sandynva Posted June 25, 2020 Share Posted June 25, 2020 Hello there fossil experts! I'm a total newbie and just went on my first fossil hunt --a couple hours at Purse State Park. I found a bunch (like 60!) shark teeth, mostly tiny but i'm still thrilled. But i also found some things that look like fossil shells, and one thing that looks like fossil scales, that i was hoping you could help me ID. The first picture is what looked to me like fossil shells, but are they? are there fossil shells at purse state park? most of the online discussion of finds there seems to be of teeth, rays, and mouth plates and doesn't mention shells so i wasn't sure. They were mostly found about halfway between the water's edge and the cliffs. the things in the second picture (with two large items) were found basically at the water's edge. Are these fossils? if so, what are they? i thought the one on the left sort of looked like underbelly scales. I also found two small mystery objects which are in picture 2, below the tape measure. Any ideas what these are? they are smooth and seem heavy. Thank you so much! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miocene_Mason Posted June 25, 2020 Share Posted June 25, 2020 Ostrea compressirostra, a type of oyster common during the Paleocene. The little squiggly things are concretions, one looks iron based and the black one is likely phosphatic. 2 “...whilst this planet has gone cycling on according to the fixed law of gravity, from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been and are being evolved.” ~ Charles Darwin Happy hunting, Mason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeR Posted June 25, 2020 Share Posted June 25, 2020 2 hours ago, WhodamanHD said: Ostrea compressirostra, a type of oyster common during the Paleocene. The little squiggly things are concretions, one looks iron based and the black one is likely phosphatic. Ostrea compressirostra is a Lower Pliocene bivalve. Ostrea alepidota is from the Upper Paleocene Piscataway Member of the Aquia Formation near Purse State Park. 1 "A problem solved is a problem caused"--Karl Pilkington "I was dead for millions of years before I was born and it never inconvenienced me a bit." -- Mark Twain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandynva Posted June 25, 2020 Author Share Posted June 25, 2020 So the things in the first picture are fossil oysters? That’s so neat, thank you! And thank you for identifying the squiggles as well. Are the two bigger items in the second picture, the one with the squiggles, also oysters or something else? Thanks again! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeR Posted June 25, 2020 Share Posted June 25, 2020 1 hour ago, sandynva said: Are the two bigger items in the second picture, the one with the squiggles, also oysters or something else? Thanks again! Look like worn oysters. 1 "A problem solved is a problem caused"--Karl Pilkington "I was dead for millions of years before I was born and it never inconvenienced me a bit." -- Mark Twain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandynva Posted June 26, 2020 Author Share Posted June 26, 2020 Thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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