Stocksdale Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 (edited) I've been interested in comparing the various locations where Pennsylvanian siderite fossils are found. So I've decided to collect the information I have so far into this topic. This is based on bits of information that I could find and may need corrected. Feel free to add images of your fossils from any of these locations. And If you have other locations to add, please do. I'll add those into this first post. Nodules at these locations are all similar to those found at the well-known location of Mazon Creek in Illinois. Nearly all locations are in the gray shale directly above the coal so they each occur at the same point in each of their cyclothems--as the coal forest is being inundated with the rising ocean levels. Each cyclothem is the result of regular glacial and interglacial periods lasting about 100,000 or so years. cyclothem that I'm working on.... Approximate ages are very rough, based on the number of cyclothems between each formation. Here's a graphic of a Here's the list from oldest to youngest formations with some images and references. ___________________________________________ Mansfield formation?? Aprox. age: 315-320 mya Indiana ___________________________________________ Photos from linked paper on Crockhey UK--Crockhey Opencast Aprox. age: 315 mya??? (Westphalian A) overlying: Wigan Coal Paper on Crockhey Fossils http://steurh.home.xs4all.nl/engcrock/ecrock.html ___________________________________________ Stanley Cemetery Flora / Brazil Formation Aprox. age: 313 mya overlying: Lower Block Coal/ Tartar Location: Green and Vigo County, Indiana Brazil Formation of Indiana Stanley Cemetery Flora of Greene County ___________________________________________ Mazon Creek / Francis Creek Shale Aprox. age: 309 mya overlying: Colchester Coal Location: Grundy County, Illinois ___________________________________________ Photo from Collection of Missourian Knob Noster, Missouri Aprox. age: 309 mya overlying: Croweburg Coal Location: Knob Noster, MO ___________________________________________ Okmulgee, Oklahoma Aprox. age: 309 mya overlying: Henryetta Coal Location: Okmulgee, OK The Okmulgee, Oklahoma fossil flora, a Mazon Creek equivalent ___________________________________________ Energy Shale Aprox age: 306.5 mya overlying: Herrin Coal Carterville and Georgetown, Illinois A middle Pennsylvanian fern from Carterville, Illinois Herrin Quadrangle Map with Notes about Energy Shale ___________________________________________ Chieftain No. 20 Flora / Dugger Formation Aprox. age: 305.5 mya overlying: Danville Coal / Coal VII Vigo County, Indiana Chieftain No. 20 Flora (Middle Pennsylvanian) of Vigo County, Indiana Edited March 2, 2014 by Neophytus Elginian 5 Link to post Share on other sites
Missourian Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 The Lawrence Formation near Lawrence, Kansas has produced siderite concretions containing horseshoe crabs and spiders, at least. I have not had the pleasure of finding any myself, though. Also, would you include the arthropod-bearing concretions from the UK? Link to post Share on other sites
Stocksdale Posted March 2, 2014 Author Share Posted March 2, 2014 Here's a paper I found that gives an overview of the siderite locations in US and Europe. Carboniferous plants preserved within sideritic nodules – a remarkable state of preservation providing a wealth of information Looks like I should include the UK locations, France, Poland and Nova Scotia. It appears that the siderite formation is a pretty common occurrence in the Pennsylvanian. And usually at the same point in the cycle. I assume that it has something to do with the unique anoxic condition of decomposing peat from the coal forest being buried suddenly by salt water and sand. Link to post Share on other sites
xonenine Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 (edited) http://link.springer.com/article/10.1134%2FS107570150804003X looks like a great paper, if you can get hold of it (if you do I wouldn't mind reading it ) Edited March 2, 2014 by xonenine Link to post Share on other sites
Stocksdale Posted March 2, 2014 Author Share Posted March 2, 2014 (edited) I've added Crockhey, UK with some info I could find. And a link to a webpage of photos of some of Terry Dactyll's finds I think. Edited March 2, 2014 by Neophytus Elginian Link to post Share on other sites
Auspex Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 In N.W. Pennsylvania, east of Allegheny National Forest and south of Smethport, there is a small, flooded strip mine (a few miles from our family camp), last active 100 years ago (supplying coal to the tram railroad that was hauling the last of the Black Forest to the mills). It is hopelessly overgrown now, but 50 years ago the spoil area (circled) was loaded with coal-swamp trunks & roots, and innumerable siderite concretions. Splitting these nodules yielded a recognizable fossil about one time in ten, and while being no where near the quality of preservation of Mazon Creek concretions, they were the subject of endless summer days of fascination by this young boy. Link to post Share on other sites
Roz Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 On page 78 from the book, "Pennsylvanian Fossils of North Texas", that at the lower portion of the Finis Shale from the base of the hillside at Jacksboro, both siderite and phosphatic nodules are found. It's the Finis Shale member overlying Jacksboro Limestone Member of the Graham Formation. That could be safely added to your list I would think. Link to post Share on other sites
bombahc Posted March 11, 2014 Share Posted March 11, 2014 I have heard of siderite occuring in Warren and McKean counties (Allegheny National Forest), and other locations near the Allegheny Resevoir. Link to post Share on other sites
Kosmoceras Posted March 12, 2014 Share Posted March 12, 2014 It is a great shame that Crock Hey is now gone. Link to post Share on other sites
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