Missourian Posted March 20, 2013 Share Posted March 20, 2013 Now that there is a microfossils subforum, I thought I might gather various posts regarding some silicified micros I found recently.... Years ago, I collected a few nice gastropods that were silicified: Because they came from limestone, I figured I could extract many more with muriatic acid. Last summer, I collected some chunks of rock that contained the mollusks: This was the result of the acid bath: There weren't as many snails as I'd hoped, but I was intrigued by the fine detritus. Time to pull out the microscope. 1 Context is critical. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Missourian Posted March 20, 2013 Author Share Posted March 20, 2013 The gastropods are spectacular at this magnification, but there's so much else here to pick through: The tiny fossils include classic microfossils. There are four ostracods and two arenaceous forams here: I'm not sure what this is. It could be a foram: 1 Context is critical. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Missourian Posted March 20, 2013 Author Share Posted March 20, 2013 Juvenile versions of macrofossils can be found as well. Here is a baby goniatite, most likely Glaphyrites: This donut-shaped thing may be a burrow lined with shell debris: 1 Context is critical. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Missourian Posted March 20, 2013 Author Share Posted March 20, 2013 For those taking notes, the material was found in the Pennsylvanian Winterset Limestone in Jackson County, Missouri. 1 Context is critical. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspex Posted March 20, 2013 Share Posted March 20, 2013 Good job! Photos (with explanations) of the major steps draw me right in "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...
Missourian Posted March 20, 2013 Author Share Posted March 20, 2013 (edited) Thanks, and I'm not even close to being finished. The material is in a little tray, but there's so much to go through. There must be several dozen ostracods alone. Now I'm trying to figure out the best way to extract them without losing them in the carpet. Edited March 20, 2013 by Missourian Context is critical. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspex Posted March 20, 2013 Share Posted March 20, 2013 Two words: "sneeze guard". "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...
Missourian Posted March 20, 2013 Author Share Posted March 20, 2013 On 3/20/2013 at 6:33 PM, Auspex said: Two words: "sneeze guard". Mmm hmm....*CHOO*! Context is critical. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
masonboro37 Posted March 20, 2013 Share Posted March 20, 2013 (edited) I seriously have to acquire a microscope for this purpose. WOW! Thanks for sharing and the gastropods under the scope are fantastic, so pretty! Edited March 20, 2013 by masonboro37 Process of identification "mistakes create wisdom". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PA Fossil Finder Posted March 21, 2013 Share Posted March 21, 2013 These are amazing! Thanks for sharing these! Stephen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeepDigger Posted March 21, 2013 Share Posted March 21, 2013 That is an awesome mix of micros!!!! I'll have to disolve some of my hash chunks, now I just need to figure out which one I can part with.... hmmm... ditto on the sneeze guard! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Missourian Posted March 21, 2013 Author Share Posted March 21, 2013 On 3/20/2013 at 9:45 PM, JeepDigger said: That is an awesome mix of micros!!!! I'll have to disolve some of my hash chunks, now I just need to figure out which one I can part with.... hmmm... ditto on the sneeze guard! Be sure to check for silica, or you'll just end up with a little mud. Context is critical. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glacialerratic Posted March 21, 2013 Share Posted March 21, 2013 Looks like great fun! Love those gastropods and that baby goniatite!!! Thanks for sharing... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herb Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 Very nice specimens. "Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence"_ Carl Sagen No trees were killed in this posting......however, many innocent electrons were diverted from where they originally intended to go. " I think, therefore I collect fossils." _ Me "When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth."__S. Holmes "can't we all just get along?" Jack Nicholson from Mars Attacks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raistlin Posted April 7, 2013 Share Posted April 7, 2013 Those are sweet. Such great detail on such tiny things, and silicified as well. Really fantastic. RobertSoutheast, MO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeanB Posted April 27, 2013 Share Posted April 27, 2013 Very nice presentation of your work! Jean JeanB Montreal, QC, Canada Ordovician, Trenton group Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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