Wolf13542 Posted December 21, 2009 Share Posted December 21, 2009 Is this a calamite? I want to make sure before going behind my house and laughing at all the tiny calamites I find there. This was found In Northeast PA on a Lake Erie beach. On the back it just looks like a plain grey river rock. The coin(in case it's not clear) is an American quarter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspex Posted December 21, 2009 Share Posted December 21, 2009 I vote yes "There has been an alarming increase in the number of things I know nothing about." - Ashleigh Ellwood Brilliant “Try to learn something about everything and everything about something.” - Thomas Henry Huxley >Paleontology is an evolving science. >May your wonders never cease! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archimedes Posted December 22, 2009 Share Posted December 22, 2009 looks like a piece of a coral Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspex Posted December 22, 2009 Share Posted December 22, 2009 looks like a piece of a coral Ya' know what? You're right. The "ribbing" looks like very eroded coral structure. 'Splains the material it appears to be preserved in, too. "There has been an alarming increase in the number of things I know nothing about." - Ashleigh Ellwood Brilliant “Try to learn something about everything and everything about something.” - Thomas Henry Huxley >Paleontology is an evolving science. >May your wonders never cease! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicholas Posted December 22, 2009 Share Posted December 22, 2009 I'm looking at some of my Calamites specimens now on my desk and I'm really leaning towards coral. If it is a calamites, it is VERY worn... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicholas Posted December 22, 2009 Share Posted December 22, 2009 There are some types of Horn corals which seem too preserve with similar segmentation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shamalama Posted December 22, 2009 Share Posted December 22, 2009 I agree that it's a coral of some time, probably a horn coral. It looks like it's preserved in limestone, while most plant fossils are found in near shore rocks like shale and sandstone. Also here are no Carboniferous aged rocks near (or north of in case your thinking glaciers) Lake Erie to contribute such a specimen anyway. Does the piece have a cross section that looks a little like a bike wheel with spokes coming from the center or more of a honeycomb pattern? -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 McPheeIf I'm going to drive safely, I can't do geology. - John McPheeCheck out my Blog for more fossils I've found: http://viewsofthemahantango.blogspot.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyguy784 Posted December 22, 2009 Share Posted December 22, 2009 Agree with Shama, need and end picture. I can see where you'd think Calamites, but agree the material doesn't look right. Did they move Lake Erie, why I remember back when I was a kid it was north west pa. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicholas Posted December 22, 2009 Share Posted December 22, 2009 Here is a photo of one of my better Calamites for reference: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolf13542 Posted December 22, 2009 Author Share Posted December 22, 2009 Horn coral? Wow! Eire had coral! That's so cool to think about! Here are some other pictures of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspex Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 Horn coral? Wow! Eire had coral! Well, that was a loooooong time before Erie (or even the N. Am. continent) came to be. "There has been an alarming increase in the number of things I know nothing about." - Ashleigh Ellwood Brilliant “Try to learn something about everything and everything about something.” - Thomas Henry Huxley >Paleontology is an evolving science. >May your wonders never cease! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frozen_turkey Posted December 25, 2009 Share Posted December 25, 2009 Well, that was a loooooong time before Erie (or even the N. Am. continent) came to be. I think the last time n. am. continent had horn coral was back in the divonian period. -Frozen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now