Back To The Puerco

[PFOOLEY]

OK I see Sepkoski agrees with you..

I wouldn't necessarily say he agrees with "me", for I have only learned from those (Cobban, Hook, Sealey, etc.) who may have walked those hills before me.

Also, how the heck to you navigate that guy's website. I got lost in a hurry.

[PFOOLEY]

Well, another trip back to the Puerco. I started the morning with a jaunt through the Juana Lopez (Turonian) to search for some "creature hash". The first find was this very nice pair of prionocylus macombi...

...already happy as a goat in a clover patch, I continued on to find this prionocyclus sp. (I think it may be wyomingensis, but will have to do a bit more prep)...

...not too far away, I saw this nice ptychodus tooth sticking out of a concretion...

...

[PFOOLEY]

...as my journey continued, I found this prionocyclus sp. chunk with a p. macombi inside...

...I headed back to the truck and ended my Juana Lopez adventure with this very cool p. macombi...

...off to the Dakota Sandstone ...

[PFOOLEY]

...just a short drive away, I headed into the Dakota Sandstone (Cenomanian) member of the Mancos Shale. Right away I noticed this calcite. Turned out to be a very weathered ammonite...

...right up the ridge, I found these two bivalves eroding from the sandstone...

...and then this nice little acanthoceras amphibolum...

...

[PFOOLEY]

...did quite a bit of hiking with little results. Due to time constraints, had to head back. Then WHAM, laying out right in front of me was this a. amphibolum...

...thought that was quite a fitting ending to the day. As I put my pack back on, BAM, not five feet away was another...

...thank you maam, I'm headin' home. I have had that spot on my mind since. Will definitely be back.

As always, happy hunting.

-P.

[Uncle Siphuncle]

excellent return on investment!

[PFOOLEY]

excellent return on investment!

Yessir!

[Ludwigia]

...did quite a bit of hiking with little results. Due to time constraints, had to head back. Then WHAM, laying out right in front of me was this a. amphibolum...

acanthoceras2.jpg

...and didn't your heart skip a beat? I always find the unexpected finds are the most exciting.

Edited September 14, 2013 by Ludwigia

[PFOOLEY]

...and didn't your heart skip a beat?

Never fails. Every find brings excitement, but when you're tired, far from the truck and have called it a day, those unexpected discoveries while you're hiking back really get ya giddy. I suppose that is the reason we all enjoy this.

[fossilcrazee]

You are an exceptionally skilled story teller; I enjoyed every moment of your trip. As for the finds - unbelievable! The "crustacean in ammonite" is pure magic. Thanks very much for taking the time to post such a great report.

[6ix]

Wow, what a great time you are having out there... fantastic finds.

[PFOOLEY]

You are an exceptionally skilled story teller; I enjoyed every moment of your trip. As for the finds - unbelievable! The "crustacean in ammonite" is pure magic. Thanks very much for taking the time to post such a great report.

Thank you for the kind words. I still smile whenever I pick up that little lobster... one of my favorites. Never thought of it as "pure magic", but will from now on.

Wow, what a great time you are having out there... fantastic finds.

A great time indeed! Thanks for lookin'.

[PFOOLEY]

Got the chance to get back to the Puerco...

...to search the Carlile Shale...

...

[PFOOLEY]

...I found this prionocyclus...

...that did not prep out so well...

...something about that calcite , hit or miss...

[PFOOLEY]

...a few Prionocyclus...

...one of which, cleaned up very nicely...

...something about that calcite ...

Edited January 24, 2015 by PFOOLEY

[PFOOLEY]

...a nice ptychodus tooth...

...and this interesting tooth. I have never found a tooth like this in the Carlile.

Very cool.

Happy hunting.

-P.

[MarcoSr]

....and this interesting tooth. I have never found a tooth like this in the Carlile.

tooth1.jpg tooth2.jpg

Very cool.

Happy hunting.

-P.

Mike

Really interesting tooth! There are probably a lot more interesting teeth in that Carlile Shale. Too bad the matrix is like cement and so difficult to break down. Sometimes matrix like that does soften up a bit from being heavily weathered. If you ever run across some that is starting to crumble from the heat and rain, that would be some to take home. I'm assuming that you are not going to try to fully expose that tooth. I'm really curious about what the entire tooth looks like. Although what we see may be all that is there.

Marco Sr.

[PFOOLEY]

... I'm assuming that you are not going to try to fully expose that tooth. I'm really curious about what the entire tooth looks like...

I think I may try boiling it to see if the matrix will break down. I too am curious about what the tooth looks like. I will post a photo when I get it out of the rock.

[MarcoSr]

I think I may try boiling it to see if the matrix will break down. I too am curious about what the tooth looks like. I will post a photo when I get it out of the rock.

Mike

I boiled the Carlile matrix multiple times in 10% vinegar for 2hrs at a time on a hot plate and got very little breakdown at all. That is some tough matrix. Hopefully you will have better luck. I would recommend that you use water when you boil it because vinegar might attack the single exposed tooth.

Marco Sr.

[PFOOLEY]

I soaked the matrix last night and futzed with it today before putting it to boil. Pulled these two strange teeth so far...

... Cool.

[MarcoSr]

I soaked the matrix last night and futzed with it today before putting it to boil. Pulled these two strange teeth so far...

teeth.jpg

... Cool.

Mike

Both teeth are interesting! Did you use any mechanical means to remove the teeth or just soaking and boiling? I'd like to know what is working because I'd like to give it a try on the Carlile that you sent to me. As you know, nothing that I tried worked well to break it down.. Although if your matrix piece is more naturally weathered, that might really help in the breakdown process.

Marco Sr.

[PFOOLEY]

Did you use any mechanical means to remove the teeth or just soaking and boiling? I'd like to know what is working because I'd like to give it a try on the Carlile that you sent to me. As you know, nothing that I tried worked well to break it down.. Although if your matrix piece is more naturally weathered, that might really help in the breakdown process.

Soaking overnight caused some of the piece to loosen and crumble. The grain of this matrix is a bit larger and less cemented than that which I sent your way. So far, boiling once for two hours has not caused the matrix to break down any more than soaking it. I will give it a ago again this evening with a bit of vinegar. I am very curious to see what else may hiding.

[Roz]

Very interesting teeth. I wish I knew what kind.. I imagine you do too!

Maybe post them in the ID section?

[PFOOLEY]

On Saturday, I headed back to the Puerco for a few hours...

...where the day was rich with goodies , like this P. Hyatti...

....

Edited January 24, 2015 by PFOOLEY

[PFOOLEY]

...a few nice bivalves...

...