Mazon Creek - fern or wing?

[connorp]

I spotted this on the outside of a concretion this week while sorting some buckets. It looks to me like it is possibly a wing, but it's pretty water worn so it could also just be a suggestively worn fern pinnule. I was hoping for a second opinion. @Nimravis @stats @deutscheben @RCFossils @Mark Kmiecik @flipper559 Thanks.

 

 

A couple shots under a microscope.

[Nimravis]

It so looks like it to me, and I have had a couple like that, but everyone thinks there were leaves. That is what I hate about MC fossils, the suggestive shapes, etc. Let’s see what others think.

[Mark Kmiecik]

Any "vein" originating from the root of a wing will generally not break through to the leading edge, but instead run parallel to it and tend towards the trailing edge if it does not continue as parallel. Otherwise the wing loses structural integrity, and would flex in the wrong direction. I don't think it's a wing. 

 

Edit: I just looked at cockroach wings and I'll admit that it could be that.

 

 

 

Edited November 17, 2022 by Mark Kmiecik
added info

[RCFossils]

I believe this is plant material.

The “veination “ does not look correct for a wing and the dark carbonized preservation is more typical of plant material.

[stats]

The preservation seems plant-llke.  For wings, I think there is less venation.  See the wing we donated this summer.  Of course, wings can be different.

 

 

Cheers,

Rich

 

[flipper559]

Easy to see why one would wonder about this one Connor, but I too, see plant.

 

Phil

[snails]

Sure is suggestive of wing but the carbonization points to plant.