Archie Posted November 1, 2020 Share Posted November 1, 2020 Hi everyone, its been a while since I posted here so wanted to share some of my favorite finds from the past few months. Ive mainly been hunting in the marine Blackhall Limestone at various sites across the Midland Valley of Scotland. Although there are several fossiliferous marine limestone and shale bands of similar age and depositional environment in the Midland Valley, the Blackhall seems to be by far the most productive and also tends to have the best preservation. Ive mainly been looking for chondrichthyan teeth, crinoid cups and jellyfish so I'll post these first, I have had a few nice finds of other invertebrate groups recently though so I'll get some pics of these shortly. First up, the jellyfish. This is the largest Ive found so far at 80mm across. Another larger specimen at 60mm across. An average sized one at 32mm. And one of the smallest so far at 21mm. 22 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archie Posted November 1, 2020 Author Share Posted November 1, 2020 Now the crinoids, Ive been having a lot of luck with finding cups recently and found more in a few months than I usually do in several years! I'm waiting for better light to photograph the smaller specimens (Scotland's weather has been characteristically grim recently) so here are the larger examples. Ureocrinus bockshii (Geinitz), 9mm. Unidentified cup in crinoidal limestone. Cup 11mm across. Another unidentified cup, by far the largest Ive ever found at 33mm across. 24 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monica Posted November 1, 2020 Share Posted November 1, 2020 The jellyfish are gorgeous, and those itty bitty crinoid calyces are adorable! Thanks for sharing them with us! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted November 1, 2020 Share Posted November 1, 2020 Fantastic finds, Sam! Good to see you back and posting such wonderful fossils! Tim - VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER VFOTM --- APRIL - 2015 __________________________________________________ "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." John Muir ~ ~ ~ ~ ><))))( *> About Me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr.cheese Posted November 1, 2020 Share Posted November 1, 2020 The 11mm cup is fascinating! Been staring at it for ages! Very nice find and yes, yes I am jealous! Though I might have to visit and have a try for myself! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archie Posted November 1, 2020 Author Share Posted November 1, 2020 And finally the chondrichtyan teeth. I haven't been finding as many teeth lately but I'm really pleased with what I have found, a few friends I collect with have also kindly gifted/traded me teeth they have found recently for minerals or other teeth. First, my largest and best preserved Ctenoptychius lobatus so far. This is a lateral tooth in lingual view. 9mm from base to tip. A lovely and rare 14mm Deltoptychius acutus tooth plate found by my friend Dagmara at an exposure of the Blackhall Limestone near Glasgow. The depositional environment was very different here to the other exposures I hunt and was a brick clay pit rather than a lime works. Siderite nodules like this one are common and there are lots of loose and well preserved bivalves, gastropods and goniatites which are really rare at other sites, I'll post some of these shortly. Another rare Holocephalan tooth plate, this time found by my friend Katie who I do all my hunting with these days. Katie is more interested in Elasmobranches and knows how much I love crusher teeth so really kindly let me keep this after prepping it for her! Copodus sp. presumed upper dentition, 18mm across. 20 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archie Posted November 1, 2020 Author Share Posted November 1, 2020 24 minutes ago, Monica said: The jellyfish are gorgeous, and those itty bitty crinoid calyces are adorable! Thanks for sharing them with us! Thanks Monica! I've really been getting into crinoids recently! 16 minutes ago, Fossildude19 said: Fantastic finds, Sam! Good to see you back and posting such wonderful fossils! Thanks Tim! Glad to be back and planning on getting a lot more posted! 16 minutes ago, mr.cheese said: The 11mm cup is fascinating! Been staring at it for ages! Very nice find and yes, yes I am jealous! Though I might have to visit and have a try for myself! Thank you! I think this is the find Ive stared the most at recently there are loads of great exposures of this bed around! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackson g Posted November 1, 2020 Share Posted November 1, 2020 Nice teeth, especially the first one. The unidentified crinoid looks similar to Aglaocrinus I've found here, but I'm not familiar with your area's fauna. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TqB Posted November 1, 2020 Share Posted November 1, 2020 You have been doing well, Sam! Gorgeous specimens of everything. Tarquin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archie Posted November 1, 2020 Author Share Posted November 1, 2020 Another Holocephalan that's a new species for me, Platyxystrodus angustus with an Archeocidaris sp. urchin plate. Tooth plate 21mm long. Its a bit dinged but pretty much complete. A little Cladodont tooth thats another new species for me from this bed, not managed to pin down an ID for it yet. 11mm across the base. Another tooth found by a friend who kindly gifted it to me after prepping it for them, it didnt split out too well with the base and basal ridge coming away so had to stick it all back together and prep it out. Petalodus acuminatus, lateral tooth in labial view. 30mm across. 18 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kane Posted November 1, 2020 Share Posted November 1, 2020 It's great to see you back, Archie, and it certainly seems you haven't been idle! The teeth alone show that your efforts have paid off! ...How to Philosophize with a Hammer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archie Posted November 1, 2020 Author Share Posted November 1, 2020 18 minutes ago, Jackson g said: Nice teeth, especially the first one. The unidentified crinoid looks similar to Aglaocrinus I've found here, but I'm not familiar with your area's fauna. Thank you! Thanks for the suggestion, I need to find more literature on the crinoids of this bed I'm currently hopeless with IDs for them. 16 minutes ago, TqB said: You have been doing well, Sam! Gorgeous specimens of everything. Thanks Tarquin! I feel like Ive been having a lot of luck lately! 6 minutes ago, Kane said: It's great to see you back, Archie, and it certainly seems you haven't been idle! The teeth alone show that your efforts have paid off! Thanks Kane much appreciated! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Notidanodon Posted November 1, 2020 Share Posted November 1, 2020 Great finds, I’ve never seen a cladodont tooth from Scotland before! They must be rare 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archie Posted November 1, 2020 Author Share Posted November 1, 2020 5 minutes ago, will stevenson said: Great finds, I’ve never seen a cladodont tooth from Scotland before! They must be rare Thanks Will! They're a lot less common than petalodonts and holocephans but they do turn up from time to time, sadly the cusps are usually missing though. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archie Posted November 1, 2020 Author Share Posted November 1, 2020 My most recent find and definitely my favorite of the year so far, a large at 32mm across and complete Petalodus acuminatus anterior tooth in labial view. This was a really lucky find as it was in two recently broken halves of a large block of massive/unbedded limestone that I usually dont try and tackle, and none of the tooth turned out to be missing after prep. I had to glue the two halves back together, cut the block down to a reasonable size then prep it out (I chose the labial side as the basal ridge on the lingual side is much harder to prep). I ground the matrix down smooth but didnt polish it to show off the crinoids and I'm really pleased with the result! Anterior teeth dont turn up all that often and this is definitely the best example of one Ive found. 18 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdp Posted November 1, 2020 Share Posted November 1, 2020 11 hours ago, Archie said: A little Cladodont tooth thats another new species for me from this bed, not managed to pin down an ID for it yet. 11mm across the base. This is definitely a hybodontiform based on the coarse crenulations on the tooth crowns. I can't find a record of a tooth like this in the lower part of the Mississippian, though. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archie Posted November 1, 2020 Author Share Posted November 1, 2020 Thanks @jdp, now that you point it out it definitely is. I'll try and see if the NMS or the Hunterian have anything like it in their collections. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fossilsonwheels Posted November 1, 2020 Share Posted November 1, 2020 Great fossils and informative post ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpc Posted November 1, 2020 Share Posted November 1, 2020 Great stuff Thanks for sharing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FossilNerd Posted November 2, 2020 Share Posted November 2, 2020 Awesome stuff Archie! That 11mm cup in the crinoidal limestone is epic and the 33mm one is a monster! The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it. -Neil deGrasse Tyson Everyone you will ever meet knows something you don't. -Bill Nye (The Science Guy) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minnbuckeye Posted November 2, 2020 Share Posted November 2, 2020 I just came up from the basement where I have been extracting sharks teeth from Mississippian limestone of Iowa. When I sat down to look at the fossil forum, your post was first!!!! What a lovely post. Your finds are wonderful. I especially enjoy the crinoid calyx with the crinoid debris surrounding it. Though the many sharks teeth are just as impressive. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimB88 Posted November 2, 2020 Share Posted November 2, 2020 Awesome finds! And great job prepping that last Petalodus! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackson g Posted November 2, 2020 Share Posted November 2, 2020 On 11/1/2020 at 11:18 AM, Archie said: My most recent find and definitely my favorite of the year so far, a large at 32mm across and complete Petalodus acuminatus anterior tooth in labial view. This was a really lucky find as it was in two recently broken halves of a large block of massive/unbedded limestone that I usually dont try and tackle, and none of the tooth turned out to be missing after prep. I had to glue the two halves back together, cut the block down to a reasonable size then prep it out (I chose the labial side as the basal ridge on the lingual side is much harder to prep). I ground the matrix down smooth but didnt polish it to show off the crinoids and I'm really pleased with the result! Anterior teeth dont turn up all that often and this is definitely the best example of one Ive found. I enjoy the fact you left the encrinite stone unpolished. It really compliments the tooth, and the prep was done so tastefully! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffrey P Posted November 2, 2020 Share Posted November 2, 2020 You continue to extract some exceptionally fine fossils from the Carboniferous and prepare them exquisitely. Thanks for sharing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ludwigia Posted November 2, 2020 Share Posted November 2, 2020 Very nice finds! You definitely have some FOTM material there. Greetings from the Lake of Constance. Roger http://www.steinkern.de/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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