SheLovesFossils Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 Stromatoporoidea is a class of aquatic invertebrates common in the fossil record from the Ordovician through the Devonian. They were especially abundant in the Silurian and Devonian.[1] These invertebrates were important reef-formers throughout the Paleozoic and the Late Mesozoic. The group was previously thought to be related to the corals and placed in the Phylum Cnidaria. They are now classified in the sponges (Phylum Porifera), specifically the sclerosponges. Found this on Merigomish, Big Island Nova Scotia. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SheLovesFossils Posted October 22, 2014 Author Share Posted October 22, 2014 1st photo is a cross section, 2nd is the top showing mamelons, 3rd is the underside of the Stromatoporoid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tmaier Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 Thanks for posting that. I would have walked right by that without knowing it was a fossil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SheLovesFossils Posted October 22, 2014 Author Share Posted October 22, 2014 Thanks for posting that. I would have walked right by that without knowing it was a fossil. You're welcome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herb Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 nice! "Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence"_ Carl Sagen No trees were killed in this posting......however, many innocent electrons were diverted from where they originally intended to go. " I think, therefore I collect fossils." _ Me "When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth."__S. Holmes "can't we all just get along?" Jack Nicholson from Mars Attacks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffrey P Posted October 23, 2014 Share Posted October 23, 2014 A really superb specimen. Congrats. Thanks for posting it. I don't get to see too many of those. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minnbuckeye Posted October 23, 2014 Share Posted October 23, 2014 Thanks for the posts on stromatolites and stromatoporoids. It has educated me. But it has also confused me. I have some nice specimens of what I have called stromatolites. Now I am not sure if some are actually stromatoporoids. How can a lay person distinguish between the two? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SheLovesFossils Posted October 23, 2014 Author Share Posted October 23, 2014 nice! Thank you... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SheLovesFossils Posted October 23, 2014 Author Share Posted October 23, 2014 A really superb specimen. Congrats. Thanks for posting it. I don't get to see too many of those. Thanks and you're welcome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SheLovesFossils Posted October 23, 2014 Author Share Posted October 23, 2014 Thanks for the posts on stromatolites and stromatoporoids. It has educated me. But it has also confused me. I have some nice specimens of what I have called stromatolites. Now I am not sure if some are actually stromatoporoids. How can a lay person distinguish between the two? To be honest, I'm not sure, but you can maybe show a picture? I have a Palaeobiologist friend in Australia who has helped me enormously with my fossil finds. I'm not an expert but I have a good eye to tell if something is a fossil, or of some sort of importance. I can show the picture to my friend if you are willing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minnbuckeye Posted October 23, 2014 Share Posted October 23, 2014 (edited) thanks for the offer. I have too many samples to take advantage of someone over them and was hoping someone would be able to give me some logical advice so that I could distinguish between the two with some accuracy. Educated guesses are usually better than just guesses. Maybe I can post a picture or two of my favorite ones. Am busy this month so it may be a little while before posting pics. Edited October 23, 2014 by minnbuckeye Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest11596 Posted October 23, 2014 Share Posted October 23, 2014 If I'm recalling correctly... internal structure is the key to differentiating between the two. Stromatoporoids have vertical pillars (perpendicular to surface) and stromatolites do not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minnbuckeye Posted October 23, 2014 Share Posted October 23, 2014 Thanks for the explanation. Now looking at iluvfossil's post, would this not be a stromatolite, not a stromatoporoid? it seems the layering is parallel to the surface if my orientation is correct. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest11596 Posted October 23, 2014 Share Posted October 23, 2014 (edited) Thanks for the explanation. Now looking at iluvfossil's post, would this not be a stromatolite, not a stromatoporoid? it seems the layering is parallel to the surface if my orientation is correct. I should have elaborated. Both are laminated but only the stromatoporoid show vertical pillars internally as pictured in the illustration below (lifted from Google Images)... As to the ID of the specimen in question... the photo showing internal structure is lacking detail and focus making it difficult to say. Edited October 23, 2014 by middevonian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minnbuckeye Posted October 23, 2014 Share Posted October 23, 2014 That illustration clears up everything!! Now I just need to cut up my specimens. Thanks for the clarification. Here is an example of what I have termed a stromatolite. if the cut surface changes the call, I will repost. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minnbuckeye Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 A second view. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minnbuckeye Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 Another example. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrangellian Posted October 29, 2014 Share Posted October 29, 2014 Interesting... I'd like to see an end cut on one of those last chunks, if it's a stromatolite I would think it should have banding like the first example but it's not obvious from the pics that they do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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