TqB Posted February 14, 2017 Author Share Posted February 14, 2017 Having said a couple of posts ago that I don't find Palastraea regia in my area, I was astonished when this specimen of it turned up recently. It's from the basal Namurian Great Limestone (that's upper Mississippian), found in weathered quarry spoil. As far as I know (and having checked with a specialist), it's a first record from this bed. It's fairly common in some other parts of the UK but a few cyclothems down. The voids between the calcite walls are filled with silica so there's an attractive negative weathering effect. Weardale, County Durham. vertical section: 2 Tarquin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ludwigia Posted February 14, 2017 Share Posted February 14, 2017 Congratulations on that, Tarquin! Greetings from the Lake of Constance. Roger http://www.steinkern.de/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TqB Posted February 14, 2017 Author Share Posted February 14, 2017 Thanks, Roger, it's always good to be surprised. Tarquin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FossilDAWG Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 I have a general fondness for corals, but that specimen is spectacular! Don Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TqB Posted February 26, 2017 Author Share Posted February 26, 2017 Thanks, Don, corals can be underrated! Tarquin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doushantuo Posted February 26, 2017 Share Posted February 26, 2017 Maybe,but not by me Out of this world Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TqB Posted June 9, 2017 Author Share Posted June 9, 2017 For the Collections section, I have just rephotographed this specimen from my first post here, using a better camera setup. The 3D detail of the structure visible through the clear calcite fill is rather pleasing. Actinocyathus floriformis (or possibly laticlavia - a larger corallite that may be the same species anyway). Namurian, Pendleian Stage, Great Limestone, Northumberland., 1 Tarquin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doushantuo Posted June 9, 2017 Share Posted June 9, 2017 Once again you've made it painfully obvious that you don't know the first thing about photographing fossil corals by inflicting more of these Rohrschachy shapeless blobs upon us poor hapless TFF members.I've seen more detail in a can of black paint hidden underneath a black tarpaulin at the bottom of a coal mine while wearing sunglasses.At midnight. Hideous! So ,what's Ian like? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TqB Posted June 9, 2017 Author Share Posted June 9, 2017 @doushantuo Your kind comments are gratefully noted. Er - which Ian would that be? Tarquin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JUAN EMMANUEL Posted June 9, 2017 Share Posted June 9, 2017 Sweet corals. The ones you showed are at a different level from the ones I collect here in my area locally. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TqB Posted July 20, 2017 Author Share Posted July 20, 2017 Thanks, @JUAN EMMANUEL - sorry, missed your comment! Same species as the last one but another locality and preservation. Found recently and cut today. Actinocyathus floriformis, , Pendleian Stage, Great Limestone, County Durham. Brass scale bar 1cm. . 1 Tarquin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jewelonly Posted July 21, 2017 Share Posted July 21, 2017 Absolutely stunning collection! I'm glad I don't have to pick a favorite! Leah Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TqB Posted July 21, 2017 Author Share Posted July 21, 2017 Thanks, Leah! I have at least ten favourite species. Tarquin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plantguy Posted July 30, 2017 Share Posted July 30, 2017 yep amazing material/collection. Congrats. Thanks for all the neat photos. Regards, Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minnbuckeye Posted July 30, 2017 Share Posted July 30, 2017 Just enjoyed this post in it's entirety. Can you walk us through how you cut and polish these. I have collected enough corals to begin to "sacrifice" some in order to expose their inner beauty. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TqB Posted July 30, 2017 Author Share Posted July 30, 2017 @Plantguy & @minnbuckeye. Thanks for the comments! Mike - the process is simple. I use a 14" rock saw (diamond blade, water lubricated) to cut the pieces, then grind with successive grits of wet and dry paper (used wet) laid flat on a glass sheet. The glass sheet has another piece of wet & dry (150) glued to the upper surface to stop things sliding around. A typical sequence of grits would be 150 - 240 - 400 - 600 - 800 - 1200. After 800 or 1200, the surface is good enough to photograph just covered with water in a bowl. This looks a lot better than a dry, polished surface and the slightly matt finish stops the thin water layer from clumping up. If I want a display polish, I use a 10" cloth buffing wheel (mounted in a lathe) with a polishing compound (for stainless steel I think but I got it from my prep tools maker). Otherwise, I've used cerium oxide paste on a sheet of hard leather - a wheel is a lot easier though for a large slice. 3 Tarquin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minnbuckeye Posted July 30, 2017 Share Posted July 30, 2017 5 hours ago, TqB said: Mike - the process is simple. I use a 14" rock saw (diamond blade, water lubricated) to cut the pieces, then grind with successive grits of wet and dry paper (used wet) laid flat on a glass sheet. The glass sheet has another piece of wet & dry (150) glued to the upper surface to stop things sliding around. Thanks so much for the insight. I have all of those tools. Glad an expensive piece of equipment was not needed. Will make it a winter "chore" in a few months. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TqB Posted October 4, 2017 Author Share Posted October 4, 2017 Dibunophyllum bipartitum is an iconic solitary coral and is usually the most common species in my local Carboniferous limestone. I've been looking for a while for a specimen showing this preservation, with clear calcite infill - most of them are rather granular looking. This one is from a crinoidal layer where corals are rare and somewhat rolled but usually showing this detailed, 3D structure. Four successive sections taken over about 3cm of it's length. The brass scale bar is 1cm long. Photo 1 - typical of the species, with the strong central lamella dividing the axis in two. Photos 2 & 3 show the lamella breaking down - this is a variant that has been used as the basis of a subspecies, D. bipartitum konincki. The variation is continuous across the species though so is of limited use - specimens from one area or bed may tend to one or another: Photo 4 is from just below the top of the sediment filled calice and shows the axial structure carrying into the central boss. 1 Tarquin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted October 4, 2017 Share Posted October 4, 2017 Tarquin, This is truly informative thread, and has opened my eyes to the beauty and mystery surrounding these creatures. Thanks for the ongoing lessons. Regards, Tim - VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER VFOTM - APRIL - 2015 __________________________________________________ "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." John Muir ~ ~ ~ ~ ><))))( *> About Me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doushantuo Posted October 4, 2017 Share Posted October 4, 2017 *word* er likewise,ditto,second dat emo,great specimens. A sight for soar I's Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobby Rico Posted October 4, 2017 Share Posted October 4, 2017 Wow incredibly beautiful corals and really nice photos they are otherworldly. Very Nice Tarquin I am envious. Kind regards Bobby Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LordTrilobite Posted October 4, 2017 Share Posted October 4, 2017 I'm generally not a coral guy. But these are just absolutely beautiful. Olof Moleman AKA Lord Trilobite Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TqB Posted October 5, 2017 Author Share Posted October 5, 2017 Thanks for the kind comments, @Fossildude19 @doushantuo @Bobby Rico @LordTrilobite. I collected other groups for years before almost accidentally starting on the local Carboniferous corals. I still get a buzz out of every slice. Tarquin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ludwigia Posted October 5, 2017 Share Posted October 5, 2017 I'll echo everyone else's comments. Not only beautiful, but also extremely informative in relation to identification details. Greetings from the Lake of Constance. Roger http://www.steinkern.de/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobby Rico Posted October 5, 2017 Share Posted October 5, 2017 I too agree with Ludwigia it is concisely , informative and enjoyable post. But as an Artist i can't get over the refinement of the structures combined with the contrasting pigments makes them phenomenal polished slices of rock. Next pay day I am looking around for some polished corals to add to my collection. Inspired. Cheers Bobby Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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