digit Posted October 13, 2014 Share Posted October 13, 2014 Here are a couple of my Franken-fossils--just in time for Holloween. Some of the nodules were pretty weathered and when they split open they would fragment into small pieces. If the pieces were large enough and I could keep track of all of them I'd do a little reassembly to see what the resulting fossil looks like. If they were pretty beat-up they likely don't make it to the table with the rest of my finds but some of them seem worthy of holding onto. -Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fossilized6s Posted October 13, 2014 Author Share Posted October 13, 2014 Oh yeah! Nice ferns sir! Beautiful contrast on those guys! When my ferns or fauna nods break into pieces i glue them back together with regular super glue (non gel) from the back of the piece and let the glue seep into the crack a bit, but not too much. If you dab too much glue on it you will see it on the fossil side. And dats no good. A bunch of my pieces have broke "undesirably", but have came out nice using this technique. ~Charlie~ "There are those that look at things the way they are, and ask why.....i dream of things that never were, and ask why not?" ~RFK ->Get your Mosasaur print ->How to spot a fake Trilobite ->How to identify a CONCRETION from a DINOSAUR EGG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vball Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 Here are couple nice ones that were collected in the 60's from pit11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 Nice ones, Vball! That Tully has a lot of detail on it I haven't seen before. 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...
fossilized6s Posted October 22, 2014 Author Share Posted October 22, 2014 Here are couple nice ones that were collected in the 60's from pit11 Very cool! Are these personal finds? ~Charlie~ "There are those that look at things the way they are, and ask why.....i dream of things that never were, and ask why not?" ~RFK ->Get your Mosasaur print ->How to spot a fake Trilobite ->How to identify a CONCRETION from a DINOSAUR EGG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vball Posted October 23, 2014 Share Posted October 23, 2014 No not personal finds a family friend got me started collecting in the 80's & gave these to me. I think his family still has a rock shop back there somewhere Dave's fossil Museum or something. Anyway He and his Dad collected these in the mid 60's before I was born I know this because they dated a couple of them and what pit they were found. I also have a horseshoe crab, tummy toothed worm, clam & a couple of different ferns but I don't have any pics of those yet. Thanks Tim, The Tully really does have unbelievable detail I can't believe He gave this to me. I do remember he did have at least one complete one with the claw. I think he had a few others with the claw but missing parts of the tail. I guess at the time they thought the ones with the claw were the most desirable. Little did he know that they would become much harder to find in the future. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fossilized6s Posted October 25, 2014 Author Share Posted October 25, 2014 I found one of the coolest Mazon flora tonight! It's an absolute GIANT very well preserved seed!!! I had to do a bit of surgical work and glue her back together, but here she is. Trigonocarpus Edit: For ID ~Charlie~ "There are those that look at things the way they are, and ask why.....i dream of things that never were, and ask why not?" ~RFK ->Get your Mosasaur print ->How to spot a fake Trilobite ->How to identify a CONCRETION from a DINOSAUR EGG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digit Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 Are you sure that's not the avocado that I left in the back of your car when I was up there in June? Off on another coral reef mission tomorrow--the nodules soaking in the bucket in my garage will have an extended bath before I'm able to resume the freeze/thaw cycles in December when I'm back. Would love to see one of the larger nods give me an early Christmas present.... Looking forward to seeing what treasures you've saved from Pit 11. Cheers. -Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RCFossils Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 Looks like a nice Trigonocarpus seed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fossilized6s Posted October 25, 2014 Author Share Posted October 25, 2014 Are you sure that's not the avocado that I left in the back of your car when I was up there in June? Off on another coral reef mission tomorrow--the nodules soaking in the bucket in my garage will have an extended bath before I'm able to resume the freeze/thaw cycles in December when I'm back. Would love to see one of the larger nods give me an early Christmas present.... Looking forward to seeing what treasures you've saved from Pit 11. Cheers. -Ken It does look like an avocado. It's so nicely preserved that it looks like i could plant it and a 300mya tree would pop up! Good luck on the expedition sir! Looks like a nice Trigonocarpus seed! Thanks Rob, that's exactly what i was thinking. Is the darker areas the epidermal layer? ~Charlie~ "There are those that look at things the way they are, and ask why.....i dream of things that never were, and ask why not?" ~RFK ->Get your Mosasaur print ->How to spot a fake Trilobite ->How to identify a CONCRETION from a DINOSAUR EGG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fossilized6s Posted March 18, 2015 Author Share Posted March 18, 2015 A couple members and i got to stretch our legs and go for a hunt this past Sunday. And it was rough. Haha! Old Man Winter really did a number on my cardio. Im still a bit sore. We really didn't find as much as we usually do, but i did find some pretty cool opened stuff. All in all i collected about three dozen or so nodules. All of them look fossil bearing. Even better, most are small and oval. Just the size for my first insect! Fingers crossed.... Here's a decently preserved Lobetelson mclaughlinae Coprolite Unknown bark impression covered in leaf scars (im guessing) A rare Mariopteris speciosa (my first) And my best find of the day! And my best example to date. Annularia radiata (showing six whorls) Not a bad day. At least we finally got to hunt a bit! Edit: i also found about two dozen Jellys. I also may have found my first fish scale or insect wing shell. The texture suggests both, but it could just be a bivalve. This measures 3/4" x1/4". ~Charlie~ "There are those that look at things the way they are, and ask why.....i dream of things that never were, and ask why not?" ~RFK ->Get your Mosasaur print ->How to spot a fake Trilobite ->How to identify a CONCRETION from a DINOSAUR EGG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digit Posted March 18, 2015 Share Posted March 18, 2015 Great finds--sounds like you had fun. Love the Annularia. Those are a favorite of mine (probably since I only have a few). Still looking for a killer one like I've seen in books or online with nice contrast and definition. Been checking the weather back in the Chicagoland area and it looks like winter is finally loosening its grip on the region so I expect we'll be seeing the results of more of your outings to the Mazon Creek area soon. Planning on making it up to the area sometime in June and hoping to get out for some more nodule mania. Will contact you when plans are firming up. Cheers. -Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michele 1937 Posted March 18, 2015 Share Posted March 18, 2015 A couple members and i got to stretch our legs and go for a hunt this past Sunday. And it was rough. Haha! Old Man Winter really did a number on my cardio. Im still a bit sore. We really didn't find as much as we usually do, but i did find some pretty cool opened stuff. All in all i collected about three dozen or so nodules. All of them look fossil bearing. Even better, most are small and oval. Just the size for my first insect! Fingers crossed.... Here's a decently preserved Lobetelson mclaughlinae IMG_20150317_202450.jpg A horribly preserved Tully monster (only defining piece is the eye bar) IMG_20150317_204515.jpg Coprolite IMG_20150317_204554.jpg Unknown bark impression covered in leaf scars (im guessing) IMG_20150317_204653.jpg A rare Mariopteris speciosa (my first) IMG_20150317_202620.jpg And my best find of the day! And my best example to date. Annularia radiata (showing six whorls) IMG_20150317_202537.jpg IMG_20150317_202725.jpg Not a bad day. At least we finally got to hunt a bit! Edit: i also found about two dozen Jellys. I also may have found my first fish scale or insect wing shell. The texture suggests both, but it could just be a bivalve. This measures 3/4" x1/4". IMG_20150318_003819.jpg compliments beautiful Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fossilized6s Posted March 18, 2015 Author Share Posted March 18, 2015 Great finds--sounds like you had fun. Love the Annularia. Those are a favorite of mine (probably since I only have a few). Still looking for a killer one like I've seen in books or online with nice contrast and definition. Been checking the weather back in the Chicagoland area and it looks like winter is finally loosening its grip on the region so I expect we'll be seeing the results of more of your outings to the Mazon Creek area soon. Planning on making it up to the area sometime in June and hoping to get out for some more nodule mania. Will contact you when plans are firming up. Cheers. -Ken Thanks, Ken. To find the biggins', we'll have to dig up a certain golf course, where pit 1 once was. Bring your ninja gear.....shhhhh Haha! Yeah, be sure to let me know. compliments beautiful Thank you, Michele. ~Charlie~ "There are those that look at things the way they are, and ask why.....i dream of things that never were, and ask why not?" ~RFK ->Get your Mosasaur print ->How to spot a fake Trilobite ->How to identify a CONCRETION from a DINOSAUR EGG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fossilized6s Posted March 30, 2015 Author Share Posted March 30, 2015 I went to Mazon yesterday, solo. First it sleet on me, then rained. It made for a very soggy, cold and dangerous hunt. I looked like i rolled in mud when all was said and done. Haha I did find the most fossiliferous hill in the South Unit though! The variety and amount of material that i found there was nothing short of amazing. They're not the biggest nods, but big isn't always better. Surprisingly i keep finding a lot of flora. The Essex deposit is not known for this. It's strange. Shrimp molts A rare two associated Octomedusa and one solo (finding two-three of these in one day is crazy rare) One of my favorite finds and a first (three to break the ice)! Escumasia roryi or "Y". And my two best finds of the day. Im still not 100% on the IDs. But i believe i have two Mayomyzon pieckoensis' (lamprey fish). These all came from "the hill". Im pumped! I also found a bunch of the usual suspects. Edit: please help with the fish IDs if you can. Thanks. ~Charlie~ "There are those that look at things the way they are, and ask why.....i dream of things that never were, and ask why not?" ~RFK ->Get your Mosasaur print ->How to spot a fake Trilobite ->How to identify a CONCRETION from a DINOSAUR EGG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digit Posted April 1, 2015 Share Posted April 1, 2015 I would say you were incredibly lucky but I know better than that. Luck is attracted to skill, knowledge and planning and those paid off for you in spades! -Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspex Posted April 1, 2015 Share Posted April 1, 2015 I would have to call this excursion massively successful! Way to go! "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...
fossilized6s Posted April 1, 2015 Author Share Posted April 1, 2015 I would say you were incredibly lucky but I know better than that. Luck is attracted to skill, knowledge and planning and those paid off for you in spades! -Ken Thanks Ken. For hours i found practically nothing. It was cold and wet, but i was determined to fill my quota. Haha! With hunting Mazon, determination is key. If you don't get poked in the eyes several times you're not doing it right. Also the addition of my new secret hunting gear was amazing for crawling around in the brush! I can't wait to go back! I would have to call this excursion massively successful! Way to go! Thanks Chas. It was very successful. Hopefully the complete nods i collected are housing some awesome pieces as well. ~Charlie~ "There are those that look at things the way they are, and ask why.....i dream of things that never were, and ask why not?" ~RFK ->Get your Mosasaur print ->How to spot a fake Trilobite ->How to identify a CONCRETION from a DINOSAUR EGG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fossilized6s Posted April 4, 2015 Author Share Posted April 4, 2015 This just popped tonight. I believe it's a single Alethopteris serli pinnule, but I'm not 100% on that. So if you know, please enlighten me. It's not the coolest of cool, but the preservation and contrast is pretty amazing. ~Charlie~ "There are those that look at things the way they are, and ask why.....i dream of things that never were, and ask why not?" ~RFK ->Get your Mosasaur print ->How to spot a fake Trilobite ->How to identify a CONCRETION from a DINOSAUR EGG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digit Posted April 4, 2015 Share Posted April 4, 2015 Sweet! I love nodules that you don't have to squint and turn your head at and angle to catch the light just right and then guess what it is. A bold, in your face high-contrast fern pinnule is a great reward for the effort of freeze/thaw. Cheers. -Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RCFossils Posted April 4, 2015 Share Posted April 4, 2015 Definatly Alethopteris Serli. I just had one open from my trip last month to Pit 11. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspex Posted April 4, 2015 Share Posted April 4, 2015 ...It's not the coolest of cool, but the preservation and contrast is pretty amazing. It's a spectacular showpiece "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...
fossilized6s Posted April 4, 2015 Author Share Posted April 4, 2015 Sweet! I love nodules that you don't have to squint and turn your head at and angle to catch the light just right and then guess what it is. A bold, in your face high-contrast fern pinnule is a great reward for the effort of freeze/thaw. Cheers. -Ken Thanks Ken. I know what you mean. I love it when they're easy to see (that way i don't look crazy when trying to describe what it is to a noob). Definatly Alethopteris Serli. I just had one open from my trip last month to Pit 11. Thanks Rob. I like how these usual preserve inflated, giving wonderful dimension to the piece. It's a spectacular showpiece Thanks Chas. It's definitely going in my cabinet. ~Charlie~ "There are those that look at things the way they are, and ask why.....i dream of things that never were, and ask why not?" ~RFK ->Get your Mosasaur print ->How to spot a fake Trilobite ->How to identify a CONCRETION from a DINOSAUR EGG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fossilized6s Posted April 20, 2015 Author Share Posted April 20, 2015 Rob Russell and I ventured out to pit 11 yesterday despite the rainy prediction. We did ok when it was nice. But then the heavens opened and let us have it. Rob decided to call it a day when the rain hit, plus he was kicking my butt anyway, so i don't blame him. I decided to stay. I've been wet before, and i knew there was a nice dry pair of clothes waiting for me in my car. With the two and a half hour drive each way to and from Mazon, i don't give up easily. It's strange, it seems like this is the year of the plant for me. Annularia Immature fern Here's a strange unknown. It may be a large Sea Cucumber Worm Shrimp molt Coprolite And my best find of the day (that was open). I had to prep out all of the edges about a 1/4". It came out very nice. I wanted to put it up for IFOTM, but the entries are just too strong this month. Macroneuropteris scheuchzeri All in all it was a soggy, but great and much needed day (not only to stretch the legs, but my mind too). I feel at home in nature. It's my therapy. ~Charlie~ "There are those that look at things the way they are, and ask why.....i dream of things that never were, and ask why not?" ~RFK ->Get your Mosasaur print ->How to spot a fake Trilobite ->How to identify a CONCRETION from a DINOSAUR EGG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digit Posted April 21, 2015 Share Posted April 21, 2015 Best kind of therapy I can think of--and it looks like you slayed it! Quite the spectacular selection of nods for just seeing the naturally opened ones. I'm assuming you stocked up on additional nods to keep a shelf in your freezer occupied for some time. Finalizing dates for heading up your way in June. The areas you've been hunting may be too overgrown by then but I'm sure there will be some places to hunt. Heading off for my morning dives out here on the Great Chagos Bank but thinking ahead and dreaming of fern pinnules and marine worms. Cheers. -Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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