Help ID - shell imprints, NY

[Ralenka]

Hi! I found some rocks with shell imprints in a creek in Tompkins county, NY, USA. I understand that the fossils found there are usually from Devonian period. My guess is that it is a brachiopod. If yes, is there a way to out more precisely what kind, and to narrow its age? I have a very sketchy knowledge about the subject so any help is appreciated. Thanks! 
 

1. 

[Ralenka]

2. I see some brachiopods here as well. But what are the round imprints? And other “fin”-like ones? Thanks. 

[grandpa]

2 minutes ago, Ralenka said:

what are the round imprints

Crinoid stems, end view.

 

3 minutes ago, Ralenka said:

other “fin”-like ones

Other brachs, if I understand what you are referring to.

 

@Tidgy's Dad is better at ID's brachs of this age than I am, by far.  Let's see if he's up and about in Morocco yet.

 

Also, we have a number of members from NY who can help as well.

 

And, before I forget, a very warm welcome to TFF from Austin, Tx.  You've found a good group to address these type of questions.

[Tidgy's Dad]

And a very warm welcome to TFF from Morocco. 

Yes, crinoid stem columnals.

The first brachiopod seems to be an imprint of an atrypid. 

The second block has spiriferids and bryozoans as well as the crinoid bits. 

"Up and about yet", @grandpa?

Not been to bed yet, old chap. 

[grandpa]

8 minutes ago, Tidgy's Dad said:

"Up and about yet", @grandpa?

Still up, Adam. It's only 1:08 a.m. here in Austin.  I'm good for at least another 5 minutes. 

[Tidgy's Dad]

21 minutes ago, grandpa said:

Still up, Adam. It's only 1:08 a.m. here in Austin.  I'm good for at least another 5 minutes. 

No, I meant I hadn't been to bed. It's 6.11 am here, I might get an hour or two in a bit. 

Sleep is for tortoises. 

[Ralenka]

Oh, thank you! Didn’t expect such fast answers, especially when posting at night

I also saw a stone like these. It has some shell imprints as well. But these bumps, are they fossils?

[Tidgy's Dad]

Yes. 

Those are brachiopods too. 

Productids, I think. 

[Ralenka]

On 5/21/2020 at 11:50 AM, Tidgy's Dad said:

Yes. 

Those are brachiopods too. 

Productids, I think. 

Hi and thanks again! How would one approach getting the fossils out of the rock? All the fossils of shells that I saw before seemed to be very fragile. For example smth I saw today

 

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

The ones you posted before that were molds obviously can't be removed from the matrix. 

The productids are best left alone, in my opinion, and, from what I can see in that last picture you posted, I agree that they seem rather too fragile to remove, though you might be able to wiggle one or two of the larger bits loose. 

[Ralenka]

And how would one find/get a fossil for example of a brachiopod in a good condition? By splitting the rocks? I am mostly looking at what is laying on a surface, and it seems that this way only molds are accessible?

[Tidgy's Dad]

It depends on the rock. 

Some rocks are soft with hard fossils, so they're easy to break loose, some erode out and are found lying free, sometimes splitting along the bedding planes or whacking a hard nodule or piece of limestone in the right place can release a specimen. 

You need to experiment with the different rocks in your area and see what works and what doesn't. 

But often beautiful fossils will remain in the matrix, that's fine, many of my specimens could be freed, in theory, but why take the risk when they're lovely as they are?

 

[Ralenka]

Those are beautiful!

thanks for the answers!

I have a bunch of newbie questions, is there a forum section I can spill them out?

[Fossildude19]

2 minutes ago, Ralenka said:

Those are beautiful!

thanks for the answers!

I have a bunch of newbie questions, is there a forum section I can spill them out?

Questions and Answers.  

 

Please take a look through that sub-forum, as well as the General Fossil Discussion sub-forum.

 

We've been doing this a long time, and many of your questions may already have been answered previously.    

[Tidgy's Dad]

Yes, for sure, people are always willing to help and we all are still learning and asking questions ourselves. Best way to learn. 

Post IDs here in the ID section, of course, but for other stuff, there is a general Questions & Answers section. 

But rocks and minerals has its own section, so does tools and equipment etc. 

if in doubt use the Q & A and the mods will move it if necessary. 

[Ralenka]

On 5/26/2020 at 3:07 PM, Tidgy's Dad said:

On 5/26/2020 at 3:07 PM, Tidgy's Dad said:

@Tidgy's Dad can you please tell, was this piece prepared by you or was it found like this? I saw people use heat, pressure or acids to bring out the shells from the matrix. Is this also limestone?

[Tidgy's Dad]

Yes, limestone, I think.I did some minimal prepping with pins but it was pretty much the same.

[Tidgy's Dad]

On 6/7/2020 at 11:24 PM, Ralenka said:

 

Here it is pre-prepping :

 

[Ralenka]

On 6/13/2020 at 6:23 PM, Tidgy's Dad said:

Yes, limestone, I think.I did some minimal prepping with pins but it was pretty much the same.

I found this today, and want to clean it to bring out more features. What would be a careful way to do it?

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

I'm no expert prepper. 

I just attack things with pins and see what happens. 

The spiriferids are nice and the crinoid columnals pretty, but i'm not sure that i wouldn't just leave that piece if the pin didn't produce any results. 

Is that a trilobite genal spine there too?

Post this in the prep section and see if anyone knows any more than I.

Which is probably a large number of bods. 

[Ralenka]

Thanks!

 

15 hours ago, Tidgy's Dad said:

Is that a trilobite genal spine there too?

I looked again and again but cannot see what you see. Can you point where is the “suspicious” area?

[Fossildude19]

21 hours ago, Tidgy's Dad said:

Is that a trilobite genal spine there too?

 

6 hours ago, Ralenka said:

Thanks!

 

I looked again and again but cannot see what you see. Can you point where is the “suspicious” area?

 

 

I believe Adam was referring to the circled item:

 

 

It is actually part of a spirifer's "wing tip" or hinge line, rather than a trilobite genal spine.

 

 

 

As far as prep goes, this type of fossil rock doesn't prep well.  

It looks like a sandy limestone or sandstone, and the imprints and molds do not seem to retain any original or mineral replaced shell material. 

Unless the fossils have a calcitic or pyritic shell, I don't think there is  much too be done with it,  prep-wise.  

 

 

 

[Ralenka]

Thanks, Tim! The piece does look fragile. 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Tim is correct. 

My eyesight is terrible.