of my better finds of 2017. This small slab (approximately 9 x 12 inches) had partially eroded from the shore. I was more than pleased to see all crinoids exposed along the weathered edge. Hopefully, there are some nice ones hidden in the center.

 

 

5e06cc4012dc9_crinoidslab.jpg.13cb0ecba7efc5c480b117b68ca099b7.jpg5e06cc61c2a7d_crinoidslaba.jpg.aef31f4ada40fb38347115f03203c275.jpg5e06d667bb57d_crinoidslabb.jpg.002e3b53015657cb2b639439db5a6ed6.jpg5e06d674c8b17_crinoidslabc.jpg.5bc88d9a7a79061fc5ea577087632f50.jpg

 

Nice slab that should prep out easily.  Hard to tell what crinoids you have other than lower right may be a Cymbiocrinus.

 

Last year, while walking up a watershed near the lake, I found a slab of bedded limestone with the calyx pictured below. I decided to downsize the slab.

 

 

5e06d6fc43be7_IMG_0970(2).thumb.JPG.1e7f01a062743d50957ef08d8de7178a.JPG

 

this is a Dasciocrinus.  It looks like it is in the hard limestone and will be very difficult to prep even for the professional.  I do not bother with these any more.  You end up doing a lot of damage to the specimen just to get it in decent shape.

 

The rock split along the bedding plane to reveal this:

 

 

IMG_0965.thumb.JPG.9240a04fd5ddb137e3534060fa6e23b0.JPGIMG_0967.thumb.JPG.be93b2e764de5b5cd71a03c25627d2e9.JPG

 

I think this is going to be a Phacelocrinus.  It will be very nice once prepped.  The pieces in the negative can be cut out and put back on and then prepped from the top.  I would not glue the whole thing back together.  this will also be a very nice specimen.

 

There were a couple of similar but smaller slabs nearby. I carried them back to the truck to split at home. I found one more nice calyx embedded in the rock.

 

 

IMG_3508.JPG.fe1a156563c532483147114f17e3edf5.JPG

Hard to tell what you have there.  But it is going to be nice since most of it is buried.

 

Pictured below are two more of last year's finds:

 

5e06dcca30a8c_IMG_0962(2).thumb.JPG.8d2db882caff1f78188d68ebb2694880.JPG

Oklahomacrinus sp.

 

 

5e06dce378ba4_IMG_3492(2).thumb.JPG.fd6f723dcc2a057d5e2d4590814f1963.JPG

Phanocrinus bellulus

 

  While walking next to the waterline, I found the fragmented cephalopod pictured below. I was not sure if I wanted to keep it, so I set it aside to examine more closely on my way back.

It was only after I looked at it again on my return that I noticed the tooth at the top.

 

IMG_1038.JPG.73f39e2a0d002dd1089f7302a0b10a09.JPG

 

 

IMG_1039.JPG.0074396fc339f77dd6b478fb609b4c6c.JPG

 

 

 

This year has not proven to be as fruitful as last year. The first photo pictures a calyx in somewhat rotten matrix. What should I use to stabilize it?

 

IMG_2149.JPG.5e9e4925aa60b3aecf3666f5b078f44f.JPG

Phanocrinus bellulus

 

One more

 

IMG_2161.JPG.3deb52fc9d2a709184b9012793079684.JPG

Phanocrinus bellulus

 

Does anyone know the bryozoan to which the funnel shaped appendage pictured below belong?

 

 

IMG_3238.JPG.c5f9434f011c5b40c548b5b9ed9a4379.JPG

I believe that these are the fronds of an Archimedes bryozoan.

Thanks for looking

 

 

 

 

IMG_2152.JPG

 

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Great finds! 

20 hours ago, butchb said:This year has not proven to be as fruitful as last year. The first photo pictures a calyx in somewhat rotten matrix. What should I use to stabilize it?

 

 

 

 

IMG_2149.JPG.5e9e4925aa60b3aecf3666f5b078f44f.JPG

Try this thread for stabilizers

 

Each dot is 50,000,000 years:

Hadean............Archean..............................Proterozoic.......................................Phanerozoic...........

                                                                                                                    Paleo......Meso....Ceno..

                                                                                                           Ꞓ.OSD.C.P.Tr.J.K..Pg.NgQ< You are here

Doesn't time just fly by?

 

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Nice finds! The Mississippian epoch is full of nice Crinoids if you can find the right exposure.

-Dave

__________________________________________________

Geologists on the whole are inconsistent drivers. When a roadcut presents itself, they tend to lurch and weave. To them, the roadcut is a portal, a fragment of a regional story, a proscenium arch that leads their imaginations into the earth and through the surrounding terrain. - John McPhee

If I'm going to drive safely, I can't do geology. - John McPhee

Check out my Blog for more fossils I've found: http://viewsofthemahantango.blogspot.com/

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Holy cow! I just wanted to add to the chorus of appreciation, those are some beautiful little crinoids. 

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