MarcoSr Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 I just finished searching some matrix from Grant Co., South Dakota from the Cretaceous. I want to thank Trevor for sending it to me. From the species that I found I believe that the matrix is Turonian. In one of Trevor’s posts, siteseer suggested that the matrix was Middle-Late Turonian in age and could be from the Turner Sandy Member of the Carlile Shale. I searched about a gallon of finer loose matrix. I still have two gallons of bigger chunks of matrix to breakdown and am breaking down a sample right now. The sample is breaking down very slowly in vinegar and may take weeks with vinegar changes to breakdown completely. There were several different layers in this matrix. One light grey conglomerate seemed to produce the nicer quality teeth so that is what I’m trying to break down. I may not break down the matrix from the layers that seem to produce the reworked teeth or the damaged teeth. I did find some really nice specimens. I usually look for micros (shark, ray and fish). There were only a small number of nice micros in the matrix. I found more and nicer conditioned larger teeth like Ptychodus and Squalicorax so I’m posting both the nicer micros and larger teeth. If you place your cursor on a JPEG image you will see the file name which will have the specimen id as best that I can determine and the specimen size. Each matrix that I search makes me more of an avid micro tooth collector. If anyone has or can collect good matrix with shark, ray, and fish micros please send me a PM. Marco Sr. "Any day that you can fossil hunt is a great day." My family fossil website Some Of My Shark, Ray, Fish And Other Micros My Extant Shark Jaw Collection Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcoSr Posted June 21, 2013 Author Share Posted June 21, 2013 Several additional specimens. Marco Sr. "Any day that you can fossil hunt is a great day." My family fossil website Some Of My Shark, Ray, Fish And Other Micros My Extant Shark Jaw Collection Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plantguy Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 Hi MarcoSr, nice finds! good photos...what type of camera/scanner are you using to take the closeups? Thanks for showing us. Regards, Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcoSr Posted June 21, 2013 Author Share Posted June 21, 2013 Hi MarcoSr, nice finds! good photos...what type of camera/scanner are you using to take the closeups? Thanks for showing us. Regards, Chris Chris Over the years I tried cameras, scanners and microscopes to take my pictures. I am now using a Dino-Lite digital microscope for my pictures. At some point I'll probably start using a stacking software to improve the depth focus. Marco Sr. "Any day that you can fossil hunt is a great day." My family fossil website Some Of My Shark, Ray, Fish And Other Micros My Extant Shark Jaw Collection Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tj102569 Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 great stuff, i was glad to send you the matrix. i have 8 more 5 gallon buckets of it...lol. heading out again tomorrow to a new location to see what i can see. this one, i will be getting wet..lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpc Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 nice.. what is that one on the left in the second post? Bizarre. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcoSr Posted June 21, 2013 Author Share Posted June 21, 2013 nice.. what is that one on the left in the second post? Bizarre. Sawfish rostral tooth. I am not sure of the genus/species because I've seen conflicting identification in different publications. I know that I find these when I find Ptychotrygon triangularis oral teeth in the same matrix. Marco Sr. "Any day that you can fossil hunt is a great day." My family fossil website Some Of My Shark, Ray, Fish And Other Micros My Extant Shark Jaw Collection Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpc Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 (edited) Sawfish rostral tooth. I am not sure of the genus/species because I've seen conflicting identification in different publications. I know that I find these when I find Ptychotrygon triangularis oral teeth in the same matrix. Marco Sr. That's what I thought, but I've never seen one from the Carlile or its pal the frontier. Cool. Are the Ptychodus teeth really small? Oh, I just noticed that rolling my mouse over the photo gives me all sorts of info.... like size and ID. Edited June 21, 2013 by jpc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcoSr Posted June 21, 2013 Author Share Posted June 21, 2013 That's what I thought, but I've never seen one from the Carlile or its pal the frontier. Cool. Are the Ptychodus teeth really small? Oh, I just noticed that rolling my mouse over the photo gives me all sorts of info.... like size and ID. Normally when someone sends me matrix the matrix tends to be fairly fine so there are no larger teeth in it. Trevor not only sent fine matrix that I could search for micros but also larger chunks that had larger teeth like the Ptychodus. The Ptychodus ranged from 15mm to as small as 5mm. Yes if you mouse over the photos you will see my best guess at an id and the size of the specimen. Marco Sr. "Any day that you can fossil hunt is a great day." My family fossil website Some Of My Shark, Ray, Fish And Other Micros My Extant Shark Jaw Collection Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donckey Posted June 23, 2013 Share Posted June 23, 2013 Again a great "micro" topic. Thanks for sharing all those matrix finds from different places and times Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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