ecolier2012 Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 (edited) Amateur here...Hoping someone can help me understand what this is and how it forms. I find these when im out fossil hunting in creeks. They are usually found embedded in the wall of the creek. Its extremely hard compared to the surrounding sediments...almost granite like... My guess is its a mineral that has leached from the ground and formed in the cracks over time. I find it both below and above numerous Cretaceous shell fossils. Location: Fairview, TX Gulf Cretaceous Ozan Marl ? Edited February 25, 2015 by ecolier2012 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspex Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 The prismic cross section reminds me of the structure of an Inoceramus shell. "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...
ecolier2012 Posted February 25, 2015 Author Share Posted February 25, 2015 Here are a few more photos showing the rock, fossil, etc in the wall... And a photo of another shell fossil on the creek bed... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspex Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 Yup, giant flat-clams. "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...
bone2stone Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 This species of Inoceramus often produce pearls, some attain sizes in excess of 1". I have seen the remains of this species of inoceramus larger than a Volkswagen. Most of them are relatively small though. In Dallas Co, they range from the Austin Chalk strata through the Britain. The ones found in the Britain are generally the smaller species. Some found in the Arcadia Park member have only the top preserved. Bottom was lost due to it's nature of "bottom dwelling" and the main body being buried within matrix and not preserved well. I will post a different species later. Jess B. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustPlainPetrified Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 Here are a few more photos showing the rock, fossil, etc in the wall... And a photo of another shell fossil on the creek bed... I've seen a lot of this in the Kaskipaw layers of the Smoky Formation in Northern Alberta. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeschWhat Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 The picture of the mineral in your initial post looks gypsum to me; although gypsum isn't anywhere near as hard as granite. If it is gypsum, you should be able to break it pretty easily. Lori www.areallycrappystory.com/fossils www.facebook.com/fossilpoo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustPlainPetrified Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 I'd agree with gypsum also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspex Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 This structure, and where it was found, is completely typical of Inoceramus shell. LINK "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...
GeschWhat Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 I guess I was confused (which doesn't take much ). On my first dig, I mistook a fractured piece gypsum for claw. Anyway, I thought the mineral deposit was separate from the shell fossil. Interesting, it does look like the same structure. Thanks for the link Auspex! Lori www.areallycrappystory.com/fossils www.facebook.com/fossilpoo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeschWhat Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 I've seen a lot of this in the Kaskipaw layers of the Smoky Formation in Northern Alberta. Are the pictures you posted clams/oysters as well? When I saw them my heart went all a flutter...I was hoping they were a new coprolite discovery. snarge Lori www.areallycrappystory.com/fossils www.facebook.com/fossilpoo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ecolier2012 Posted March 3, 2015 Author Share Posted March 3, 2015 Thanks - After following the link I agree the shell fossil with my foot in the photo is likely Inoceramus. These are numerous in the area I am in. The other unidentified rock, mineral, or fossil is usually found in the creek walls along what looks like natural cracks. It can range in thickness from a few cm to about 1/4 inch. Its hard - but can be cracked in 1/2 with some force... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ecolier2012 Posted March 3, 2015 Author Share Posted March 3, 2015 Based on the tips from bone2stone I did some additional searches on google images and it looks like the fragments may be Inoceramus shells. http://www.paleosearch.com/product/fossil-pearls/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspex Posted March 3, 2015 Share Posted March 3, 2015 Based on the tips from bone2stone I did some additional searches on google images and it looks like the fragments may be Inoceramus shells. http://www.paleosearch.com/product/fossil-pearls/ Now you're getting there "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...
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