Frequent Visits To Mimico Creek, Toronto

[JUAN EMMANUEL]

Thanks guys. Are Conularias really that uncommon in the Ordovician?

[Ridgehiker]

It would depend on the formation.

You found an inarticulate brachiopod 'and' a conularia. This isn't by chance. The shells of both of these are made up of the same substance...calcium phosphate. There would be something in the environment that was amenable to these shells (apatite) being preserved. Inarticulate brachs were not rare (still exist) but rarely preserved because the shell material was usually less stable than calcium carbonate, the substance in articulate brachs.

Like a lot of the fossil record, difficult to know if a type of critter was rare or circumstances just didn't lead to them being preserved as much as other critters.

Although your conularia isn't black in colour, a lot of calcium phosphate based fossils....inarticulate brachs, most conularia, shark teeth, etc. are found with a bluish/ black tinge.

[Ludwigia]

Thanks for this information. I wasn't aware of the calcium phosphate content of these things.

[JimB88]

Thanks guys. Are Conularias really that uncommon in the Ordovician?

Yes, that is an awesome find! Ive only found one in the Ordovician here. And thats a super specimen you found!

And all of those bugs too!

[crabfossilsteve]

Hey Juan

Looks like you are picking up some nice trilobites. I'd recommend getting yourself some thin super glue to hold those fractured pieces of shale together before trying to remove your bugs. It could make a big difference in trying to remove your specimens and keep them complete. Some others would recommend something different, but I've had good success with it.

[Fossildude19]

Beautiful Conularid!

Great find, Juan!

Regards,

[Paul1719]

Juan, that is so cool. We have to travel so far to find anything. Here is a Conularia formosa from the Maysville (Ordivician) we found on a trip to the Cincinnatian.

[JUAN EMMANUEL]

I also found another one on Saturday, less than 3 feet away from where I found the first specimen. I didn't have time to post it yesterday because I was out shopping at the CNE.

[JUAN EMMANUEL]

I found this one buried in limestone next to some bits of crinoid holdfasts, and I just had to flake away the surrounding matrix that to get it.

This side was at the bottom.

Top side, I'll go back and fetch the other parts that I could find.

Sideway's view. It's actually a 3D but it's just squashed flat.

[Fossildude19]

Wow, Juan.

Seems like you hit a pocket of these guys!

Excellent preservation.

Regards,

[JustPlainPetrified]

Nice report, great pics!

[Ludwigia]

Once you've found one....

[Tidgy's Dad]

Very, very interesting. 

A formation one doesn't usually hear about but some good specimens to be found there. 

Love the crinoid bits and the conularids.