Roz Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 I am not even sure it's a fossil but it's shape doesn't seem random to me. I have never found any soft bodied fossils before that I am aware of so I am not sure.. Pennsylvanian Period, Texas (Images are of both sides of the nodule).. Welcome to the forum! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piranha Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 Hi Roz, How about a chiton? Debrock, M.D., Hoare, R.D., & Mapes, R.H. (1984) Pennsylvanian (Desmoinesian) Polyplacophora (Mollusca) from Texas. Journal of Paleontology 58(4)1117-1135 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspex Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 There's something pretty interesting going on there...I wonder whether the real nucleus hasn't been exposed yet, and what we see is diagenetic? Is it maybe not split through the center yet? "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...
AgrilusHunter Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 Hmmm ... Could these just be septarian cracks? "They ... savoured the strange warm glow of being much more ignorant than ordinary people, who were only ignorant of ordinary things." -- Terry Pratchett Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roz Posted September 1, 2013 Author Share Posted September 1, 2013 I think it does resemble a chiton! I believe that is what it is.. Thanks, Scott! Welcome to the forum! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspex Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 Roz, I have to note that the "segments" do not go edge-to-edge: Were it a chiton, I think they would. "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...
piranha Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 Roz, I have to note that the "segments" do not go edge-to-edge: Were it a chiton, I think they would. Here is another chiton fossil and the segmentation does not extend to the margins. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AgrilusHunter Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 Scott, with respect, the segments in the image you attached do go edge to edge, especially the middle segment. I'm not conviced this is a chiton at all. "They ... savoured the strange warm glow of being much more ignorant than ordinary people, who were only ignorant of ordinary things." -- Terry Pratchett Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspex Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 To me, the "segments" in Roz's find look like cracks, too irregular to be much else. "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...
piranha Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 ...the segments in the image you attached do go edge to edge, especially the middle segment. On the left side they go to the edge, the right side not so much. I'm not arguing about chiton morphology only making the point that the nodule was split with an irregular fracture and might be obscuring some of the features. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AgrilusHunter Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 (edited) This image in particular looks like septarian cracking to me. Cracks like these form through syneresis of the nodule during compaction of the hosting shale. They are common in siderite nodules and are described in most references to Mazon Creek nodule formation. I hope I'm wrong though as a chiton would be cool. Edited September 2, 2013 by AgrilusHunter 1 "They ... savoured the strange warm glow of being much more ignorant than ordinary people, who were only ignorant of ordinary things." -- Terry Pratchett Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jed '06 Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 Hi Folks, I don't know if it is appropriate to post this here (new member) so please excuse me if it is not. I am pretty much ignorant of fossils although I have been picking up fossils since first grade. After reading this I.D. thread and alot of others I just had to say THANK YOU to everyone on this Fossil Forum. You folks always treat everyone with respect no matter how much they know or don't know. I use fossil I.D. to try to learn a few things! WONDERFUL SITE AND WONDERFUL PEOPLE! Thank you all, Jed '06 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roz Posted September 2, 2013 Author Share Posted September 2, 2013 Thanks for your help everyone.. I already have septarian nodules so would rather it be a chiton but looks like I need to continue to search to find one! On two areas the slits look like thin plates so septarian makes sense now.. Jed, welcome to the forum and you are right.. This forum is as good as its members and we have the best! Welcome to the forum! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ckmerlin Posted September 2, 2013 Share Posted September 2, 2013 Hi Folks, I don't know if it is appropriate to post this here (new member) so please excuse me if it is not. I am pretty much ignorant of fossils although I have been picking up fossils since first grade. After reading this I.D. thread and alot of others I just had to say THANK YOU to everyone on this Fossil Forum. You folks always treat everyone with respect no matter how much they know or don't know. I use fossil I.D. to try to learn a few things! WONDERFUL SITE AND WONDERFUL PEOPLE! Thank you all, Jed '06 Hi Jed welcome to the forum this site is the best and the people here are as you say respectful and friendly Hope you find some fossils to show us good luck best regards Chris "A man who stares at a rock must have a lot on his mind... or nothing at all' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ckmerlin Posted September 2, 2013 Share Posted September 2, 2013 Thanks for your help everyone.. I already have septarian nodules so would rather it be a chiton but looks like I need to continue to search to find one! On two areas the slits look like thin plates so septarian makes sense now.. Jed, welcome to the forum and you are right.. This forum is as good as its members and we have the best! Hi Roz hope you find that chiton soon too best regards Chris "A man who stares at a rock must have a lot on his mind... or nothing at all' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carl Posted September 3, 2013 Share Posted September 3, 2013 I also think it might be merely dessication cracks. Check out this conversation on the Forum: Is This A Rock Or A Fossil? What Am I? Started by beachgal, Jul 13 2013 01:46 AM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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