FossilArtwork Posted September 25, 2022 Share Posted September 25, 2022 Found these in Midlothian, TX (North Texas) in 1 small area. #1 and #2 I'm most interested in identifying. Thanks in advance for those smarter than me who can easily identify these. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oxytropidoceras Posted September 25, 2022 Share Posted September 25, 2022 (edited) My guess is that they are fragments of the bivalve Inoceramus. Yours, Paul H. Edited September 25, 2022 by Oxytropidoceras spelling 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lone Hunter Posted September 25, 2022 Share Posted September 25, 2022 No 2 appears to be a hinge of a large Inoceramus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FossilArtwork Posted September 25, 2022 Author Share Posted September 25, 2022 Thanks, I didn't know the shells got that big. At first glance I assumed excavator teeth had scraped the large pattern somehow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikrogeophagus Posted September 25, 2022 Share Posted September 25, 2022 Oh, they got big alright... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lone Hunter Posted September 25, 2022 Share Posted September 25, 2022 They can get up to 6-8ft, car sized, would be something to find one that big intact, keep an eye out might find smaller ones. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lone Hunter Posted September 25, 2022 Share Posted September 25, 2022 There ya go @EPIKLULSXDDDDDbeat me to it! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FossilArtwork Posted September 25, 2022 Author Share Posted September 25, 2022 Any guesses on #1? My thoughts are a Neanderthal dropped his ostrich skin boots in the lake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DPS Ammonite Posted September 25, 2022 Share Posted September 25, 2022 (edited) Cliona cretacica sponge borings. Richards, H. G. et al., 1958. The Cretaceous Fossils of New Jersey, Part 1; Trenton, NJ: Department of Conservation and Economic Development. https://www.state.nj.us/dep/njgs/enviroed/oldpubs/bulletin61-I.pdf See plate 1 and page 29 in Richards 1958 reference. Edited September 25, 2022 by DPS Ammonite 2 My goal is to leave no stone or fossil unturned. See my Arizona Paleontology Guide link The best single resource for Arizona paleontology anywhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FossilArtwork Posted September 25, 2022 Author Share Posted September 25, 2022 Thanks @DPS Ammonite, I reckon you're 100% correct. What makes the Inoceramus fossils so thin? Even the large piece was 1mm to 2mm thick at the most. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DPS Ammonite Posted September 25, 2022 Share Posted September 25, 2022 1 minute ago, FossilArtwork said: Thanks @DPS Ammonite, I reckon you're 100% correct. What makes the Inoceramus fossils so thin? Even the large piece was 1mm to 2mm thick at the most. They are composed of different layers; maybe they all did not preserve. The aragonitic mother of pearl layer rarely preserved and is much more likely to dissolve than the outer calcite layers. Some inoceramids have relatively thin shells for their size supposedly so that they could float on the soft mud. My goal is to leave no stone or fossil unturned. See my Arizona Paleontology Guide link The best single resource for Arizona paleontology anywhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJB Posted September 25, 2022 Share Posted September 25, 2022 Interesting thread this. RB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FossilArtwork Posted September 25, 2022 Author Share Posted September 25, 2022 14 hours ago, DPS Ammonite said: The aragonitic mother of pearl layer Great info, thanks @DPS Ammonite. I spent 2 years digging the Duck Creek Formation in west Forth Worth hoping to find an ammonite with the mother of pearl layer preserved. Collected about 100 fossils, but none glistening/colorful. I'll have to share those finds in another thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DPS Ammonite Posted September 25, 2022 Share Posted September 25, 2022 (edited) 1 hour ago, FossilArtwork said: Great info, thanks @DPS Ammonite. I spent 2 years digging the Duck Creek Formation in west Forth Worth hoping to find an ammonite with the mother of pearl layer preserved. Collected about 100 fossils, but none glistening/colorful. I'll have to share those finds in another thread. To preserve mother of pearl, AKA nacre, the fossils need to be preserved in tight,cemented non/fractured rocks such as clay or ironstone. Movement of watery fluids through fossiliferous rocks such as lightly cemented sandstones and siltsones dissolve the nacre. I have seen fossils with nacre in several areas: ammonites north and west of Dallas in the Arcadia Park Formation; inoceramids in the Austin Group shales at North Sulphur River and ammonites and maybe bivalves in the Denton and Weno Formation ironstones near Lake Texoma. Edited September 25, 2022 by DPS Ammonite My goal is to leave no stone or fossil unturned. See my Arizona Paleontology Guide link The best single resource for Arizona paleontology anywhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now