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Runner64

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I'll update this thread with my Mazon Collection over the next few weeks.  With some good weather out yesterday, I managed to get my first fossil hunt in for the season and will post a report in this topic.  I will be moving this upcoming summer which will put me even further from Mazon Creek so I have purchased a few pieces to fill in the genus/species I haven't found yet and will mention if I purchased a fossil.  I still hold out hope to find some of these pieces I purchased eventually but will realistically be difficult if I only can make 1 trip a year.

 

Fauna

 

Tullimonstrum gregarium

Tullimonstrum.jpeg.f79e28e35109a513438e2cb9e4caac73.jpeg

A weathered eye-bar I found on my first trip several years back.  There is an eye spot evident under the right light.  Still the only piece I have found at this point.

 

Euphoberia armigera (Purchased)

Euphoberia.jpeg.8e7f37a5f1272ac614d54823491b17aa.jpeg

 

Acanthodian indet. (Purchased)

Acanthodes.jpeg.11fee4d200668e849d140b57905437cd.jpeg

Note: Under magnification the scales are present.

 

Cyclus americanus

Cyclus.jpeg.7294e9db1741897bded3a50216271421.jpeg

 

What's a Mazon Creek thread without some Essexella asherae?  I still like finding these guys despite the vast amount I have found.  Here are a few of my favorites:

464195509_Essexela3.jpeg.9206f8cf7dbc7b088a90f569bfca4d8b.jpeg

1700840582_Essexela2.jpeg.f45987becfb8157446044995024fa8c6.jpeg

Note: My largest piece, this is about 6-7 inches in diameter.

95535634_Essexela1.jpeg.c95ce344a8fc946ad21a9bb0529f0212.jpeg

 

A couple shrimp pieces.  I believe Belotelson magister (Traded for the first one)

812843738_Shrimpmolt.jpeg.4a8798e87777833da83fc0df1bde878a.jpegShrimp.jpeg.9a6dff17102b43579970390ecdba9817.jpeg

 

Here is a cool insect wing from the order Palaeodictyoptera. (Purchased)

967334798_Insectwing.jpeg.74cf1bd4285ff980098fbb3c64a8e22e.jpeg

 

Now I believe this piece may be a Dasyleptus sp. and if it isn't one, I would love to be corrected!

Dasyleptus.jpeg.b3ac64c1aa3a2e5195b41f6bf725c3de.jpeg

 

Europops danae (Purchased)

540983327_Horseshoecrab.jpeg.b3a9e87b3a83c13f64ed1b2f5b67bb16.jpeg

 

Mazonomya mazonensis

Bivalve.jpeg.899ad4cb99265948ea9b01773aff068d.jpeg

 

I'll add to this thread with additional fauna and flora later and will continue to add as I go through freeze-thaw cycles.

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That's a nice assortment and you have a good sampling of some of the less common animal groups! Thanks for sharing. 

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1 hour ago, deutscheben said:

That's a nice assortment and you have a good sampling of some of the less common animal groups! Thanks for sharing. 

Thanks!  I hope to get out next weekend as well...looks like it'll be 50's-60's F and sunny which would be beautiful.

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1 hour ago, Runner64 said:

Thanks!  I hope to get out next weekend as well...looks like it'll be 50's-60's F and sunny which would be beautiful.

Anything beats the freak snowstorm yesterday...

 

Nice collection! That's a really nice Euphoberia example.

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37 minutes ago, connorp said:

Anything beats the freak snowstorm yesterday...

 

Nice collection! That's a really nice Euphoberia example.

Thanks! Yeah the snow yesterday was weird. I was planning to head back down to Mazonia yesterday as well but I had a drive back to Des Moines afterward so driving in the snow for 5 hours didn’t seem ideal.

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Back out at Mazon today 3-19-21.

 

I got pretty lucky today and filled a 2.5 gallon bucket. Here’s some nodules in-situ:

4556ECF3-C054-4AF1-8D49-A350D270EEDB.thumb.jpeg.520ce1b0eefed2980af00e62489f9ef5.jpeg8F830940-0ED0-426E-AC6B-89105CEEBB51.thumb.jpeg.fd0c275d2ee2cd98a34de3298b95340e.jpeg49D10DD3-AE09-479F-A66B-B1623B38DAB9.thumb.jpeg.505004eea872bbce26cfb5239f5033c5.jpegCB8F7DC6-660D-4EC9-9E2A-DCBFA7E7FF13.thumb.jpeg.143eccc0444b4009393c8c3464191ddf.jpeg8D30BAB4-BA96-4BD5-8A5D-4A18797553A1.thumb.jpeg.43f8b2f572fc8e247f14a661709654d1.jpeg

 

Now this last one is very very intriguing to me as it has a very strange shape. I’m curious if this could be a tully monster?

57156FA4-EE91-4C42-86B6-5B7B29E9CF96.thumb.jpeg.b06cf046a8eeb69883b2249f01ff2ee2.jpeg

Broke on the drive home unfortunately but was able to look and see there is a fossil plane:

866789FF-0F5E-4610-A717-59B19A216C15.thumb.jpeg.3d519a776eb24f8cbfc86d19b8bf0458.jpeg

 

Edited by Runner64
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Went on a fossil hunt at Mazon again last Sunday.


Here is a nice jellyfish I found, a bit dirty though will post pictures once clean because it has good detail:

D7C5E1A4-CF79-4665-893A-6E3B6E242528.thumb.jpeg.4f723adaa45b72bcf4cbe6d1d6555c77.jpeg
 

A large concretion:

D7D6AE27-4A9F-4A63-9FC7-A6A8B79D493B.thumb.jpeg.cdbdad1c078fdac056ac63d0e3350f61.jpeg

F14B37A3-789E-4034-891C-A40853B0769D.thumb.jpeg.6913eb94b33f013435d9d89b8078093f.jpeg

 

Haul, all jellyfish concretions picked out:

07F1D789-9F14-4A96-AFED-BA6B117E2B7A.thumb.jpeg.f2e10db4c7ae35b93d0219a4f6022180.jpegE427EBBC-F164-45B4-9752-39E4A70D70B9.thumb.jpeg.eaaba0f8699c1829c5a46e8064cf1ba4.jpeg 

ED5CF3E0-83C5-4181-A331-019D0BAFD3E3.jpeg

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Esconites zeulus 

image6.thumb.jpeg.29af6736f2826414972be3baee9a23da.jpeg

 

Didontogaster cordylina

1845877979_image1(38).thumb.jpeg.fead14e01d63c9ea64add5dbca4293da.jpeg

 

Astreptoscolex anasillosus

1136896912_image0(62).thumb.jpeg.e188b185fcdd68c81497f791bc359fa7.jpeg

 

Mazopherusa prinosi

1797258614_image4(7).thumb.jpeg.f17454c37e60adeee25fe0228a6f4e2f.jpeg

 

Coprinoscolex ellogimus

423191976_image7(1).thumb.jpeg.7f8ca9cb511980cc6fd01a99aa559aea.jpeg

 

Fossundecima konecnyi

393096755_image3(9).thumb.jpeg.355d8bf9ae9a062bbd82e9f36b358f29.jpeg

 

Paucijaculum samamithion

1476345889_image2(25).thumb.jpeg.d266fb677102a72c0f9e52ba154813e9.jpeg

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That’s a really nice collection of worms! The way they are preserved within the concretions is interesting too, seems like there is lots of mineralization.

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12 hours ago, deutscheben said:

That’s a really nice collection of worms! The way they are preserved within the concretions is interesting too, seems like there is lots of mineralization.

Thanks, I appreciate the kind words!  

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  • 2 weeks later...

Going through the fossils I’ve found so far. More than enough Essexela.

438BBCF7-3AF5-4083-B276-92C20B04F281.thumb.jpeg.1b66b371a9d0e4e4288c1df57ffb53ca.jpeg7F2F9882-84AB-4A62-A2CD-373D20305264.thumb.jpeg.b3a0151e0a7aa772ad7521de7bf04dcc.jpegE4BADEB2-013F-4859-B9D8-E4DC6CDEA2B7.thumb.jpeg.aa0c8de8da61778fedbd91aa10b49114.jpegEDB6D440-9EB2-4196-B36B-381EF37F71EC.thumb.jpeg.910354aa80ffe0d4076bdd566a32057f.jpegE1FAFC97-D096-4596-BD89-3C896815F269.thumb.jpeg.04e2d5ff27adae2aa130f384788fb760.jpeg

 

I also have this fauna piece but is really worn. Might be a worm, but appears segmented and when wet, appears to have bristles around it. Thoughts?

22E7DA0A-BCFC-4301-B705-ECEB0749EE26.thumb.jpeg.b321b46324656d4ebf1492211dab0778.jpeg

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all are very nice. I see that there is a fossil show this year at the Illinois State Fair Grounds. I'm looking forward to attending. I found this miss identified fern at a antique mall this week and much dirt came off in the ultrasonic cleaner. wrong species from Mazon Creek. Neuropteris Fossil Fern

20210402_142636.jpg

20210402_142718 C.jpg

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2 hours ago, Bob Saunders said:

all are very nice. I see that there is a fossil show this year at the Illinois State Fair Grounds. I'm looking forward to attending. I found this miss identified fern at a antique mall this week and much dirt came off in the ultrasonic cleaner. wrong species from Mazon Creek. Neuropteris Fossil Fern

20210402_142636.jpg

20210402_142718 C.jpg

Beautiful fern, it cleaned up well.  The state fair show sounds very interesting.  I won't be able to make it unfortunately, but take some photos to share!

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On 4/3/2021 at 8:54 AM, Runner64 said:

 

22E7DA0A-BCFC-4301-B705-ECEB0749EE26.thumb.jpeg.b321b46324656d4ebf1492211dab0778.jpeg

Soaked this piece in vinegar:

D03689BB-4592-46FB-B86B-80CBEB45BFFA.thumb.jpeg.3e3b0fbd088ba5a9c62e19005fb798a5.jpeg

 

I believe this may be a rough example of Achistrum, sea cucumber.

 

Also went 2/2 on concretions containing fossils tonight:

Another Essexla:

6207FB38-C298-44D5-A386-94937BABF38B.thumb.jpeg.d7edbc570b8813eff94f362bdc9bff63.jpeg
 

Coprinoscolex or Achistrum. I have difficulties telling apart:

FB408726-BA58-4F89-A335-4826209D0550.thumb.jpeg.17a50a2ea563bef58f3c5df201adbb03.jpeg

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On 3/19/2021 at 3:04 PM, Runner64 said:

 

 

Now this last one is very very intriguing to me as it has a very strange shape. I’m curious if this could be a tully monster?

57156FA4-EE91-4C42-86B6-5B7B29E9CF96.thumb.jpeg.b06cf046a8eeb69883b2249f01ff2ee2.jpeg

Broke on the drive home unfortunately but was able to look and see there is a fossil plane:

866789FF-0F5E-4610-A717-59B19A216C15.thumb.jpeg.3d519a776eb24f8cbfc86d19b8bf0458.jpeg

 

Had the front end pop open on this one couple days ago. Not sure but the other half of this one is disintegrating which is disappointing.

6261478E-6EAF-4A76-84FD-666619FEB1D7.thumb.jpeg.9d300944384978f89e96c521ee08fe96.jpeg

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Nice weather to be outside. Went to the Mazonia wildlife area. I think the rain over the past few days really helped erode away at the slopes and exposed some nice pieces to take home.


2 fossils in the field I decided to take a quick picture of. A Neuropteris leaf and a calcified jellyfish. 
A449AE45-1E70-4D1D-A693-DD2A64E6A898.thumb.jpeg.ae879e71647a49fc60c329310f5c0507.jpeg

0759500F-B241-4B54-A085-282C12674015.thumb.jpeg.0779d9d8925166e1bb64f0b0b0d152c6.jpeg

 

Here is an unopened one in the field:

35831E5A-7521-43CA-A6D7-E83850880212.thumb.jpeg.b32078e12ce694a6a0b2aa15b33b83ab.jpeg

 

Weird piece, definetly something on it but what it is remains a mystery to me. Guessing some type of vegetation:

8AD19505-481E-4FE8-8C3B-99B2CF20F3F1.thumb.jpeg.4e081e93671be601d51c8fed56600894.jpeg

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  • 4 months later...

Haven’t updated this thread in a while. Still need to post some of the vegetation pieces I have. Hopefully I can get to it in a couple weeks. Been busy so haven’t had much pop open in freeze-thaw cycles but here’s a few:


Some type of fern:

0D7B5377-4B8D-481B-BCCD-F9B0ED5094DA.thumb.jpeg.9cacb938f59ae1039887b5f61cb4919e.jpeg

 

A cyperite leaf:

46E7FF1C-5821-484B-AAAB-D22031180106.thumb.jpeg.525ac49997e5ccfaa3c057655c5065f6.jpeg

 

A shrimp molt:

2B980F1B-5257-403F-8889-96143EEA7205.thumb.jpeg.0590052d463336fc87f530b850279124.jpeg

 

Another shrimp molt:

AA6B58A3-F5E6-4601-94D2-80E68B8C45E8.thumb.jpeg.5cffe2347b8ef5ae750f2a413be55ce6.jpeg

 

A colorful Annularia piece:

883008C8-1D3A-47D7-A315-DD61C7354AAE.thumb.jpeg.f6c3dfdcd336c5fa4f429af72b1b075b.jpeg

 

Heres a worn worm I found open in the field. I can make out a jaw under the calcite on the right side:

9D397600-6BC0-431F-A8E3-58A4BF355BB1.thumb.jpeg.82d34fc4e50081be12b3427ee9da9d8e.jpeg

 

Lots of opened jellyfish but this one has some weird preservation:

3471EB05-B8AA-41D8-8594-2B550CDEB11D.thumb.jpeg.9a2221f52bf846e89f8cacd4717bf2a1.jpeg

 

Large chunk of “wood”:

1CDD875F-479E-4AFE-B3F2-77E2B36E34D7.thumb.jpeg.2dcb5e06124f8ddd3973bb939db7226c.jpeg

 

Here’s another cool fern. Don’t know the species at the moment, will have to look through my flora book:

D44578C1-5564-4015-9010-6319E3F45754.thumb.jpeg.b316f0ddb7ab9cf66ecda71c0e28598d.jpeg

 

Some vegetation piece:

BF3DF277-65BF-413F-9ADA-00EDE1E9A16F.thumb.jpeg.533234b86fe0c876be9709b2279e3909.jpeg

 

Also had a bunch of poorly preserved Calamites and ferns open but they are in such poor condition, didn’t bother posting.

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3 minutes ago, Bobby Rico said:

Great collection, some great finds :envy:

Thanks! I just recently moved so won’t be finding many new things. But, I still hope to get back to the Chicagoland area for 1 or 2 good hunts a year.

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2 minutes ago, Runner64 said:

Thanks! I just recently moved so won’t be finding many new things. But, I still hope to get back to the Chicagoland area for 1 or 2 good hunts a year.

I hope you do, it has some really interesting and varied material.

i have a small collection myself of gifted and purchased specimens. Cheers Bobby 

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  • 4 months later...

Haven’t updated this thread in a long time. Here’s some new ones!

 

Astreptocolex:

 

Various Essexela:

4700CC1C-5DEE-4821-B61F-2316D5551D10.thumb.jpeg.8158cddebe4c702dea50d65047200d73.jpeg5F9C0893-87BC-42C8-B8E5-CFC0F08E4AE5.thumb.jpeg.7350ca90556ea1f8231a4f398e16a963.jpeg3327FB81-710F-4795-9DAF-A18FCAE510A2.thumb.jpeg.10fa0c0be681c37f80980b55b6096c92.jpeg109FAEB9-89E4-4D99-B699-9EC6FF5C2F89.thumb.jpeg.319243f19e14a36598245c71c92f1a4f.jpeg22D7F170-DC58-47E5-B30E-BE6C1F75DCED.thumb.jpeg.f9b4ae58908650f2ec8fd0266b363b04.jpeg
 

I think this one is an Essexela?

4751E840-C745-408F-BA32-C39E35D8D54D.thumb.jpeg.3886877582fbf973dd4670e8a6000a26.jpeg

 

I believe this one is a coprolite:

6483CCF8-7CDC-4C42-8A86-0D45C36ACBFF.thumb.jpeg.ba6ffc854f4c365669d0f8262fa879d6.jpeg

 

Didontogaster:

B362D399-8391-4F99-94DD-7E88D41D9287.thumb.jpeg.ccb28cca8f31d43e31f8bd7f9a721fcd.jpeg

 

Various Ferns:

F05BAF46-A661-4F86-BED3-37CFDD2362DF.thumb.jpeg.6f630833e969497d77de82034d3e0465.jpegD6BADDAE-68E6-46EB-A044-8C2C46FA1771.thumb.jpeg.b5b7dae9c6551d7ccf2c4fbbc0e39ed9.jpeg90FC9404-9D63-4233-9C2F-03AE28C7A19D.thumb.jpeg.92504394533427d8756fd3dc0805c9cc.jpeg70392F13-22FB-4233-8977-0EC90A80801A.thumb.jpeg.985454362d2d9f030bdc88f521046ad2.jpeg4A7E1D36-87CE-4F69-97A6-538C216E6359.thumb.jpeg.a3e8e6740174f181b960075f82b813f8.jpeg985FB1D4-801E-4CDB-A8B5-1A6C7C5E156B.thumb.jpeg.771529ce3202d3613faff4f6ef83b665.jpeg

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I believe an Astreptocolex?:

61326C94-4FAC-479D-AFBC-A2C7E116E18B.thumb.jpeg.dba47a0b56a4f85dd125ccf457178409.jpeg

 

I believe a Sea cucumber?

E72662A9-60F6-465F-8A7D-CDC291F61458.thumb.jpeg.15c9a8e0ddd0bfb3738be1ac0f04dc94.jpeg

 

Coprinoscollex:

D944B690-A8DE-41E9-B1C2-53E6D835A0AB.thumb.jpeg.417694caea6968445be09dcfad63fd8a.jpeg

 

Didontogaster:

77AEFF12-F86E-489A-BD8F-CE9D3E8A6CF6.thumb.jpeg.efee2087850db36acdef9207e9e9b023.jpeg
 

Some type of shell. Maybe Aviculopecten?:

ECB56DE0-4956-4E0D-AEE5-850FAF24BBB9.thumb.jpeg.c52c23b1ce96b1b6b7b0cbbb67a8a0e9.jpeg

 

Various ferns:

E8B17EEC-78BC-41DB-812E-3B5D65854193.thumb.jpeg.151a9c21b4f02d1b0f4e53db18d67c60.jpeg

26EE4C8B-76BC-4B50-83DF-907FECD35F38.thumb.jpeg.1a6e5ee2165624350e0c94d2ab475eba.jpeg

608BC493-49B5-4797-B06E-BF9F7AACF51D.thumb.jpeg.b31208e6aca79d82688581843cd04bef.jpeg

B945E617-0D70-4FCA-B35B-A56A447AA878.thumb.jpeg.66c1ec66bcbdb841d83846dfd5e392e7.jpeg

EDB02072-C93A-40A1-B5A1-07BBD4844B88.thumb.jpeg.c1ac8a8a914145f94f6f5f69b5011277.jpeg

 

Calamites:

3C2607E3-03FD-47AA-B834-9BC7206B720B.thumb.jpeg.e333a01982d9944a381a1b16b49609e9.jpeg

 

Lepidodendron bark:

B3F0CF89-F78B-4E22-B7B9-1E36C29DB294.thumb.jpeg.0e0f3d7f6ce3528639465d5ab27527fc.jpeg

 

Cyperite leaf?:

F6C9F38B-0104-4FCE-A0A4-CF35CA7998C4.thumb.jpeg.06b3e3108b5d211d0ece2731ab051be7.jpeg

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