Guizhou Ediacaran?

[Mochaccino]

Hello,

 

I see these pieces being sold as apparent precambrian Ediacarans from Guizhou, China. My question is, how does one determine if these are even fossils and biological in origin as opposed to just some random smudge or geological oddity? Is anything known about these sorts of specimens?

 

 

Thank you.

 

 

[Fossildude19]

The first one looks like a  modern lichen, to me.

Best to study up on the fauna to be able to tell what is what there.

 

[connorp]

@MarcusFossils

[Mochaccino]

My apologies, I should have put in the effort to search up literature before asking here. It seems there has been some work done on the Ediacaran biota of Guizhou and for the second specimen I see somewhat of a match with these figures: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Unbranching-and-coin-shaped-macroalgae-and-the-macroalgal-holdfasts-in-the-Wenghui-biota_fig4_269289849

 

 

So the black stains/imprints at least may be macroalgae, and hence indeed fossils.

Edited August 12, 2022 by Mochaccino