Glen Dean Formation 2022

[Tales From the Shale]

Found a real nice exposure of the Glen Dean Formation in central Kentucky recently. Oh man did it not dissapoint. So here is some of the best crinoid material I have ever found.

A calyx with partial arms, pictured with some stems and ossicles.

A single ossicle, with crinoid spins, that are still sharp. Both of which are as common as gravel here.

A small peculiarcalyx and crinoid cup.

This massive gorgeous Pentremites sp. I found this one on my first trip, so unfortunately no scale but I will upload more of it later.

More large blastoids this time around as well. It may not be as diverse, but I have only seen this quality of blastoids in the Thunder Bay of Michigan.

An uncrushed Composita sp.

A nice spirifid of some variety. I want to say Neospirifir but that is likely incorrect as it does not fit the range.

The partial pygidium of a Kaskia chesterensis? 

Mm mm mm! These delicously preserved Zaphrentis spinulosum. I have some monsters of these, but again they're from a previous trip so I will post them later.

 

I did find some gastropods and tons upon tons of crinoid stems and bryozoans as well, here is one image of them with various other pieces.

The Glen Dean of Illinois occurs nearly on the same Latitude as this locality does. However it does not compare with the sheer quality and quantity to be found here in Kentucky.

Edited November 3, 2022 by Tales From the Shale

[Manticocerasman]

nice finds, I love those blastoids

 

[FranzBernhard]

That´s a Paleozoic invertebrate dream out there, congrats!

Did you do any prep to the specimens (besides cleaning)?
Franz Bernhard

[DPS Ammonite]

4 hours ago, Tales From the Shale said:

Mm mm mm! These delicously preserved Zaphretites spinulosum. I have some monsters of these, but again they're from a previous trip so I will post them later.

 

Is the species misspelled?  I find Zaphrentis spinulosum seems to be the most common spelling found outside of the Forum posts.

 

https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/item/534ffa17e4b02cd8cc402669

[Jeffrey P]

Great finds, especially the partial crinoid crown, the enormous blastoid, and the inflated Composita. Congratulations. The Mississippian site that I described in my report that Wayne and I visited was also in the Glen Dean. The finds look similar. Thanks for posting.

[Nimravis]

Great finds and pictures.

[Tales From the Shale]

15 hours ago, FranzBernhard said:

That´s a Paleozoic invertebrate dream out there, congrats!

Did you do any prep to the specimens (besides cleaning)?
Franz Bernhard

No, I have not touched them aside from washing them with a tooth brush and water.

[Tales From the Shale]

14 hours ago, DPS Ammonite said:

Is the species misspelled?  I find Zaphrentis spinulosum seems to be the most common spelling found outside of the Forum posts.

 

https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/item/534ffa17e4b02cd8cc402669

I probably did, I will adjust the spelling. Thanks

[FossilNerd]

The Glen Dean of Kentucky never disappoints! 
 

Love the giant inflated Pentremites! They are most often flattened in the exposure of Glen Dean that @Jeffrey P and I hunt. I’ve only ever found 1 large Pentremites inflated like yours.
 

The solitary rugose corals I have labeled as Zaphrentites spinulosum and are some of my favorites. My reasoning for the labeling can be found in a previous post of mine. Along with example published papers that led me to that conclusion.  See below. 
 

 

Your “crinoid spines” are likely wing plates from the crinoid Pterotocrinus acutus. They are diagnostic to the Glen Dean of Kentucky. 
 

Trilobites are rare in the Glen Dean so great find!

 

I can throw some IDs your way too on the crinoid cups when I am at my computer and not fumbling around on the phone.