The QCC Posted October 1, 2015 Share Posted October 1, 2015 The microscope thin section photos are of a Rugose coral, Heliophyllum is an extinct genus of coral that existed predominantly in the Devonian period. This specimen came from Mejdovb, Morocco. The coral is from a group of Rugose corals sent to me by forum member CanadaWest.. The thin section slices of the coral clearly show where the softer parts of the coral were replaced by minerals. The specimen. Cross section and transverse slices. Selected area cross section details Selected area transverse section details. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FossilDAWG Posted October 1, 2015 Share Posted October 1, 2015 (edited) Nice sections. However, I'm quite certain this coral is not a Heliophyllum. That genus is characterized by "yard-arm" carinae on the septa. These are totally absent in your specimen, and indeed septa are not obvious. Rather, the internal structure is made up almost entirely of globular structures called dissepiments. This structure is typical of Cystiphylloides, which occurs together with Heliophyllum in many Devonian coral beds, at least in Ontario and New York. Don Note: coral image from Louisville Fossils web site Edited October 2, 2015 by FossilDAWG 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The QCC Posted October 1, 2015 Author Share Posted October 1, 2015 (edited) I received the coral specimens from another member and used the supplied description. The "Heliophyllum" specimen looks like the coral described in this link. I am not any kind of specialist when it comes to fossils. Additional photos of the coral specimen. These are the slice cut areas. Edited October 1, 2015 by The QCC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FossilDAWG Posted October 2, 2015 Share Posted October 2, 2015 You live relatively close to Arkona, Ontario where you can collect vast numbers of Heliophyllum, Cystiphylloides, and many other corals. Your new photos show the exterior of the coral. Such views do not show the interior or the calyx, which you need to see as those areas expose the diagnostic features. Are the new photos the same specimen as the first two? They seem different, as there is no evidence of the epitheca in the first two photos, and the others are mostly covered in epitheca. Maybe different sides of the specimen? Anyway based on the first two photos and the cross and longitudinal sections I am still comfortable with Cystiphylloides, and I see no features suggestive of Heliophyllum. Don Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The QCC Posted October 2, 2015 Author Share Posted October 2, 2015 The photos are of the same specimen, just different angles. I am not a paleontologist, nor do I live near one.. I just make thin sections from things that interest me. The fossils were given to me and I am just quoting the description that was attached with the specimen. If you state the coral is a Cystiphylloides, I can accept that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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