Mazon Creek Fossil ID Help

[Tom16]

Hello, I opened/cleaned off some nodules I had collected recently and I am unsure if they are fossils or just formations of how the rock separated. Thank you in advance for your time. Also, if anyone has any recommendations on fossil books, that would be appreciated.

1) I am not sure if my eyes are lying to me or not but I see what could be a shrimp. I see the formation of a shrimp body. Also what appear to be two eyes and a nose. Again, maybe I am just seeing what I want to see.

2) Not really sure what this could be. I did not think it was anything at first but then I opened another nodule (3) and saw the same formation. Possible bivalve?

3) Same as 2

 

 

[Tom16]

@connorp @Nimravis @Mark Kmiecik Wanted to @ you guys since you are the local experts. Thank you in advance for your time. I appreciate your help.

[connorp]

Not seeing any fossils here. 1 might be something but it is very worn.

[Nimravis]

I agree with @connorp not seeing any fossils- keep at it. As far as books, check out Jack Witry’s books. 

[Mark Kmiecik]

Yeah, #1 may have been something before all the wear it underwent. I also vaguely am seeing something "shrimpy", but if you hadn't suggested it, I would probably see nothing from this photo.  #2 and 3  are layering and outer shell type of nodules that normally yield nothing. The ones that show the "layers" of the sediment are usually duds or "floor tile" (forest floor debris), and are very common in Pit 11 and the Monster/Ponderosa areas, but the ones in this area are seldom plant matter. I only found a couple out of thousands that produced anything, although I kept picking them up "just in case". There's more layers left, so you may continue freeze/thaw until you've reached the middle.

 

P.S. -- This type of nodule reacts very poorly to hammering, tending to shatter instead of splitting.

 

 

 

 

Edited May 5, 2023 by Mark Kmiecik
added info