silverphoenix Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 Well I mainly went yesterday to clean my apartment before classes start, but I decided to go out and do some fossil hunting for a couple hours before dark. I was trying out my new swing pick and I STRUCK GOLD!!! Well, not really--though I have found several silver nodules, but for me it was lol. I struck an extremely fossiliferous shell bed that was about 1 1/2"-2" thick and etended about 2 feet back by 4 feet across. I dug the entire thing out, sifted it, and saved the window screen catch to go through at home (a little less than 3 quarts total). What I brought back is FULL of otoliths! And teeth! Woohoo! I've never found a shell bed like this in all my digging, but take a look at all I found in this one spot--I even found a cuddlefish beak!!!!!!!! I did my own repair work on everything with super glue---I've always said "give me the pieces and I'll make it whole again!"...by the way, if anyone needs something repaired, let me know--you can take a look at what I've done...it's not as simple to put stuff back together as you'd think...especially when some pieces are as small as half a lady bug's wing... rare species from here and extremely rare in this size, but AAHHHHHHHH! I dropped the lil sucker because I had gloves on...so it's siphond broke off never to be found! New size of conus for me Largest piece of coral I've found here--very rare to come across. It was complete when I found it, but broke into about 5 pieces in the cleaning process. it's complete again minus pieces I couldn't see. 2 COMPLETE conus shells!!!! 99% of the time they're missing some of the shell lip, but it usually goes without notice. These are extremely fragile at the shell lip and I had to stabilize it with super glue before cleaning. Conus with a parasite of sorts I removed accidently in cleaning---I'm keeping the two together--pretty interesting What the heck are these balls??? otolith pile--I just started throwing them in my microfossil dirt bags after a while...so this is a fraction of what I found... What is this? Repaired. Coprolite? (*wishful thinking) extremely biodegraded conus I had to piece back together. large protus gabbi I found--2nd largest I have found. fossil olive shell predecessor Tons of conus heads...including a couple I cut off with my swing pick... =C New species of coral for me--never found one of these before! Microfossil dirt to go through (1 of 3 bags) AND NOW, HERE IT IS, THE EXTREMELY RARE AND HIGHELY SOUGHT AFTER SQUID (Really a cuddlefish) BEAK!!!!!!!!!!! Repaired in one place, but undamaged by me--all ancient damage besides the one piece I repaired (unnoticeable) Don't you just love it when trips go right? lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bmorefossil Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 cool finds Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmy1971 Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 Very nice! Love the beak! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbstedman Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 Great specimens. I take it this means your apartment is still a mess (or is a mess once again)? Besides fossils, I collect roadcuts, Stream beds, Winter beaches: Places of pilgrimage. Jasper Burns, Fossil Dreams Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roz Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 Someone was busy cleaning up.... Want to find a beak like that! That is still on my list... One of the round items almost looks like a seed but not sure if they are all fossils. Afraid I just don't know enough to tell. Welcome to the forum! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jkfoam Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 Silverphoenix, The Olive shell predecessor is Ancilla staminea punctulifera (Gabb). Beautiful Conus (Lithoconus) sauridens (Conrad) shells. Most folks don't realize how difficult it is to recover the shells with the whole lip in place and complete. The squid beak is Belosaepia ungula Gabb. Oh, also, the new coral for you is Balanophyllia irrorata (Conrad). Nice collecting. JKFoam 1 The Eocene is my favorite Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest N.AL.hunter Posted January 9, 2009 Share Posted January 9, 2009 Nice stuff there. Really neat to see specimens that are not too common. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnJ Posted January 9, 2009 Share Posted January 9, 2009 Now you're getting the swing of it. That's a really nice beak! The human mind has the ability to believe anything is true. - JJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommabetts Posted January 9, 2009 Share Posted January 9, 2009 Awesome finds, better than cleaning any day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Nicholas Posted January 9, 2009 Share Posted January 9, 2009 Great beak! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeD Posted January 9, 2009 Share Posted January 9, 2009 Dude, you are an addict! You got some nice stuff on that trip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phoenixflood Posted January 9, 2009 Share Posted January 9, 2009 Dude, you are an addict! You got some nice stuff on that trip. Yeah, nice hull! The soul of a Fossil Hunter is one that is seeking, always. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
makoken Posted January 9, 2009 Share Posted January 9, 2009 Yeah, nice hull! Can't wait to go . Don't be getting everything cool. I just won't have it !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverphoenix Posted January 9, 2009 Author Share Posted January 9, 2009 Silverphoenix,The Olive shell predecessor is Ancilla staminea punctulifera (Gabb). Beautiful Conus (Lithoconus) sauridens (Conrad) shells. Most folks don't realize how difficult it is to recover the shells with the whole lip in place and complete. The squid beak is Belosaepia ungula Gabb. Oh, also, the new coral for you is Balanophyllia irrorata (Conrad). Nice collecting. JKFoam Thanks for the ID's! It's true that the conus shells are hard to recover complete--most people will pull it out, the first 1/2 cm of shell lip will fall off along a shell growth ridge perfectly, and they don't even notice. I have 3 100% complete conus now, 45 95% complete (missing most fragile part of shell lip), and countless conus heads and brokes. Thanks for the comments! I enjoy sharing my many trips (I do post trips pretty often don't I? lol) with everyone and I'm glad that here in a couple weeks or so I'll have some company haha I guess I am a little addicted...well I guess being a geo major and being a paleobiology research assitent fit me well--I mean where else would they put fossil addicts? lol Don't worry, there's more shell layers to be uncovered and since I know the site very well and have dug in just about every spot on there, I'm more than happy to reveal some good spots so you can find some keepers to show off I just want to find a nautiloid and a fossil crab now...just watch one fall on my head and me throw it in the river--only realizing what it is after it's left my hand...so I jump after it.. and OH WOW I need to always have my rope on and anchored!!! lol By the way, would everyone agree on this list of rarity on the most well known fossils found at the Stone City formation? Rarest:1. Nautiloid 2. crabs 3. Squid beak (cuddlefish) 4. Gar scales 5. Fish Vertebrae 6. Shark teeth 7. Coral (2 rare varieties, turbinolia any bryozoa are common--the 2 larger species are most rare) 8. Conus shells 9. bolis enterogramma 10. fusimitria polita Most common 3:Pseudoliva vetusta carinata, Protosurcula gabbi, Latirus moorei Mid-range is the rest Fish otoliths are common as well in the right shell layers, but mostly found going through "microfossil samples" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oh-Man Posted January 9, 2009 Share Posted January 9, 2009 Chase, I'd tend to agree with the top three. Great beak - a good bit nicer than the one I have. I guess I would throw in the olive shells near the top since I've never pulled a clean one out, but have lots of small teeth. I'd put "large mako" teeth in the top 5, too. JohnJ and MikeD should have some opinions to offer, too. Congrats! O Thanks for the ID's! It's true that the conus shells are hard to recover complete--most people will pull it out, the first 1/2 cm of shell lip will fall off along a shell growth ridge perfectly, and they don't even notice. I have 3 100% complete conus now, 45 95% complete (missing most fragile part of shell lip), and countless conus heads and brokes.Thanks for the comments! I enjoy sharing my many trips (I do post trips pretty often don't I? lol) with everyone and I'm glad that here in a couple weeks or so I'll have some company haha I guess I am a little addicted...well I guess being a geo major and being a paleobiology research assitent fit me well--I mean where else would they put fossil addicts? lol Don't worry, there's more shell layers to be uncovered and since I know the site very well and have dug in just about every spot on there, I'm more than happy to reveal some good spots so you can find some keepers to show off I just want to find a nautiloid and a fossil crab now...just watch one fall on my head and me throw it in the river--only realizing what it is after it's left my hand...so I jump after it.. and OH WOW I need to always have my rope on and anchored!!! lol By the way, would everyone agree on this list of rarity on the most well known fossils found at the Stone City formation? Rarest:1. Nautiloid 2. crabs 3. Squid beak (cuddlefish) 4. Gar scales 5. Fish Vertebrae 6. Shark teeth 7. Coral (2 rare varieties, turbinolia any bryozoa are common--the 2 larger species are most rare) 8. Conus shells 9. bolis enterogramma 10. fusimitria polita Most common 3:Pseudoliva vetusta carinata, Protosurcula gabbi, Latirus moorei Mid-range is the rest Fish otoliths are common as well in the right shell layers, but mostly found going through "microfossil samples" What is geology? "Rocks for Jocks!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
makoken Posted January 9, 2009 Share Posted January 9, 2009 Thanks for the ID's! It's true that the conus shells are hard to recover complete--most people will pull it out, the first 1/2 cm of shell lip will fall off along a shell growth ridge perfectly, and they don't even notice. I have 3 100% complete conus now, 45 95% complete (missing most fragile part of shell lip), and countless conus heads and brokes.Thanks for the comments! I enjoy sharing my many trips (I do post trips pretty often don't I? lol) with everyone and I'm glad that here in a couple weeks or so I'll have some company haha I guess I am a little addicted...well I guess being a geo major and being a paleobiology research assitent fit me well--I mean where else would they put fossil addicts? lol Don't worry, there's more shell layers to be uncovered and since I know the site very well and have dug in just about every spot on there, I'm more than happy to reveal some good spots so you can find some keepers to show off I just want to find a nautiloid and a fossil crab now...just watch one fall on my head and me throw it in the river--only realizing what it is after it's left my hand...so I jump after it.. and OH WOW I need to always have my rope on and anchored!!! lol By the way, would everyone agree on this list of rarity on the most well known fossils found at the Stone City formation? Rarest:1. Nautiloid 2. crabs 3. Squid beak (cuddlefish) 4. Gar scales 5. Fish Vertebrae 6. Shark teeth 7. Coral (2 rare varieties, turbinolia any bryozoa are common--the 2 larger species are most rare) 8. Conus shells 9. bolis enterogramma 10. fusimitria polita Most common 3:Pseudoliva vetusta carinata, Protosurcula gabbi, Latirus moorei Mid-range is the rest Fish otoliths are common as well in the right shell layers, but mostly found going through "microfossil samples" Is W.B. the same formation as the Brazos stuff I collected today? It appears so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverphoenix Posted January 9, 2009 Author Share Posted January 9, 2009 The site in Burleson is the Stone City Formation--anything from Whiskey Bridge is in that formation--other places along the Brazos I'm not as sure as to give an honest answer about Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverphoenix Posted January 9, 2009 Author Share Posted January 9, 2009 Chase,I'd tend to agree with the top three. Great beak - a good bit nicer than the one I have. I guess I would throw in the olive shells near the top since I've never pulled a clean one out, but have lots of small teeth. I'd put "large mako" teeth in the top 5, too. JohnJ and MikeD should have some opinions to offer, too. Congrats! O It's very debatable I guess--everyone finds something different. I've found a good number of those olive shells and complete too. Do you sift and sort microfossil dirt from there? That's where I've found all but 2 of mine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
makoken Posted January 9, 2009 Share Posted January 9, 2009 The site in Burleson is the Stone City Formation--anything from Whiskey Bridge is in that formation--other places along the Brazos I'm not as sure as to give an honest answer about I was was near Bryan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverphoenix Posted January 9, 2009 Author Share Posted January 9, 2009 Just replied to your post--same place as where I dig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
makoken Posted January 9, 2009 Share Posted January 9, 2009 Just replied to your post--same place as where I dig Very cool! can't wait to hit it for a day. What can be found in the tan layer above. Did you say you went today? If so what time? We may have almost crossed paths. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverphoenix Posted January 9, 2009 Author Share Posted January 9, 2009 I went yesterday, but you probably dug near me from the pics I don't find anything in the tan layer--but I will show you which layers produce what. It's easy to catch onto and we'll have an entire day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jkfoam Posted January 9, 2009 Share Posted January 9, 2009 The site in Burleson is the Stone City Formation--anything from Whiskey Bridge is in that formation--other places along the Brazos I'm not as sure as to give an honest answer about Actually, there are three formations exposed at the Whiskey Bridge location (Bridge over the Brazos River at Texas Hiway 21) at very low river levels. During the summer and other times of very low water levels, the Sparta Sand may be seen. The Stone city Formation overlies the Sparta Sand. The Wheelock Member of the Cook Mountain Formation overlies the Stone City Formation with some disconformity. The best exposure of the Wheelock Member of the Cook Mountain Formation is found in a small gully to the right as the path south of the bridge is followed down to the river. ( This information was taken from "Fossils and Localities of the Claiborne Group (Eocene) of Texas, texas Paleontology Series, Publication 1, published by the houston Gem and Mineral Society, Paleontology Section.) The Sparta Sand is essentially non-fossiliferous except for some petrified wood and leaves. The Stone City Formation is very fossiliferous as is the Wheelock member of the Cook Mountain Formation but perhaps not so much so at this particular location. The best discussion of the stratigraphy may be found in the Texas Bureau of Economic Publication 5704, "Pelecypoda from the Type Locality of the Stone City Beds (Middle Eocene) of Texas" by H.B. Stenzel, E.K. Krause, and J.T. Twining. JKFoam 1 The Eocene is my favorite Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
makoken Posted January 10, 2009 Share Posted January 10, 2009 Actually, there are three formations exposed at the Whiskey Bridge location (Bridge over the Brazos River at Texas Hiway 21) at very low river levels. During the summer and other times of very low water levels, the Sparta Sand may be seen. The Stone city Formation overlies the Sparta Sand. The Wheelock Member of the Cook Mountain Formation overlies the Stone City Formation with some disconformity. The best exposure of the Wheelock Member of the Cook Mountain Formation is found in a small gully to the right as the path south of the bridge is followed down to the river. ( This information was taken from "Fossils and Localities of the Claiborne Group (Eocene) of Texas, texas Paleontology Series, Publication 1, published by the houston Gem and Mineral Society, Paleontology Section.)The Sparta Sand is essentially non-fossiliferous except for some petrified wood and leaves. The Stone City Formation is very fossiliferous as is the Wheelock member of the Cook Mountain Formation but perhaps not so much so at this particular location. The best discussion of the stratigraphy may be found in the Texas Bureau of Economic Publication 5704, "Pelecypoda from the Type Locality of the Stone City Beds (Middle Eocene) of Texas" by H.B. Stenzel, E.K. Krause, and J.T. Twining. JKFoam Thanks for the additional info. I'll have to check out the other path! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kauffy Posted January 10, 2009 Share Posted January 10, 2009 awesome! really like the cuttlefish beaky thingo......im sure with the rate at which your searching this site, its only a matter of time before you come across that elusive Nautaloid! "Turn the fear of the unknown into the excitment of possibility!"We dont stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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