Trip to the Dakota Formation and Greenhorn Formation

[Darbi]

Today I had a good time with fossil hunting at the Dakota formation (early Cenomanian) sites and Greenhorn formation (Cenomanian-early Turonian) sites in Ellsworth county, Kansas.

 

Typical view of the local countryside, but still beautiful!

 

I keep finding these weird vertebrae-like rocks, clustered in this particular site and not other sites. I suspect it's not vertebrae but I still can't figure this out yet.

 

These mysterious vertebrae-like rocks...reminds me of shark centrum and crinoid stems but I don't think it's them. This site is Dakota formation. I took these home just in case it is identified as fossils later.

 

I think it's fossil vegetation of some sort. Maybe reed or horsetail? I found these jumbled at different locations but put it together and it fitted like a puzzle. I took it home and will be prepped. This is from Dakota formation.

 

Inoceramus from Greenhorn formation. One of the best specimen of this genus I have found so far! Took this one home.

 

 

Another Inoceramus, pretty good specimen! I also took this one home.

 

Tiny fossil in the center. Greenhorn formation again.

 

This tiny fossil, image enlarged and the ridges/grooves are visible. No idea what it was. I took this one home and will be put under the microscope for identification efforts.

 

The storm was brewing at the distance as the cold front is heading south. It was lightning and I was at near the top of hill, the road would be impassable if wet, so it was time for me to go home!

 

I will be posting some of those fossils on the Fossils ID section soon after it is cleaned up. Cheers!

[jpc]

I think your little 'verts' may be concretionary.  And the little thing looks like fish scale.  

 

NIce scenery pix.

 

[RuMert]

Nice steppe with windmills, unique atmosphere for fossil hunting

[Monica]

I really like your Inoceramus 

[Darbi]

On 7/26/2020 at 11:12 PM, jpc said:

I think your little 'verts' may be concretionary.  And the little thing looks like fish scale.  

 

NIce scenery pix.

 

Thank you!

On 7/26/2020 at 11:15 PM, RuMert said:

Nice steppe with windmills, unique atmosphere for fossil hunting

Oh yes! A lot of people outside Kansas don't know much about this state. They think it's just vast sea of wheat and maize fields; which, is true in some parts of the state, but there's plenty of hidden gems and beautiful sceneries.

On 7/27/2020 at 5:44 AM, Monica said:

I really like your Inoceramus 

Thank you! 

[Darbi]

My Inoceramus sp. and possibly vegetation-like fossils are all washed up and looking better. I decided not to prep any further on Inoceramus fossils, I like it the way it is found. I am planning on gluing together the large pieces of vegetation fossil: they fit together like the puzzles and the smaller pieces doesn't but probably are part of the same fossil.

[Darbi]

I regret to report that the 'fish scale' is accidentally destroyed during the prep. I gave it a quick vinegar bath to remove the residue and make the scale more exposed. After a few seconds, I brushed it with a single stroke and lo, it came off and disappeared! It's probably now among the dirty dishes in the sink.