Paloegene fossil branch

[mr fossil]

Hello

i went to Asfan region in Saudi Arabia and there where these red crumbly rocks and weird formations inside them. I also found fossil branches (I think)

what types of rock is this?

geological data at the bottom

thank you

[Tidgy's Dad]

Mudstone / siltstone, I think. 

Not sure about the inclusions, the middle one might be burrow casts? 

[mr fossil]

3 minutes ago, Tidgy's Dad said:

Mudstone / siltstone, I think. 

Not sure about the inclusions, the middle one might be burrow casts? 

I agree but when I saw it under a microscope I could see grains of quartz sand 

[Tidgy's Dad]

7 minutes ago, mr fossil said:

I agree but when I saw it under a microscope I could see grains of quartz sand 

Yes, the one in the middle with the 'burrows' might be a sandstone. 

[mr fossil]

9 minutes ago, Tidgy's Dad said:

Yes, the one in the middle with the 'burrows' might be a sandstone. 

Interesting..

do you think the supposed branches are actually fossil branches?

and what paleo environment did it form in

swamp? Meadows maybe ?

[Tidgy's Dad]

1 minute ago, mr fossil said:

Interesting..

do you think the supposed branches are actually fossil branches?

and what paleo environment did it form in

swamp? Meadows maybe ?

No, I think they might be infilled burrows of some kind. 

Sandstones can form in all sorts of environments, but I doubt these formed in a swamp, certainly not a meadow. 

Mudstones form in places where mud or clay accumulates, usually in oceans or lakes.