lakoneko Posted October 4, 2020 Share Posted October 4, 2020 I found this fossil back in 2014 at Cedar Creek Reservoir in Franklin County, Alabama. I was told the fossils we'd find there would be Mississippian, contained in Bangor Limestone. When I first found this I thought it might be a trilobite butt or a shark tooth and I recently decided to try to clean it, and now I don't know what it is there are two depressions under each prong, and the prongs bow back up (couldn't really get a side pic) The pictures show the uncovered fossil (the lighter material was what was initially uncovered). Thank you for any assistance! On a separate note: I also feel terrible that I ended up damaging it a little (chipped the left edge on the bottom most segment) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
connorp Posted October 4, 2020 Share Posted October 4, 2020 Definitely a shark tooth, and a quite nice one at that. Maybe Poecilodus, but I'm not positive. Great find. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Dente Posted October 4, 2020 Share Posted October 4, 2020 Looks like a Petalodontid shark tooth. Maybe Fissodus? Picture is from here-http://naka.na.coocan.jp/petalodus3.html 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erose Posted October 4, 2020 Share Posted October 4, 2020 6 hours ago, connorp said: Definitely a shark tooth, and a quite nice one at that. Maybe Poecilodus, but I'm not positive. Great find. 2 hours ago, Al Dente said: Looks like a Petalodontid shark tooth. Maybe Fissodus? Picture is from here-http://naka.na.coocan.jp/petalodus3.html The symmetry of the specimen suggests a Petalodontid like Fissodus more than Poecilodus but IMHO it still isn't a great match for either. COOL fossil! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miocene_Mason Posted October 4, 2020 Share Posted October 4, 2020 Epic find!!! “...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...
Tidgy's Dad Posted October 4, 2020 Share Posted October 4, 2020 Nice find, most interesting. Life's Good! Tortoise Friend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huntonia Posted October 4, 2020 Share Posted October 4, 2020 Very cool, I don't have much knowledge in these types of sharks teeth but they always fascinate me. 13 hours ago, lakoneko said: On a separate note: I also feel terrible that I ended up damaging it a little (chipped the left edge on the bottom most segment) I wouldn't worry about it, mistakes happen, this one still looks great to me! Are you planning on doing anything more with the surrounding fossils? I think just a little cleaning work would really make this piece look incredible. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bullsnake Posted October 4, 2020 Share Posted October 4, 2020 Hard to tell on my phone but it looks like a dentition to me. I think its too early for Orodus, but reminds me of it. Really nice find, regardless! 1 Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lakoneko Posted October 5, 2020 Author Share Posted October 5, 2020 23 hours ago, connorp said: Definitely a shark tooth, and a quite nice one at that. Maybe Poecilodus, but I'm not positive. Great find. 18 hours ago, Al Dente said: Looks like a Petalodontid shark tooth. Maybe Fissodus? Picture is from here-http://naka.na.coocan.jp/petalodus3.html 16 hours ago, erose said: The symmetry of the specimen suggests a Petalodontid like Fissodus more than Poecilodus but IMHO it still isn't a great match for either. COOL fossil! 9 hours ago, Bullsnake said: Hard to tell on my phone but it looks like a dentition to me. I think its too early for Orodus, but reminds me of it. Really nice find, regardless! Thanks everybody for the great suggestions. I hadn't realized shark teeth could be ribbed like this, very interesting! I'll definitely be sure to look more into it and maybe reach out to my old Paleo professor. If I get a definitive ID before someone else does, I'll be sure to update everyone here! 10 hours ago, Huntonia said: Very cool, I don't have much knowledge in these types of sharks teeth but they always fascinate me. I wouldn't worry about it, mistakes happen, this one still looks great to me! Are you planning on doing anything more with the surrounding fossils? I think just a little cleaning work would really make this piece look incredible. I am pretty new to preparation. This was my first attempt, just using a metal pick from a dermatology kit to chip away at the limestone (which is primarily a dense bryozoan/crinoid hash with a few harder embedded shells and blastoids). The slab it's attached to is pretty big compared to the fossil, so I would like to trim it down and clean it some more, but I'm not sure how best to proceed. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huntonia Posted October 5, 2020 Share Posted October 5, 2020 1 hour ago, lakoneko said: I am pretty new to preparation. This was my first attempt, just using a metal pick from a dermatology kit to chip away at the limestone (which is primarily a dense bryozoan/crinoid hash with a few harder embedded shells and blastoids). The slab it's attached to is pretty big compared to the fossil, so I would like to trim it down and clean it some more, but I'm not sure how best to proceed Looks good for hand tools! I have no real experience trimming matrix, I'd imagine you'd need a pretty decent saw. To clean surrounding fossils ideally you'd want an air abrasive but depending on how fragile those fossils are a toothbrush and some running water might be enough to make a big difference. Keep at it with the prep and don't beat yourself up over the little mistakes. I'm pretty new to the process as well, here's a fail from my first real project, broke a section right out of the claw It happens, just go slow and don't sweat it 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LabRatKing Posted October 5, 2020 Share Posted October 5, 2020 It is a really, really nice tooth for sure...though I'm fascinated by the entire substrate. That matrix is amazing looking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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