Samwise Posted January 21, 2021 Share Posted January 21, 2021 Hello all! I found this today and originally thought it was an archaeological item, I sent it off to the local officer and he said that he thinks it's a sponge fossil. I was wondering if anyone may be able to give me some more information please? Thankyou! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Samwise Posted January 21, 2021 Author Share Posted January 21, 2021 Sorry I should have added that this was found in South East England, on chalk downs. At first I thought it may be archaeological but had advice that it was likely a fossil instead. Found in the middle of the woods! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Samwise Posted January 22, 2021 Author Share Posted January 22, 2021 Bump! Please help, it's driving me nuts working out what it is! Just found out that it is 3.7cm in diameter and the hole extends 3 cm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Notidanodon Posted January 22, 2021 Share Posted January 22, 2021 Could be an algae or sponge fossil sure, can you determine which chalk is in the area, that might help 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Samwise Posted January 22, 2021 Author Share Posted January 22, 2021 Just now, will stevenson said: Could be an algae or sponge fossil sure, can you determine which chalk is in the area, that might help Thanks for the reply Will, Originally it was thought to be some sort of Neolithic tool and photos were sent to the County Archaelogist. He said: "Thanks for the email. This looks to be a fossil sponge, eroded from the chalk bedrock underlying the North Downs (so Cretaceous in date). The hole in the end is part of the fossil." I'm not sure how I'd find more detail on the chalk? Thankyou! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Notidanodon Posted January 22, 2021 Share Posted January 22, 2021 You could probably look up a geological map of your local area 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Samwise Posted January 22, 2021 Author Share Posted January 22, 2021 Haha good point! It was found on the border of: 1:50 000 scale bedrock geology description: Lewes Nodular Chalk Formation, Seaford Chalk Formation And Newhaven Chalk Formation (undifferentiated) - Chalk. Sedimentary Bedrock formed approximately 72 to 94 million years ago in the Cretaceous Period. Local environment previously dominated by warm chalk seas. Setting: warm chalk seas. These sedimentary rocks are shallow-marine in origin. They are biogenic and detrital, generally comprising carbonate material (coccoliths), forming distinctive beds of chalk. And: Holywell Nodular Chalk Formation And New Pit Chalk Formation (undifferentiated) - Chalk. Sedimentary Bedrock formed approximately 90 to 101 million years ago in the Cretaceous Period. Hopefully that's useful! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Samwise Posted January 24, 2021 Author Share Posted January 24, 2021 I've had a confirmed ID of Siphonia koenigi if of any interest, thanks for the help 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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