Ramona Posted October 23, 2020 Author Share Posted October 23, 2020 In regards to the ball shape, sometimes I get so caught up in my macro photography that it helps to take a step back and see the larger picture for a change. For instance, I shot a photo of the topography of the rock surrounding this fossil and I saw another one that I had previously not seen before. I may be seeing things that aren't there, but it looks like there may be a "vacant space" next to it? Did something move from one place and end up where it is now? Thanks so much for helping me study this fascinating rock! I know it's not shark's teeth or anything, but it's still cool! Ramona Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramona Posted October 23, 2020 Author Share Posted October 23, 2020 And as I was scrolling over this photo, I noticed that this small rock was a different texture and shape. You can compare the size via the measuring tape in a photo above, where I measured the ball thing. Is this a flake of some other type of rock, perhaps? Thanks! Ramona Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockwood Posted October 23, 2020 Share Posted October 23, 2020 [Wait a minute. This lady is a photographer. Is this ? , no it's not April first. Could she be messing with us ?] Seriously though; I think the balls are a preservational feature caused by the interplay of the colony's internal structure and the propagation of mineral crystals during mineralization. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramona Posted October 23, 2020 Author Share Posted October 23, 2020 7 minutes ago, Rockwood said: [Wait a minute. This lady is a photographer. Is this ? , no it's not April first. Could she be messing with us ?] Seriously though; I think the balls are a preservational feature caused by the interplay of the colony's internal structure and the propagation of mineral crystals during mineralization. LOL Not messin' with you - I just shoot 'em as I see 'em! Well, I actually shoot 'em so I CAN see 'em. Hard to see the tiny things without the help of my macro lens. That's fascinating - a preservational feature! I just wish you could do a video or something and explain the whole process to me... I am learning bits and pieces of how these "scenes" come together. So, it could be a way of the colony actually preserving/protecting itself, along with the process of the formation of mineral crystals? Any idea what the thingy up in the corner is? Thanks for your patience! Are you a teacher by trade? ;-) Ramona Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockwood Posted October 23, 2020 Share Posted October 23, 2020 12 minutes ago, Ramona said: So, it could be a way of the colony actually preserving/protecting itself My thought is that it has more to do with the geometry of the colony as new zooids bud. I think the result is the creation of what acts in the same manner as a bedding plain due to the orientation of micro crystals. Mind you it's just my thought, for what it may be worth. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockwood Posted October 23, 2020 Share Posted October 23, 2020 19 minutes ago, Ramona said: Are you a teacher by trade? I'm a caretaker of real estate. Give me a tractor and chainsaw. My mother was a teacher. I have been considering volunteering, in some capacity that may involve educating, at some fossil site when I retire though. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockwood Posted October 23, 2020 Share Posted October 23, 2020 31 minutes ago, Ramona said: Any idea what the thingy up in the corner is? No. But if I get a free shot it would be bivalve shell fragment. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramona Posted October 24, 2020 Author Share Posted October 24, 2020 On 10/23/2020 at 11:48 AM, Rockwood said: No. But if I get a free shot it would be bivalve shell fragment. You get as many free shots as you want! And I think it's a great idea for you to volunteer! I'm learning a lot, but also having more and more questions! Is there a good video series on the formation of bryozoans? I would love to study these in particular? So, are these impression fossils or are they the actual creatures themselves? And you used quite a few terms that intrigued me... I am hesitant to ask about each and every one of them, though! I am going to attach a couple more photos to see if I can find something that fits what you asked about - a fossil encrusting on another fossil. ;-) Ramona Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramona Posted October 24, 2020 Author Share Posted October 24, 2020 This is a different rock, but from the same area. I THINK it is encrusted with trepostome bryozoans, but maybe in layers? Or are they encrusted on a bivalve? The first image is an end shot so you can see the different layers. It also shows the detail of the tiny dots along the ridges that makes me think it is bryozoan? But then, what are the egg like objects on it? and what are the different layers of? Just plain ol' rock? Is there such a thing?! Ramona Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramona Posted October 24, 2020 Author Share Posted October 24, 2020 When it comes to the difference between impression fossils and the "actual creatures", I guess this illustrates the difference? This is tiny - about 1mm or so - and I dug it up from the bottom of our creek bed. I guess this is a collection of actual bits and pieces of bryozoan creatures, while some of the other things I am seeing on rocks are impression fossils? Am I starting to "get it" yet? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockwood Posted October 24, 2020 Share Posted October 24, 2020 2 hours ago, Ramona said: I guess this is a collection of actual bits and pieces of bryozoan creatures, while some of the other things I am seeing on rocks are impression fossils? Am I starting to "get it" yet? Well, not quite. These appear to be mostly crinoid columnals. Body fossils all. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockwood Posted October 24, 2020 Share Posted October 24, 2020 3 hours ago, Ramona said: But then, what are the egg like objects on it? and what are the different layers of? Just plain ol' rock? Is there such a thing?! The "eggs" are beekite on a brachiopod (I think) shell. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramona Posted October 24, 2020 Author Share Posted October 24, 2020 2 minutes ago, Rockwood said: Well, not quite. These appear to be mostly crinoid columnals. Body fossils all. Well, okay... they are at least bits and pieces of something, right?!! LOL As opposed to impressions of something? Either that or it's spaghetti-O's from the bottom of the creek bed! Ramona Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramona Posted October 24, 2020 Author Share Posted October 24, 2020 3 minutes ago, Rockwood said: The "eggs" are beekite on a brachiopod (I think) shell. Ohhhh, you sent me googling again!! I had never heard of beekite before! That is so cool!! Thanks!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockwood Posted October 24, 2020 Share Posted October 24, 2020 4 minutes ago, Ramona said: As opposed to impressions of something? If it's there it's a body fossil. If it's the hole where something used to be it's a mold fossil. I only use the term impression because 'they' made me. I don't think it is accurate at all virtually ever. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramona Posted October 24, 2020 Author Share Posted October 24, 2020 2 minutes ago, Rockwood said: If it's there it's a body fossil. If it's the hole where something used to be it's a mold fossil. I only use the term impression because 'they' made me. I don't think it is accurate at all virtually ever. So what about this huge rock that I have that I am taking photos of - the one with all of the trepostome bryozoans (ohhhhh, did I spell that right?!!)? Am I seeing body fossils or mold fossils on the rock? I just learned about silicification, by the way, as I was googling beekite! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramona Posted October 24, 2020 Author Share Posted October 24, 2020 On 10/22/2020 at 3:40 PM, Rockwood said: I think the change in preservation could possibly be the result of the different mineral composition of the burrow fossil at the center of the ball. There's a xenomorph in there. It just needs a good CT scan set on fry to bring it to light. Maybe. I've been meaning to ask you what a burrow fossil is, too!! Might as well keep you busy while I'm at it, LOL!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockwood Posted October 24, 2020 Share Posted October 24, 2020 4 minutes ago, Ramona said: Am I seeing body fossils or mold fossils on the rock? Body. In that instance the difference is in whether the zooecia (bryozoan houses) are empty (weathered free from) or filled with matrix. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockwood Posted October 24, 2020 Share Posted October 24, 2020 7 minutes ago, Ramona said: I've been meaning to ask you what a burrow fossil is, too!! Might as well keep you busy while I'm at it, LOL!! The hole a creature excavated in which to live. Most often indicated by the lithified sediment which filled it being preserved so as to be distinct from it surrounding. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TqB Posted October 25, 2020 Share Posted October 25, 2020 12 hours ago, Ramona said: Am I seeing body fossils or mold fossils on the rock? Body, as Rockwood says. You're seeing the original structure of the calcite skeleton which will have very often been recrystallised and/or replaced over time but preserving much or most of the original structure. If that fell or dissolved out of the matrix leaving just the imprint, you'd have an external mould fossil. 2 Tarquin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockwood Posted October 25, 2020 Share Posted October 25, 2020 If you pressed a nickel in silly putty you would have an imprint also. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramona Posted November 1, 2020 Author Share Posted November 1, 2020 On 10/24/2020 at 5:35 PM, Rockwood said: The hole a creature excavated in which to live. Most often indicated by the lithified sediment which filled it being preserved so as to be distinct from it surrounding. How did you learn all of this information? I want to learn stuff without having to bug folks like you all the time, LOL!! Thanks for being patient and answering all of my questions, though!! Ramona Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abyssunder Posted November 1, 2020 Share Posted November 1, 2020 On 25.10.2020 at 1:08 AM, Rockwood said: The "eggs" are beekite on a brachiopod (I think) shell. I' m late to the party, but I agree that are beekite on some shell structure e.g. brachiopod. " We are not separate and independent entities, but like links in a chain, and we could not by any means be what we are without those who went before us and showed us the way. " Thomas Mann My Library Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockwood Posted November 1, 2020 Share Posted November 1, 2020 52 minutes ago, Ramona said: How did you learn all of this information? I want to learn stuff without having to bug folks like you all the time, LOL!! Thanks for being patient and answering all of my questions, though!! Ramona One of the primary ways is that I read books, slowly, but steadily. There are quite a few available that are geared toward the average person as well as being of interest to professionals. It's also hard to give out information on here without gaining more. I love helping people who want to learn almost as much as a good argument with people who know. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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