Missourian Posted February 18, 2012 Share Posted February 18, 2012 Trace fossils Carmel Formation, Jurassic San Rafael Reef, Utah Close-up of one end: And the other end: I'm not sure what made these trails, but they seem to have liked to play along the sand ripples. I found this while hiking through Bell Canyon within the San Rafael Reef, which is the erosional expression of an enormous monocline. As I was hiking down through a slot within the Navajo Sandstone, I reached a drop-off with a pool of muddy water at the base: As there were cobbles and boulders scattered along the canyon bottom, I wasn't about to jump into that pool. Instead, I climbed up the canyon wall until I reached a bench within the overlying Carmel Formation. As the beds were dipping at a pretty steep angle, I just followed the ramp back down to the level of the canyon wash. Along the way, I found the slab within the colorful layers of mudrock and sandstone. It was so cool, I had to take it home with me. Context is critical. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspex Posted February 18, 2012 Share Posted February 18, 2012 I like how the ripple plate shows that the "crawlers" were staying in the bottoms of the ripples; maybe feeding on trapped detritus? (Make a negative; it will be clear what I mean). "There has been an alarming increase in the number of things I know nothing about." - Ashleigh Ellwood Brilliant “Try to learn something about everything and everything about something.” - Thomas Henry Huxley >Paleontology is an evolving science. >May your wonders never cease! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Indy Posted February 18, 2012 Share Posted February 18, 2012 Thanks for posting...very interesting Flash from the Past (Show Us Your Fossils)MAPS Fossil Show Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kosmoceras Posted February 18, 2012 Share Posted February 18, 2012 They are very nice! Great big fossil too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Missourian Posted February 19, 2012 Author Share Posted February 19, 2012 And here's the other side of the slab: A few trails are present, but because of a lack of ripples, they follow a straighter path. The intense maroon color and desiccation cracks are probably due to the surface being exposed to air at one point. Context is critical. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piranha Posted April 3, 2013 Share Posted April 3, 2013 Trace fossils Carmel Formation, Jurassic San Rafael Reef, Utah Close-up of one end: And the other end: I'm not sure what made these trails, but they seem to have liked to play along the sand ripples. I found this while hiking through Bell Canyon within the San Rafael Reef, which is the erosional expression of an enormous monocline. As I was hiking down through a slot within the Navajo Sandstone, I reached a drop-off with a pool of muddy water at the base: As there were cobbles and boulders scattered along the canyon bottom, I wasn't about to jump into that pool. Instead, I climbed up the canyon wall until I reached a bench within the overlying Carmel Formation. As the beds were dipping at a pretty steep angle, I just followed the ramp back down to the level of the canyon wash. Along the way, I found the slab within the colorful layers of mudrock and sandstone. It was so cool, I had to take it home with me. Hi Missourian, While looking through some papers I stumbled across the ID for these mystery traces: Scolicia isp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Missourian Posted April 3, 2013 Author Share Posted April 3, 2013 Thanks for the ref, Scott. It's always nice to have a name to a face. Context is critical. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larryleonaitis Posted April 22, 2013 Share Posted April 22, 2013 That is exactly what I have. Very curious - I am wondering about the small spur that these have at their mid point. I have not been able to find any more instances of these trace fossils on the web anywhere. You are the only one. I was quite excited when I found it. It is a strata above some shales. thanks Larry Leonaitis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piranha Posted April 22, 2013 Share Posted April 22, 2013 Hi Missourian, After seeing these again my best guess at this point is Spirophycus. Sorry for the previous incorrect ID and any confusion / wasted labels! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Dactyll Posted April 24, 2013 Share Posted April 24, 2013 Nice finds.... I do like ripple slabs... I got one on the wall from the carboniferous.... Cheers Steve... And Welcome if your a New Member... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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