Jump to content

Egg, Nodule, or Other?


KalebE

Recommended Posts

After having discovered more than a few "dinosaur eggs" throughout my life, this is the first that has prompted me to overcome my cynicism and ask for help in identification.

I am assuming that it is very possibly a nodule of some sort - but looking at the details has me curious.

Thanks in advance for your patience with my limited knowledge.

 

I found it in a ravine near my house in Pittsburgh, PA, USA that has exposed layers of coal, shale, slate, and sandstone. I found it "as-is" and I have not removed any material.

It is approximately 8.5cms x 5 cms. There appear to be at least 3 "layers" on it. There is a picture from a terminal end that clearly shows them.

The outer one is fairly thick (2-3mm), the subsequent layer is much thinner (~0.5mm), and the inner one appears to be about 1mm.

Photos were taken with natural light. The "bottom" shows a bit more of the interior, which appears to be darker and uneven.

The "top" is mostly smooth, comprised of the "inner" layer with hairline cracks.

 

If I can provide additional information, photos, or videos, just let me know of what part, and I will do my best to provide them.

 

Much thanks!

Kind regards.

 

 

EggTop1.thumb.jpg.05b95e5ab04f43bd4eb4cdb75db75774.jpgEggSideMeasurement.thumb.jpg.72597f84f0644208a88aa7fb9e7a6615.jpgEggDetailTop.thumb.jpg.4ae10899a9acff084f54e7c6d58fb79b.jpgEggDetailBottom.thumb.jpg.cf9f2ad1aec6a083c85199c712cc2a8d.jpgLayers.thumb.jpg.90d37bdf98629c2fcf23f75a7024167e.jpgEggDetailSide.thumb.jpg.93f5a0c20ef4798139633174f220cfb4.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I am going to guess nodular concretion mostly on account of the thickness of the outer "shell/rind" and geologic location (if I recall correctly, Pittsburgh is mostly Pennsylvanian in age as part of the Appalachian Plateaus province, with Permian to the southwest in Washington and Greene Ctys; Triassic and Jurassic to the east toward the coast in the counties of Montgomery, Bucks and Adams). 

  • I Agree 4

...How to Philosophize with a Hammer

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This looks like a mudstone concretion, to me.

 

EDIT: Welcome to the Forum. :) 

  • I Agree 4

    Tim    VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER

   MOTM.png.61350469b02f439fd4d5d77c2c69da85.png      PaleoPartner.png.30c01982e09b0cc0b7d9d6a7a21f56c6.png.a600039856933851eeea617ca3f2d15f.png     Postmaster1.jpg.900efa599049929531fa81981f028e24.jpg    VFOTM.png.f1b09c78bf88298b009b0da14ef44cf0.png  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

I too see layered concretion. On the 1st and 3rd photos, the texture lines / ridges that run along the length of the outside are not a usual feature seen on the eggs I've seen.

  • I Agree 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

These are certainly concretions local here to Pittsburgh. In some places in the world, these are collected, broken open and beautiful fossils are revealed. Here, I've found just about nothing inside of them, but I've only sampled concretions of 0.0001% of Western PA localities.

 

Here are some from up in the Kittanning area (Northeast of Pittsburgh) in the shale before they fall out. There are fat egg-looking ones and some that look like skipping stones. They often take up particular minerals from the rocks. For example, the bottom left and top middle ones are a red color, which are from iron minerals precipitating through the rocks.

 

D28DBA50-1F20-430F-AF38-1CC244453C53.jpe

  • I found this Informative 1

Fossils of Parks Township - ResearchCatalog | How-to Make High-Contrast Photos

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...