RCFossils Posted October 17, 2013 Share Posted October 17, 2013 Well, the collecting year here in the Chicagoland area will soon be coming to an end. I wanted to share some of my best finds that I collected from the Mazon Creek deposit this year.It was a crazy busy year with both work and family obligations so I was only able to make it out collecting 5 times. All specimens pictured were collected in the Essex portion of the Mazon Creek deposit. The area is now named the Mazonia Braidwood Wildlife Area. It was owned by the Peabody Coal Company and is generally known to collectors as Pit Eleven.. The original strip mines were flooded and a nuclear power plant was built on the site in the 1980s. Most of the collecting area is either under water or covered by vegetation. I collected approximately 2500 concretions this year and have had approximately seventy-five percent split open using a freeze that method. The majority of the concretions contained nothing. Out of the 2500, I probably found 50 Essexella jellyfish. I also found the usual plant fragments, common worms, shrimp and shrimp molts and bivalves. We had some heavy rains this Spring and I was fortunate to get some great concretions. Here are some of my best finds The first specimen is the most famous animal from the Mazon Creek deposit. It is a complete Tullymonstrum gregarium (Tully Monster). I have collected over 50 Tullies in my 30 years of collecting. Almost all Tullies found are partials. This is the second complete example that I have collected. They are very rare to find complete and almost unheard of to find today. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RCFossils Posted October 17, 2013 Author Share Posted October 17, 2013 I found examples of several different polychaete worms. By far the best was this spectacular Esconites zelus. You almost never find worms this well preserved. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RCFossils Posted October 17, 2013 Author Share Posted October 17, 2013 This is one of the more interesting fossils that can be found in the Mazon Creek deposit. This is the earliest known occurrence of vertebrate eggs (Mazonova helmichnus). These eggs were most likely laid by a fish or early amphibian. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RCFossils Posted October 17, 2013 Author Share Posted October 17, 2013 I found several great shrimp this year. This is a great example of Kellibrooksia macrogaster . It is one of the rarest shrimp in the deposit and the 2nd I have found. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TNGray Posted October 17, 2013 Share Posted October 17, 2013 Awesome... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RCFossils Posted October 17, 2013 Author Share Posted October 17, 2013 The next specimen is one of the more problematic organisms that can be found in the Essex Deposit. This is a nice example of escumasia roryi or the wye animal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RCFossils Posted October 17, 2013 Author Share Posted October 17, 2013 Here is another great shrimp that recently split open. This is an example of Acanthotelson stimpsoni. It is the most common shrimp found in the Braidwood portion of the deposit but good examples from the Essex portion are rare. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RCFossils Posted October 17, 2013 Author Share Posted October 17, 2013 I was fortunate to collect 2 fish this year. I believe this is a paleoniscoid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RCFossils Posted October 17, 2013 Author Share Posted October 17, 2013 This is a nice multiple example of the rare arrow worm Paucijaculum samamithion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RCFossils Posted October 17, 2013 Author Share Posted October 17, 2013 This next specimen is a first for me and is also one of the rarest fossils I have ever collected from the MC deposit. It is a grouping of undescribed brachiopods. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RCFossils Posted October 17, 2013 Author Share Posted October 17, 2013 Here is a nice multiple example of the scallop Aviculopecten mazonensis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RCFossils Posted October 17, 2013 Author Share Posted October 17, 2013 This is a neat example of the bivalve Myalinella meeki attached to a branch. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RCFossils Posted October 17, 2013 Author Share Posted October 17, 2013 This is an example of the rare bivalve Schizodus cf. wheeleri. It is the largest bivalve known from the deposit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Missourian Posted October 17, 2013 Share Posted October 17, 2013 This next specimen is a first for me and is also one of the rarest fossils I have ever collected from the MC deposit. It is a grouping of undescribed brachiopods. They look like Derbyia. It's interesting how they are associated with ostracods. In our Pennsylvanian, I run into countless shale deposits with Derbyia, Aviculopecten and myalinids. Looking at the Essex material makes me wonder what else was lurking in those waters.... Context is critical. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeymig Posted October 17, 2013 Share Posted October 17, 2013 I found examples of several different polychaete worms. By far the best was this spectacular Esconites zelus. You almost never find worms this well preserved. Nice season! Is it me (prob is) or does this worm have eyes? mikey Many times I've wondered how much there is to know. led zeppelin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspex Posted October 17, 2013 Share Posted October 17, 2013 What a treat it is to enjoy the fruits of your labor and expertise! Thank you for interpreting these for us, and congratulations on a year well spent "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...
sixgill pete Posted October 18, 2013 Share Posted October 18, 2013 Those 2 shrimp are amazing. Wonderful finds and thanks for sharing them with us. Bulldozers and dirt Bulldozers and dirt behind the trailer, my desert Them red clay piles are heaven on earth I get my rocks off, bulldozers and dirt Patterson Hood; Drive-By Truckers May 2016 May 2012 Aug 2013, May 2016, Apr 2020 Oct 2022 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RCFossils Posted October 30, 2013 Author Share Posted October 30, 2013 They look like Derbyia. It's interesting how they are associated with ostracods. In our Pennsylvanian, I run into countless shale deposits with Derbyia, Aviculopecten and myalinids. Looking at the Essex material makes me wonder what else was lurking in those waters.... Thanks Missourian, I am still waiting on a positive ID Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RCFossils Posted October 30, 2013 Author Share Posted October 30, 2013 Nice season! Is it me (prob is) or does this worm have eyes? mikey Hi Mikey, I think the structures that look like eyes are the bases on the antennae Thanks everyone for the nice comments 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Russell Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 Wow! Congratulations on your awesome finds Rob! That worm is amazing! Thanks for sharing your pictures and knowledge with us. It's always a pleasure. Finding my way through life; one fossil at a time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffrey P Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 Congratulations on some wonderful museum quality finds. Your hard work splitting endless concretions certainly paid off. I'm not that familiar with the Mazon Creek fauna/flora, but anyone can't help but be impressed. You're fortunate to have access to a justly famous site as this and willingness to take advantage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tidgy's Dad Posted January 10, 2018 Share Posted January 10, 2018 Beautiful. I'm a bit late posting here, but some of those specimens are extraordinary! Thank you! Life's Good! Tortoise Friend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fifbrindacier Posted January 10, 2018 Share Posted January 10, 2018 I too am a bit late for posting here, but i do love your finds, thanks for sharing. Cheers, Sophie. "On ne voit bien que par le coeur, l'essentiel est invisible pour les yeux." (Antoine de Saint-Exupéry) "We only well see with the heart, the essential is invisible for the eyes." In memory of Doren Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossil-Hound Posted January 15, 2018 Share Posted January 15, 2018 @RCFossils thanks for making the winter months on TFF interesting! Neat finds! Do or do not. There is no try. - Yoda Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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