Exploring the Devonian Marcellus Shale in Central NY

[Jeffrey P]

Three Mondays in April and May, 4/25, 5/9, and 5/16/16 this writer explored a small privately owned quarry north of Morrisville, NY., Madison County. Exposed was the Mottsville Member of the Oatkacreek Formation which represents the uppermost part of the Marcellus Shale which is the lowermost part of the Hamilton Group (Middle Devonian).

A pic of the site showing an area excavated by this writer:

[Trevor]

Thats interesting, is there hunting permission on the quarry?

Edited June 2, 2016 by Trevor

[Jeffrey P]

Here is a Spinocyrtia granulosa brachiopod in situ:

[Jeffrey P]

I found a number of excellent Spinocyrtias. This is my best two valve specimen:

[Jeffrey P]

Also found a number of fine one valve specimens:

[Jeffrey P]

There were other brachiopods as well: This is a Tropidoleptus carinatus:

[Jeffrey P]

And an inarticulate brachiopod, Orbiculoidea:

[Jeffrey P]

There were also numerous bivalves though not as many varieties as in the Upper Ludlowville and Moscow Formations. Gosseletia triquetra is only found in the Marcellus Shale.

[Jeffrey P]

Here is a partial two valve specimen:

[Jeffrey P]

There were other bivalves including this Modiomorpha concentrica:

[Jeffrey P]

And these Grammysia bisculata:

[Jeffrey P]

Finally these Nuculoidea deceptriformis. I have found more of these here than anywhere else:

Edited June 2, 2016 by Jeffrey P

[Jeffrey P]

For me the highlight are the gastropods. These are a few of the dozens of Bembexia sulcomarginata I found:

[Jeffrey P]

My favorites are the Palaeozygopleura hamiltonisus. A number of these popped right out of the matrix whole:

[Jeffrey P]

And there are nautiloids. These are Michelinoceras. Some were found lying free on the ground:

[Jeffrey P]

This crinoid base (covered with a bryozoan) is the first crinoid base I've found in Central NY.

And this bryozoan; Atactotoechus fructicosus is the first of this species in my collection:

[Jeffrey P]

There was this partial conularid, found on the last day.

Trilobites were uncommon. I found only three partial specimens including this thorax:

[Jeffrey P]

Thats interesting, is there hunting permission on the quarry?

A local resident, retired geology professor told me about the site and said collecting there was okay. I went there and the first day the owner showed up. He gave me permission to collect and told me stories about the fossils he and his family have found there.

[Mike Pocock]

Wow some excellent finds and a good location, sounds like the owner is a nice person.

Thanks for the post

Regards

Mike

[Fossildude19]

Great report, Jeff.

Looks like you did very well there.

That Modiomorpha is really nice.

Thanks for posting this.

Regards,

[Pagurus]

Great report and photos, Jeff. You're adding a lot to the overall knowledge of that whole area. Did you come across any plant stems at that site. I'm only wondering because of the increased number of gastropods. I'm wonder if they were herbivorous or detritus feeders or maybe carnivorous drills. It seems like the ocean bottom may have been a little less muddy at this site since you were finding more crinoids. I don't really know, I'm just rambling with my fingers.

[Jeffrey P]

Great report and photos, Jeff. You're adding a lot to the overall knowledge of that whole area. Did you come across any plant stems at that site. I'm only wondering because of the increased number of gastropods. I'm wonder if they were herbivorous or detritus feeders or maybe carnivorous drills. It seems like the ocean bottom may have been a little less muddy at this site since you were finding more crinoids. I don't really know, I'm just rambling with my fingers.

Thanks Mike. Haven't found any plant material so far. Crinoids are not abundant at the site. The root base I found loose as a float and I found just two tiny column pieces besides that. The faunal make up is quite different from Deep Springs Road and other Central NY sites I've visited so far. One interesting thing I found: Mucrospirifers only appear at the very top of the quarry where they are super abundant, but are absent elsewhere.

[Trevor]

Excellant finds!

[Jeffrey P]

Thanks Tim, Mike,and Trevor.

[Fallingfossils]

Congrats on the nice finds Jeff, and great report. Keep them coming!