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ammonite or clam fragment?


researchib

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Hi Y'all,

I'm new to fossil hunting but have been having great fun tracking down fossil areas in a creek bed from a 1924 paper I found online. I don't know what excites me more, finding fossils or finding the exact locations the author discussed, right down to the sketched lemonite stains on joint faults and rusted nodule of marcasite!

In any case, at one of these spots — Upper Cretaceous/upper Austin Chalk layers, Near Selma, TX — I found some well-weathered Exogyra laeviuscula as expected and also this fossil fragment in the chalk rubble at the base of the outcrop. It kinda looks like a ammonite fragment or clam fragment, but it's hard to tell. Not much was showing when I found it and I've been using it as a bit of practice for cleaning techniques, so a bit more is visible now. I've soaked it in vinegar, then sodium bicarbonate, then water, used picks on it, then repeat repeat repeat. It's not a showpiece but I need the practice... Anyway, wondering if anyone knows what kind of fragment it is?

I should also note that after I was able to scrape most of the chalk off, which was fairly easy, there is a much harder caramel color stone or mineral beneath in between the fossil stripes that really resists removal.

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I think it is fragment of a Rastellum sp. ( a kind of oyster )

growing old is mandatory but growing up is optional.

 

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Looks like a Rastellum sp. oyster.

Neat.

Regards,

    Tim    -  VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER

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"In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks."

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Thanks! That really helps. I didn't have more than an hour or two at that site and really look forward to returning this week-end...

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