Rockaholic Posted May 22, 2015 Share Posted May 22, 2015 This is a Pennsylvanian nodule from Indiana spoil piles. This maybe decomposed plant material and the speckles might just be pyrite crystals but the uniform arrangement of the speckles caught my curiosity. Could the speckles be sporangia? There are some possible branching veins preserved. . Just thought I’d post these photos and see if anyone on the Forum had any thoughts. Mostly, I’m just wondering if this piece should be saved or added to the rock garden. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspex Posted May 22, 2015 Share Posted May 22, 2015 It's very interesting; I hope someone can shed some light on what it could be! "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...
Diceros Posted May 22, 2015 Share Posted May 22, 2015 I thought green plant sporangia were like the dark round dots on the undersides of fern leaves (those of marine algae are often complex aragonitic spore cases). This looks way more advanced, like Lepidostrobus, the fruiting body of Lepidodendron. You need a Pennsylvanian plant guy/gal. Either way, I vote you save it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ckmerlin Posted May 23, 2015 Share Posted May 23, 2015 This is a Pennsylvanian nodule from Indiana spoil piles. DSC05543 - Copy.JPG This maybe decomposed plant material and the speckles might just be pyrite crystals but the uniform arrangement of the speckles caught my curiosity. Could the speckles be sporangia? There are some possible branching veins preserved. branch.JPG . Just thought I’d post these photos and see if anyone on the Forum had any thoughts. Mostly, I’m just wondering if this piece should be saved or added to the rock garden. Hi Rockaholic Im far from being a pennsylvanian plant expert but I though this might help from GeorgesBasement.com http://www.georgesbasement.com/LesquereuxAtlasP/Lesquereux-Plate69.htm best regards Chris "A man who stares at a rock must have a lot on his mind... or nothing at all' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockaholic Posted May 31, 2015 Author Share Posted May 31, 2015 (edited) Thanks for the replies. It’s reassuring to know that others feel that this maybe a fossil. Now I have some leads and this photo can go into the mystery photo file and the nodule has been saved from being banished to the rock garden. Edited June 1, 2015 by Rockaholic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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