I May Have Just Discovered A Fossil Along The Western Side Of I89 Just Southeast Of Lebanon, NH, In Metamorphic Sedimentary Rock

[Tsunamix_EDM]

Ever since the Cambrian Explosion, the continent of Laurentia (what is today Eastern North America and Greenland) had been colliding with Baltica (what is today Northern Europe and the Barents Sea). They clashed over millions of years, causing volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and the usual, creating new large bodies of land. Still, at the same time, another miniature continent was forming, which would eventually become one with the two. This tiny landmass was called Avalonia, a long island that today makes up the middle to the upper eastern coastline of the U.S. and Maritime Canada. This body of land helped form a shallow sea between Laurentia and itself, providing a haven for many extinct organisms. This shallow sea was filled to the brim with life, everything from jawless fish to sea scorpions to trilobites, even orthocones. It would continue to exist until around the late Carboniferous and early Permian, when Laurentia, Baltica, and Avalonia were finally attached, causing the sea to become one with the newly-formed landmass of Pangea, creating the same swamps and lush forests unearthed in the Bay of Fundy.

 

So, why do I bring up Avalonia and this long-lost ancient sea on the landmass' western coastline? Well, remember how I said all of Avalonia makes up the eastern U.S. and Canada? You see, Southwestern Avalonia made up what is today the states of New Hampshire and Vermont, which were both part of the shallow sea and the small continent, and small fragments of a formation from the Silurian exist today. This formation is called the Clough Formation, and it makes up most of the Northern Connecticut River Valley, with fossils dating back to both the Mid-Late Silurian and the Early-Mid Devonian. The problem, however, is that because New Hampshire and Vermont mainly consist of metamorphic and igneous rock left behind from the days of those volcanic eruptions I mentioned earlier, there are very few sedimentary formations or rocks in those states. However, that is not to say there aren't any fossils; no, no, no. The Clough Formation is a unique case in geology and paleontology, as the rocks and minerals in this formation are entirely metamorphosed sedimentary rock. Despite the rare chance of finding fossils in such a formation, the impossible was proven. Records dating back to around the late 1800s up to today tell tales of weird shapes and patterns in the semi-metamorphic slate, all of which point back to the organisms that once roamed that shallow sea millions of years ago, and guys, I believe I may have just found one, but I am still not sure.

 

I drove out to southern Lebanon in New Hampshire, just a mile south of Whaleback Mountain, to walk the bike path alongside the highway. I knew that fossils had been reported there, so I brought my trusty geology hammer to break open some rocks. After about 30 minutes to an hour of searching, I came across an intriguing find. On the top-most part, I found a unique pattern that completely stood out from the rest of the rock. It appeared jagged and sharp, small bristles pointing out like tiny syringe needles. Just underneath it, small pill-shaped oddities held on to it, almost as if they depended on the strands to survive. I do not know if this is just a mineral deposit or a part of some metamorphic locality, but whatever it is, it looks interesting. 

 

I feel that I may have found one, but just for clarification, I have hopped on the forum to ask you all this question; do you guys think I may have just found a fossil? Let me know in the comments what you all think.

 

Oh, also, if anybody can identify what kind of rock this thing came from? It would really be helpful, as I could use this as a helpful tip for finding fossils out here in the great wilderness of New England.

[Tsunamix_EDM]

Oh, I should also note that, sadly, a piece of it broke off as I tried to make the rock smaller in size; always use precise and calculated methods of excavation for revealing things in smaller detail.

[Fossildude19]

This looks like mineral staining or mineral formation to me.

[Tsunamix_EDM]

12 minutes ago, Fossildude19 said:

This looks like mineral staining or mineral formation to me.

Ah snarge; I had a feeling that was gonna be the answer. Well, still, thanks for letting me know, soldier.

[Tsunamix_EDM]

14 minutes ago, Fossildude19 said:

This looks like mineral staining or mineral formation to me.

Do you think I might have some more luck if I go digging up in Northern Grafton County near the White Mountains in places like Littleton and Franconia? I read a bit about the place, and it turns out the Clough Formation gets more sedimentary in that area.

[Fossildude19]

Grafton County and Sullivan County look like your best bets, to me.

[supertramp]

I see some resemblance with an amphibole, maybe hornblende

ciao