JamieLynn Posted September 16, 2021 Share Posted September 16, 2021 I grew up in Austin, going to Shoal Creek and Barton Creek and my local backyard creek, picking up the odd fossil or rock and stashing it away. It has only been recently (within the last 8 years) that I really got interested in Paleontology and finding out about the formations and proper fossil names etc....so it's been fun to revisit a lot of the places I went as a kid and see them in a whole new light. When the Paleontological Society of Austin used to hold meetings in person, I'd go up to Austin early and go fossil hunting in Shoal Creek - it has easy access and is a hop skip and a jump from the meeting house. And I've found a lot of great stuff there - ammonites, echinoids, etc.. But....now I have discovered the world of Microfossils! So I got myself a gallon baggie of creek matrix, not really knowing what to expect aside from the ever present Ram's Horn Oysters (Illymatogyra arietina) which are found in the millions there. And WOW.....I was astounded! Lots of great stuff from the various formations that make up Shoal Creek - Buda, Georgetown, Eagle Ford and Del Rio/Grayson. Some of the fossils I can pinpoint to specific formations, others, not so much. So here are my favorite Shoal Creek Micro Fossil Finds! First up- The Crab Claws! So many little tiny crab claws of all kind of species. These are all 3-5 mm And the Brittlestar arm segments! Ophiuria sp. I found the first one and was so excited...and then I found an even longer segment! 6mm The first segment I found (thanks to @erose for the ID) Next favorite - Floating Crinoids! Roveacrinus signatus 3mm Another one, but with more goblet shape : Roveacrinus signatus 3mm Plotocrinus spiculatus 2mm Not completely sure about the ID on this one. I think it's Drepanocrinus paroculus 3mm Some little tiny teeth. I did find ONE broken shark tooth, just the blade, but it's my first Shark Tooth from Shoal Creek! My most exciting tooth find - Ray Pseudohypolophus ellipsis 3mm A couple of unknown Fish Teeth 2mm Not sure if this is a denticle or tooth: 3mm A couple of little vertebrae: 4mm Some funky little Foraminifera: Nodosaria sp. Size 4mm 3mm An interesting chunk of what I think is Bryozoan. Size 2mm And finally, some little gastropods. 6mm I can't wait to go back and get another baggie full of matrix! 2 7 www.fossil-quest.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jared C Posted September 16, 2021 Share Posted September 16, 2021 Sweet! What was your methodology here? Did you sift and look at what drained out from sifting? I have a bucket that I lugged up from walnut creek that's full of gravel and matrix, and it's a little intimidating to start 1 “Not only is the universe stranger than we think, it is stranger than we can think” -Werner Heisenberg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
historianmichael Posted September 16, 2021 Share Posted September 16, 2021 Awesome finds! Thank you for sharing. The brittlestar arm segments and floating crinoids are really cool. Great work with the micros! 1 Follow me on Instagram (@fossil_mike) to check out my personal collection of fossils collected and acquired over more than 15 years of fossil hunting! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamieLynn Posted September 16, 2021 Author Share Posted September 16, 2021 8 minutes ago, Jared C said: Sweet! What was your methodology here? Did you sift and look at what drained out from sifting? I have a bucket that I lugged up from walnut creek that's full of gravel and matrix, and it's a little intimidating to start I wash it all in a big bucket and then strain through a screen to get all the dirt and silt off. Let that dry really well and then start viewing under my microscope camera (it's a Celestron that plugs right into my computer, so visual is on the computer screen). I do usually chuck out the bigger rocks, but do look at them first, because you never know when somethings in there! 2 1 1 www.fossil-quest.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnJ Posted September 16, 2021 Share Posted September 16, 2021 Awesome work, Jamie! Caution! Roveacrinids are a "rabbit hole" of delicate beauty...your camera can become addicted. 1 1 The human mind has the ability to believe anything is true. - JJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamieLynn Posted September 16, 2021 Author Share Posted September 16, 2021 8 minutes ago, JohnJ said: Awesome work, Jamie! Caution! Roveacrinids are a "rabbit hole" of delicate beauty...your camera can become addicted. oh my gosh yes!!! I admit, my camera is indeed addicted! 1 www.fossil-quest.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erose Posted September 16, 2021 Share Posted September 16, 2021 39 minutes ago, JohnJ said: Awesome work, Jamie! Caution! Roveacrinids are a "rabbit hole" of delicate beauty...your camera can become addicted. Beware the hungry hungry camera! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted September 16, 2021 Share Posted September 16, 2021 Nice photos and interesting post, Jaimie! 1 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...
Tidgy's Dad Posted September 16, 2021 Share Posted September 16, 2021 I always very much enjoy your posts. Thank you. 1 Life's Good! Tortoise Friend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jared C Posted April 6, 2022 Share Posted April 6, 2022 (edited) On 9/16/2021 at 1:41 PM, JamieLynn said: Not sure if this is a denticle or tooth: 3mm If you still have this, can you please post more angles of it? No worries if you don't have more photos, I know it must be a hassle to take photos of these micro fossils. Also, did you find this in Eagle Ford or Del Rio? Edited April 6, 2022 by Jared C “Not only is the universe stranger than we think, it is stranger than we can think” -Werner Heisenberg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Dente Posted April 6, 2022 Share Posted April 6, 2022 This one might be crab shell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamieLynn Posted April 13, 2022 Author Share Posted April 13, 2022 @Jared C - Pretty sure this is Eagle Ford. Being in a creek with Del Rio, Buda, Georgetown and Eagle Ford all exposed upstream, I can't be 100 percent sure. I THINK it's a broken cusp of a larger tooth. Here are other angles. 1 www.fossil-quest.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Dente Posted April 13, 2022 Share Posted April 13, 2022 2 minutes ago, JamieLynn said: I THINK it's a broken cusp of a larger tooth I think you are right. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamieLynn Posted April 13, 2022 Author Share Posted April 13, 2022 @Al Dente thanks and I think you are right about that being crab....which is cool because crab material is MY FAVORITE www.fossil-quest.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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