mikeymig Posted November 27, 2020 Share Posted November 27, 2020 A large, well preserved, fossil Lightning Whelk (Sinistrofulgur roseae, Belle Glade Member of the Bermont Formation, 800,000 years old) that I dug up recently 11/16/2020 in Florida full of bivalve shells (Chione elevata). The bleached spot on the back of this large (185mm) whelk is the only part of the shell that was protruding from the ground. I cleaned the sand away from the clam shells with a toothpick and small brush then added a little glue in strategic spots. I posted my shell on social media and received great news from Dr.Edward Petuch (Oceanographer and Paleontologist) - Edward J. Petuch judging from the sculpture of large ribs and cords (as seen in the aperture shot), this whelk is actually a Sinistrofulgur roseae from the Belle Glade Member of the Bermont Formation; actually a rarely-seen shell, so a good find!---and the chiones are Chione elevata; erosa is a much older Pliocene species---these fossils are around 800,000 years old and date from the Ionian Age of the mid-Pleistocene---true S. contrarium is only found in Pliocene beds (like the Pinecrest Member of the Tamiami Formation) and looks really different from its descendant species, roseae---contrarium are the large, smooth whelks (no strong cords on the body whorl) that you see from the quarries in Sarasota----so, roseae is a much better find! Edward J. Petuch Of the 8 known fossil species of Sinistrofulgur in Florida (early Pliocene to late Pleistocene), S. roseae is one of the rarest species Edward J. Petuch Michael Mig I was really happy to see that you found a roseae---I haven't seen any over here for years, mainly because the best digs out near Belle Glade (the stratotype locality for the Belle Glade Member) are no longer being excavated---and now you found one!----also, the little Brayfield book is really outdated now and the geology is incorrect (not much was known about this area in 1986)---the San Diego Club is selling the "Atlas of Florida Fossil Shells" for a good price----that book shows most of the Florida fossil shell fauna, but the geology isn't that great (a lot was still unknown in 1994)----for the updated geology, see if you can find a copy of "The Geology of the Everglades and Adjacent Areas" (CRC Press, 2007)---that book also has lots of fossil shells in it, including a nice photo of a roseae. 14 Many times I've wondered how much there is to know. led zeppelin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeymig Posted November 27, 2020 Author Share Posted November 27, 2020 Prepped and stabilized. HAPPY COLLECTING 22 Many times I've wondered how much there is to know. led zeppelin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnJ Posted November 27, 2020 Share Posted November 27, 2020 @MikeR The human mind has the ability to believe anything is true. - JJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeymig Posted November 27, 2020 Author Share Posted November 27, 2020 Okay some more pics 11 Many times I've wondered how much there is to know. led zeppelin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tidgy's Dad Posted November 27, 2020 Share Posted November 27, 2020 That's beautiful. Kind of fits your hand rather nicely too. Life's Good! Tortoise Friend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted November 27, 2020 Share Posted November 27, 2020 Wonderful fossil, Mikey! Great preservation. 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...
JamieLynn Posted November 27, 2020 Share Posted November 27, 2020 wow....what a find!! www.fossil-quest.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Castle Rock Posted November 27, 2020 Share Posted November 27, 2020 Let me add my WOW!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coco Posted November 27, 2020 Share Posted November 27, 2020 Wonderful shell, and like a cherry on a cake you have plenty of bivalves in it ! Lucky man ! Coco ---------------------- OUTIL POUR MESURER VOS FOSSILES : ici Ma bibliothèque PDF 1 (Poissons et sélaciens récents & fossiles) : ici Ma bibliothèque PDF 2 (Animaux vivants - sans poissons ni sélaciens) : ici Mâchoires sélaciennes récentes : ici Hétérodontiques et sélaciens : ici Oeufs sélaciens récents : ici Otolithes de poissons récents ! ici Un Greg... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ludwigia Posted November 27, 2020 Share Posted November 27, 2020 Greetings from the Lake of Constance. Roger http://www.steinkern.de/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huntonia Posted November 27, 2020 Share Posted November 27, 2020 I'm not much of a shell person but wow! That's a beautiful piece, I bet there was some well deserved celebration when that came out whole! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RuMert Posted November 27, 2020 Share Posted November 27, 2020 Great specimen and nice prep! My sites & reports Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeR Posted November 27, 2020 Share Posted November 27, 2020 2 hours ago, JohnJ said: @MikeR No comment. 2 "A problem solved is a problem caused"--Karl Pilkington "I was dead for millions of years before I was born and it never inconvenienced me a bit." -- Mark Twain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Everhardus Posted November 27, 2020 Share Posted November 27, 2020 Stunning piece ! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Praefectus Posted November 27, 2020 Share Posted November 27, 2020 Wow! Beautiful specimen. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmwilson101 Posted December 5, 2020 Share Posted December 5, 2020 Stunning!! 1 Cheers, Cheryl “It is perhaps a more fortunate destiny to have a taste for collecting shells than to be born a millionaire.” ~RL Stevenson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffrey P Posted December 10, 2020 Share Posted December 10, 2020 That big Pleistocene shell is a real stunner, Mike. The view looking down from above is especially impressive. Congratulations and thanks for sharing it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJB Posted December 13, 2020 Share Posted December 13, 2020 Really nice. RB 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pagurus Posted December 13, 2020 Share Posted December 13, 2020 An impressive cornucopia, a symbol of abundance and whelk wealth. 1 Start the day with a smile and get it over with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aplomado Posted December 14, 2020 Share Posted December 14, 2020 I love the prep on that one! I also have a large fossil whelk that my dad found on a ranch just north of Lake Okeechobee... it had fossil shells and barnacles in it, though not as nice as yours. Would that be the same formation??? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeymig Posted December 14, 2020 Author Share Posted December 14, 2020 1 hour ago, aplomado said: I love the prep on that one! I also have a large fossil whelk that my dad found on a ranch just north of Lake Okeechobee... it had fossil shells and barnacles in it, though not as nice as yours. Would that be the same formation??? Maybe, probably, more than likely. This was a relaxing prep with toothpicks and a cosmetic brush near a pool & hot tub with Rum & cokes Many times I've wondered how much there is to know. led zeppelin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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