saskatchwan coral? 3/3

[ottawafossil]

3/3

found these on shore of Lake Diefenbaker in Saskatchewan, Canada. looked to be eroded from sandy deposits with layers of harder iron-rich rusty strata. the fossils themselves are heavy, mineralized with iron and then rusted? corals? all the same type or different? i think this is in cretaceous age but not sure. see other 2 posts

 

these samples are really interesting, found in situ, on exposed section of eroding sandy beach cliff - see photos, sand with layers of iron rich strata but these bubble textured rusty iron “tubes” all over, connected and running for long distances verticle and horizontal (car key for scale)- i thought maybe looked like root suckers or corals or burrows (photos 1-3) very interesting bubble-texture and hollow ~ 1cm diameter (photos 4-9)

[Thomas.Dodson]

These are decapod burrow trace fossils of the ichnogenus Ophiomorpha. Very widespread and abundant in some Cretaceous strata.

[Norki]

Yep, I agree with Thomas. I've seen these on the shores of Lake Diefenbaker as well, they're fairly common in the Bearpaw Formation (marine, late Cretaceous) strata that are exposed in the area.

Edited July 21, 2022 by Norki

[ottawafossil]

ophiomorpha trace burrow seems spot on from a quick internet search, thanks so much! this forum is the best!

 

some  ophiomorpha links:

Ophiomorpha https://g.co/kgs/pnmwyh

 

http://greatcretaceouswalk.blogspot.com/2011/01/trace-fossil-by-any-other-name.html?m=1

 

https://fossiilid.info/5469?mode=in_baltoscandia&lang=en

 

https://www.google.ca/amp/s/slideplayer.com/amp/12331464/

[Darktooth]

These are also found from the Cretaceous streams of New Jersey. 

[debivort]

Also found in New Mexico
https://www.usgs.gov/media/images/chaco-culture-paleontological-resources

[ottawafossil]

thanks everyone! great responses