Mystery Chalk Fossil Imprint

[BentonlWalters]

Hello,

 

I went on a walk a few days ago to the local chalk pit and of course couldn't resist spending a few minutes scouting for fossils. This is one of two specimens that I found, the other being a shell fragment. At first I thought the pattern might be formed by ice but I wasn't convinced and kept searching, managing to recover two other small pieces. My suspicion of it not being ice related was confirmed when at the bottom of the slope I found the more complete counter slab, with a layer of ice still covering part of the fossil. Needless to say this made for cold hands on the walk back but I wasn't going to leave it. 

 

 

And an enhanced version of the positive using RTI.

 

If I had to guess what it is I would say bryozoan but I haven't hunted the chalk much before and don't know. The fossil comes from the Upper Chalk and is Turonian in age. Hopefully someone has a better idea what I've brought back. 

 

Thank you,

Benton

[TqB]

It's a nice piece of a hexactinellid sponge. Rhizopoterion or Ventriculites are good possibilities.

[BentonlWalters]

28 minutes ago, TqB said:

It's a nice piece of a hexactinellid sponge. Rhizopoterion or Ventriculites are good possibilities.

Thank you so much. I'm leaning more toward Ventriculites possibly V. radiatus I think.