Collecting the Stages

[Wrangellian]

I've thought about doing this for some time, but only now during all this down time we're getting have I gotten around to seeing how many of the stages in the geologic timescale (the global version, at least) are represented by fossils in my collection. If a fossil collection can ever be said to be 'complete', this is one way of doing it - to try and get at least one specimen from every stage. Another would be to try and get a least one specimen from each group (phylum, class, order, etc) but I could see that quickly becoming difficult. I figure this one is within reach (at least relatively so). I guess some of you more serious collectors out there are ahead of me and it would be fun to compare notes.

Of course it's complicated by factors such as knowing which stage your fossil is from. Some fossils come to you with a North American or European stage such as Stephanian or Richmondian, and if that stage overlaps two or more one of the Global ones then I can't be sure which one it is, without more research. Also an even greater number of fossils come to you that only say, eg. "Lower Devonian" or even just "Permian", and again, more research could enable me to fill in some more gaps with fossils already in my collection. I have already tried to research some of these and came up blank. Some of the entries here are educated guesses but if I'm really uncertain I'll leave it out until I've done more research (or question-asking).

Turns out I've got just over half of the stages already (barring any mistakes. If I have made any mistakes, please let me know). The only Series that I am still missing are the Terreneuvian (Cambrian), Middle Permian and Lower Triassic.

First, here is my timescale with the ones I have already, and I will follow that with pictures of the representative fossils I have chosen from my collection. Some of these are the only fossil I have from that stage so far. Others I have tons, especially the Santonian as that is what I have available to collect locally.

I have marked off some of the North American stages where I have a North American fossil that is stated to be from a particular NA stage, or stated to be from a Global stage that I can confidently correlate with a NA stage. Maybe someday I'll have a fossil from all the NA stages as well as all the Global ones (or maybe not), but for now I'm going to focus on the Global.

I have also marked off Pliocene and Pleistocene even though those are series (epochs) because I know I have fossils from those but not sure which stage exactly.

 

[Wrangellian]

Here we go.

Photography is not my strong point and the pics were taken indoors so the quality is variable, but better than nothing.

 

CENOZOIC:

NEOGENE:

 

Langhian (Miocene):

 

?Burdigalian (Miocene):

 

Chattian (Oligocene):

A local Vancouver Island fossil (I will choose local where possible)...

This Fm is said to be Upper Oligocene, so that must be the Chattian.

[Wrangellian]

PALEOGENE:

 

Lutetian (Eocene):

Acquired from nala (Gery)

 

Ypresian (Eocene):

This one I collected myself up at McAbee back when it was still legal to do so.

 

Thanetian (Paleocene):

This one is a possible cnidarian skeleton (coral-like stalk) from New Zealand. Needs prep to show properly, but for now this will have to suffice! Acquired from RJB (Ron).

[Wrangellian]

MESOZOIC - ammonites are going to figure heavily in this era, naturally:

UPPER CRETACEOUS:

 

Maastrichtian:

Acquired from JPC

 

Now I'll show 3 different ones from the Campanian just because it's such a long age/stage and I've got several local fossils from that one, though still not as many as the Santonian.

Sort of Upper (Hornby Island), Middle (Cedar District Fm), and Lower (Extension of Protection Fm) -

 

 

Leaf, possibly Dryophyllum whitmani, from an old mine site south of Nanaimo, self-found:

[Wrangellian]

Santonian:

A local one from my usual spot. (not the best pic... look carefully for the netlike sponge skeleton. There is also a small straight-shafted heteromoprphic ammonite in there.)

 

Turonian:

From taj (Thierry)

 

Cenomanian:

A large, flattened Gryphaea sp from the Dunvegan Fm of Smoky River, Alberta

[Wrangellian]

LOWER CRETACEOUS

Albian:

 

Aptian:

 

Now 3 from the Hauterivian because they're my only 3 from that stage and they're all interesting:

I'm not certain the ammonite is Hauterivian, but to the best of my knowledge it is. I forget who sent me that one. The other two are from fifbrindacier (Sophie).

(#1 is worm tubes)

 

Valanginian:

From Sophie

 

[Wrangellian]

JURASSIC

 

Tithonian:

2 crinoids from the famous Solnhofen lagerstatte

 

Kimmeridgian:

 

Oxfordian:

I believe I got these from Shamalama (Dave), correct me if I'm wrong whoever it may be.

 

Callovian (Mid. Jurassic):

[Wrangellian]

Lower Jurassic

 

Toarcian:

I forget whom I acquired this one from but it could have been someone from the Forum...

 

Pliensbachian:

 

Sinemurian:

From a site up northern Vancouver Island (collected by someone else; never been there myself, yet)

 

Now two from the Hettangian (lowest Jurassic) because they're my only two and they're both marvelous I can't decide between them:

[Wrangellian]

I'm a little embarrassed by my scribbly labels, but the main point is to get the info down. Maybe someday I'll type them all out on the ol' typewriter to look like classic, tidy labels. So many tasks, so little ambition.

TRIASSIC:

 

Norian:

I guess Monotis sp (or Halobia?), local Vancouver Island rock.

 

Carnian:

Also a local Island rock (two views of the same piece). I'm choosing local examples where possible.

 

Ladinian (Mid-Triassic):

I think I got this one from Dave also (?)

I found a nice reconstruction of this species online (Klug et al, 2007):

 

Anisian (Mid. Triassic):

[Wrangellian]

PALEOZOIC:

PERMIAN:

 

When my Glossopteris arrives I'll have an example from the Upper Permian (Lopingian), Wuchiapingian.

 

Lacking Middle Permian (Guadalupian).

 

Lower Permian (Cisuralian):

Artinskian:

This one came from Jesuslover340 (Skyelar):

 

Since this one is from North America I can say I have a fossil from the N.A. Lenoxian stage (I think), which mostly correlates with the Artinskian - that's assuming the given date is correct:

Not as nice as some of the other examples I'm seeing of this material, but not bad...

 

[Notidanodon]

Wow! Nice work

[Wrangellian]

CARBONIFEROUS, PENNSYLVANIAN:

 

Assuming the dates on these first two are correct, these are both Gzhelian, and since they're North American they're also Virgilian, though I read that the Finis Shale occurs on the Virgilian/Missourian boundary? which is more like 304m.y.   I can't say that I have anything from the Missourian.

These two from 'Uncle Siphuncle' Dan:

 

Moscovian = Desmoinesian:

The Tully Monster! (what's left of him). Two light-angles...

 

Bashkirian:

Not sure if this would be Atokan or Morrowan as the boundary occurs within the Bashkirian, and they keep revising the age of the Heath Shale - it used to be uppermost Mississippian.

Another two-for-one deal with this stage, both North American items.

 

These I've got down as from the N.A. Morrowan stage:

Pretty sure these are from Shamalama too.

[Wrangellian]

CARBONIFEROUS, MISSISSIPPIAN:

 

Serpukhovian:

My only Mississippian plant. Much harder to get than Pennsylvanian ones, for some reason.

 

Viséan:

(detail)

 

Now I believe these are Tournaisian, if they're form Tournay, Belgium:

Acquired from 'Seaforth' Pat.

 

As for North American stages, these are Chesterian, but not sure which stage that would equate to in the Global scheme (either Serphukhovian or Visean).

[Scylla]

Very nice

[Wrangellian]

Still more to go! And it's getting tougher now...

 

DEVONIAN:

 

Frasnian (Upper Dev.):

From Fitch1979 (Dries)

 

Can't decide between these two from the Givetian:

Blurry label says Heliophyllum halli with Hederella canadensis (epibionts), Moscow Fm/Windom Shale, etc. NY... From mikeymig

 

Eifelian:

[Wrangellian]

More DEVONIAN (Lower):

 

Emsian:

 

Pragian:

Piece of the famous Rhynie Chert of Scotland, containing early land plants

 

Lochkovian = Helderbergian in North America (I believe):

Collected by Lyla (can't remember her screen name offhand), prep by Malcolm.

[Wrangellian]

SILURIAN:

 

I gather these are Homerian (upper Wenlockian), which must be Lockportian on the N.A. chart:

The 2 brachs from Sophie, originally 'Nimravis' Ralph? All 3 items Waldron Shale, Indiana.

 

Telychian:

This trilobite is NOT lemon yellow in real life.

 

[Wrangellian]

I'll have to continue this later today. Ordovician, Cambrian and some Precambrian yet to come.

[Tidgy's Dad]

Very nice indeed. 

Love the Tabulipora, Conularia and the Rhynie chert piece in particular. 

And nice to see a few brachs in there. 

Eagerly awaiting your older specimens. 

 

[deutscheben]

What a wonderful idea, and a really concrete way to explore geological time. Also, it shows you have a very diverse and deep collection- and there are some really beauties in there! I can't wait to see the rest. 

[Miocene_Mason]

Very cool! I’m trying to collect fossils from every time period represented in Maryland. Oligocene, Pleistocene, Cambrian, and Ordovician left.

[Uncle Siphuncle]

Representing every stage is very ambitious.  The best I have done is representing every period of the Paleozoic and Mesozoic, and each epoch of the Cenozoic, all self collected.  I think it would be fun to collect every stage on Vancouver Island, as there is great variety snd wonderful preservation there.

[Ludwigia]

Great project! You've inspired me to check out my own collection in this respect. I've got quite a bit, but Precambrium is practically a blank for me.

[MikeR]

6 hours ago, Wrangellian said:

Of course it's complicated by factors such as knowing which stage your fossil is from. Some fossils come to you with a North American or European stage such as Stehpanian or Richmondian, and if that stage overlaps two or more one of the Global ones then I can't be sure which one it is, without more research. Also an even greater number of fossils come to you that only say, eg. "Lower Devonian" or even just "Permian", and again, more research could enable me to fill in some more gaps with fossils already in my collection. I have already tried to research some of these and come up blank. Some of the entries here are educated guesses but if I'm really uncertain I'll leave it out until I've done more research (or question asking).

 

Cool concept.

 

The North American Stages on your chart through the Cenozoic are the North American Land Mammal Stages.  There are also different European Land Mammal Stages.  Below is the latest official time scale from the International Committee on Stratigraphy LINK which is updated twice a year.  All other stages are considered regional stages and typically a Google search can tell you where the local stages are on the chart.

 

Mike

 

[Jeffrey P]

What can you say: A very impressive comprehensive collection! Congratulations and thanks for sharing. A lot of cool eye candy for us to savor and enjoy. Must give you a lot of pleasure as well.