Bev Posted August 9, 2015 Share Posted August 9, 2015 Ordovician Prosser member of the Galena Formation SE MN Group hunt 8.8.15 I'm thinking that this could possibly be a hindi sponge, but it could just be a bryozoan. What has me is the "pores", they seem to be hexigonal in shape. What do you think??? Thanks for looking! The more I learn, I realize the less I know. BluffCountryFossils.NET Fossil Adventure Blog Go to my Gallery for images of Fossil Jewelry, Sculpture & Crafts Pinned Posts: Beginner's Guide to Fossil Hunting * Geologic Formation Maps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspex Posted August 9, 2015 Share Posted August 9, 2015 I get a bryozoan vibe from this one. "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...
erose Posted August 9, 2015 Share Posted August 9, 2015 Not sure about Hindia but possibly a sponge of some sort although true sponges are apparently rare in the Upper Ordovician. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bev Posted August 9, 2015 Author Share Posted August 9, 2015 Yes, sponges are very rare in the Ordovician which is why I got excited! Bryozoan, in a mound... Praaspora? The more I learn, I realize the less I know. BluffCountryFossils.NET Fossil Adventure Blog Go to my Gallery for images of Fossil Jewelry, Sculpture & Crafts Pinned Posts: Beginner's Guide to Fossil Hunting * Geologic Formation Maps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockwood Posted August 9, 2015 Share Posted August 9, 2015 I think the surface appearance may be deceptive on this one. Look where the interior is exposed. The geometry says coral doesn't it ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ridgehiker Posted August 9, 2015 Share Posted August 9, 2015 (edited) It is difficult to ID a sponge without looking at the spicules...and difficult to ID a tabulate coral or bryozoan without a cross section. Otherwise we are just comparing images to others found in the area...and those previous may not be properly identified. None of these three fauna attract much research as they are difficult to diagnose and are not all that useful in Paleozoic biostratigraphy. In contrast researchers tend to use microfossils (conodonts, etc) or rugose corals (as a opposed to tabulate corals)and brachiopods. My speculation is that it is a bryozoan...just the odds from the age of rock. When we did field collections and brought back tabulate corals, sponges and Bryozoa they were given a collection locale and then put in trays to taken down to storage drawers in the dungeon. Like Roger Dangerfield they don't get much respect. Edited August 9, 2015 by Ridgehiker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bev Posted August 9, 2015 Author Share Posted August 9, 2015 LOL You are so right, no respect for bryozoa or sponges! Yet they come in fascinating shapes! Cutting it is not an option at this point. This is where I really miss Caleb! He knew the fauna of this Ordovician area so well that he could look at it and just know what it was by experience! :-( The more I learn, I realize the less I know. BluffCountryFossils.NET Fossil Adventure Blog Go to my Gallery for images of Fossil Jewelry, Sculpture & Crafts Pinned Posts: Beginner's Guide to Fossil Hunting * Geologic Formation Maps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abyssunder Posted August 9, 2015 Share Posted August 9, 2015 I see double spiral pattern on the surface. I'm inclined to believe is a bryozoan. " We are not separate and independent entities, but like links in a chain, and we could not by any means be what we are without those who went before us and showed us the way. " Thomas Mann My Library Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erose Posted August 9, 2015 Share Posted August 9, 2015 The pores are too small for a coral (IMHO) other than maybe Tetradium. As suggested just on it being from that part of the Late Ordovician I would skew toward bryozoan as well. But not Prasopora. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herb Posted August 10, 2015 Share Posted August 10, 2015 looks like a bryozoan to me also "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...
Bev Posted August 10, 2015 Author Share Posted August 10, 2015 The pores are too small for a coral (IMHO) other than maybe Tetradium. As suggested just on it being from that part of the Late Ordovician I would skew toward bryozoan as well. But not Prasopora. Hummm, I'm really stumped now! The only bryozaon it resembles to me is a Prasopora. But then, I'm certainly no expert, it is the one I find so often that humps up like this one. Thanks for the input! The more I learn, I realize the less I know. BluffCountryFossils.NET Fossil Adventure Blog Go to my Gallery for images of Fossil Jewelry, Sculpture & Crafts Pinned Posts: Beginner's Guide to Fossil Hunting * Geologic Formation Maps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minnbuckeye Posted August 10, 2015 Share Posted August 10, 2015 (edited) Hi Bev What does the bottom look like. All of my Prosopora have the distinctive rings. Just gave away 70 prosopora yesterday to children at Fertile Iowa Quarry Days. They were not as impressed with them as compared to the Hormatomas . Understandable. Edited August 10, 2015 by minnbuckeye Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bev Posted August 10, 2015 Author Share Posted August 10, 2015 Hi Bev What does the bottom look like. All of my Prosopora have the distinctive rings Thanks for weighing in! :-D Can't see the bottom on this one as it is in the rock. I know what you mean about the distinctive rings. It has already gone home with its hunter. :-) I would say Prasopora and a NICE ONE if not a sponge. But I have only found one other Prasopora where the pores are so clear and it doesn't look quite like mine which is why I was going toward sponge - which would be a truly rare find. Even a Prasopora in this wonderful preservation would make me do a happy dance! The more I learn, I realize the less I know. BluffCountryFossils.NET Fossil Adventure Blog Go to my Gallery for images of Fossil Jewelry, Sculpture & Crafts Pinned Posts: Beginner's Guide to Fossil Hunting * Geologic Formation Maps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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