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Looking for help identifying a 3.9 pound 6 1/4 inch horizontally grooved fossil

RockDaleCreek

By RockDaleCreek
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RockDaleCreek New Member

RockDaleCreek

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Hello, all! I recently explored a new creek bed in west central Illinois (USA), and found 3 great finds. This is one of them, and I don't know what it is. Possibly some kind of plant matter? It was found on top of the sand after the water had receded. Weighs 3.9LBs and is 6.25 inches from bottom to top. The darker grayish "Groove" sections I refer to in the pictures seem to be the organism that was actually fossilized, and at the bottom, the "organism" itself measures about 2.5 inches across. Any ideas?

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post-21658-0-68024800-1465269334_thumb.jpg

post-21658-0-36805300-1465269342_thumb.jpg

post-21658-0-18735800-1465269354_thumb.jpg

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Harry Pristis Regular Member

Harry Pristis

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My guess is that this is an ichnofossil, in this case a cast of a living burrow or domichnia. I posit that the "cap" is actually the end -- the deepest part -- of the burrow.

http://pristis.wix.com/the-demijohn-page

 

What seest thou else

In the dark backward and abysm of time?

---Shakespeare, The Tempest

 

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doushantuo Regular Member

doushantuo

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DOMICHNIUM :P

Sorry,Harry the pedant in me got the better of me.

Edited by doushantuo

 

 

 

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Guguita2104 Regular Member

Guguita2104

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Nice fossils :D !!!

What is the age of the layers? I suppose they are Paleozoic.

If I'm right, I think that the horizontal lines could match with conularid (but not sure at all).The second one seems a crinoid calyx (but again, not sure at all).

I also agree with trace fossil

Regards,

Edited by Guguita2104
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tmaier Regular Member

tmaier

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I'll see your conularid, and raise you one glass sponge (he says adjusting his visor and lighting a fresh cigar).

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sixgill pete Regular Member

sixgill pete

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My guess is that this is an ichnofossil, in this case a cast of a living burrow or domichnia. I posit that the "cap" is actually the end -- the deepest part -- of the burrow.

I agree with Harry on this one.

Bulldozers and dirt Bulldozers and dirt
behind the trailer, my desert
Them red clay piles are heaven on earth
I get my rocks off, bulldozers and dirt

Patterson Hood; Drive-By Truckers

 

image.png.0c956e87cee523facebb6947cb34e842.png May 2016  MOTM.png.61350469b02f439fd4d5d77c2c69da85.png.a47e14d65deb3f8b242019b3a81d8160.png.b42a25e3438348310ba19ce6852f50c1.png May 2012 IPFOTM5.png.fb4f2a268e315c58c5980ed865b39e1f.png.1721b8912c45105152ac70b0ae8303c3.png.2b6263683ee32421d97e7fa481bd418a.pngAug 2013, May 2016, Apr 2020 VFOTM.png.f1b09c78bf88298b009b0da14ef44cf0.png.af5065d0585e85f4accd8b291bf0cc2e.png.72a83362710033c9bdc8510be7454b66.png.9171036128e7f95de57b6a0f03c491da.png Oct 2022

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Harry Pristis Regular Member

Harry Pristis

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DOMICHNIUM :P

Sorry,Harry the pedant in me got the better of me.

I cannot find this term used in the singular; perhaps other writers are more careful than I. Or perhaps the term is not Latin neuter, but feminine. That would make "domichnia" singular with the plural "domichniae." (But, that does seem unlikely.) What is your source for this usage?

Anyway, the mystery fossil appears to be ichnospecies Diplocraterion, part of the Skolithos ichnofacies.

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http://pristis.wix.com/the-demijohn-page

 

What seest thou else

In the dark backward and abysm of time?

---Shakespeare, The Tempest

 

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RockDaleCreek New Member

RockDaleCreek

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Thank you all, for all the various theories; I have been using your suggestions and researching in various places around the web. I looked up Crinoids, like Tony said, and that seemed to be a majoy possibility. Then, I thought it may have been a conularid, like

Guguita suggested. Harry may also be right, lol...I have been finding fossils on or near my property since I was able to walk, but I don't have any real knowledge besides what I have learned lately. I'm leaning more towards a Crinoid, but It also looks like a possible blastoid.....I't just hard to tell for sure; the detective work and collaboration sure is enjoyable, though. Thanks for all of your input, everyone :)
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Fossildude19 Regular Member

Fossildude19

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I think that it is much too wide to be crinoid or blastoid.

Also, I am not seeing individual columnals like you would expect to see here.

I think Ichnofossil is a better bet, in my opinion. :unsure:

Regards,

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    Tim    -  VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER

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ynot Regular Member

ynot

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If it is a borrow how come the other fossils in the rock line up on the same plane?

I agree that it is large for a conoid, but if it is geodized that could explain the extra width and distortions.

Tony

Darwin said: " Man sprang from monkeys."

Will Rogers said: " Some of them didn't spring far enough."

 

My Fossil collection - My Mineral collection

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tmaier Regular Member

tmaier

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I can't agree with burrow, because of those things labeled "grooves" in the photo. They seem to be the petrified remains of something, and not just trace marks. Conularia, maybe... I throw up the idea of sponge in desperation...

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Al Dente Regular Member

Al Dente

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Here are some examples of geodized crinoid stems from the publication "The Formation of Geodes with remarks on the silicification of fossils" 1908 by Ray S. Bassler.

post-2301-0-85560200-1465381760_thumb.jpg post-2301-0-04069800-1465381770_thumb.jpg

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ynot Regular Member

ynot

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Here are some examples of geodized crinoid stems from the publication "The Formation of Geodes with remarks on the silicification of fossils" 1908 by Ray S. Bassler.

attachicon.gifgeodized 1.JPG attachicon.gifgeodized2.JPG

Looks like a match to Me!!

Tony

Darwin said: " Man sprang from monkeys."

Will Rogers said: " Some of them didn't spring far enough."

 

My Fossil collection - My Mineral collection

My favorite thread on TFF.

 

 

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Fossildude19 Regular Member

Fossildude19

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Here are some examples of geodized crinoid stems from the publication "The Formation of Geodes with remarks on the silicification of fossils" 1908 by Ray S. Bassler.

attachicon.gifgeodized 1.JPG attachicon.gifgeodized2.JPG

Are there any notes in the paper on sizes?

The OP's item still seems awfully large for even geodized crinoids. :unsure:

If size is not an issue, than I'm on board with crinoid.

Regards,

    Tim    -  VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER

   MOTM.png.61350469b02f439fd4d5d77c2c69da85.png      PaleoPartner.png.30c01982e09b0cc0b7d9d6a7a21f56c6.png.a600039856933851eeea617ca3f2d15f.png     Postmaster1.jpg.900efa599049929531fa81981f028e24.jpg    VFOTM.png.f1b09c78bf88298b009b0da14ef44cf0.png  VFOTM  --- APRIL - 2015  

__________________________________________________
"In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks."
John Muir ~ ~ ~ ~   ><))))( *>  About Me      

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Al Dente Regular Member

Al Dente

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Are there any notes in the paper on sizes?

The OP's item still seems awfully large for even geodized crinoids. :unsure:

If size is not an issue, than I'm on board with crinoid.

Regards,

The ones from the paper are about actual size but I've seen some huge ones. Here's a couple from the internet and a link to one that was on the Fossil Forum. http://www.thefossilforum.com/index.php?/topic/26811-crinoid-lake-monroe-indiana/

post-2301-0-56520400-1465392735_thumb.jpg post-2301-0-68692600-1465392753_thumb.jpg

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abyssunder Regular Member

abyssunder

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I'm in the crinoid camp on this. Just take a look here : http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,6,253403,page=4

" The accompanying pix show an unusual geode type found in Indiana and also in Kentucky and Illinois. They are geodized fossils. One theory of geode formation involves fossils decaying in the mud and their void being slowly replaced by a quartz rind and a central cavity. However these form, they are quite interesting and, in Indiana, found most commonly in Monroe, Washington and Lawrence counties. They are of gastropods, brachiopods, cephalopods, horn corals, crinoids and various shells. They range from several centimeters to many centimeters in size in some locations. The very best ones, as shown here, show remaining good fossil detail with parts of the original shell incorporated into the geode. Most are examples solid, but occasional examples are hollow with Quartz crystals as in an "ordinary or usual" quartz geode. For a hollow example, see my previous pix on page 2 of this thread with a smoky dew drop diamond variety. Enjoy..................BOB " - BoB Harman

post-17588-0-25603900-1465393216_thumb.jpg

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" 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. "

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RockDaleCreek New Member

RockDaleCreek

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Wow, Al Dente, Looks like an identical match to me!

Fossildude19, I googled the paper in question and the only information I found is that the picture is of the actual size of the crinoid. ie, under no magnification...I don't think there is any doubt. The item was also from Kentucky, and mine was found in Illinois. I think mine is just exceptionally large....lol.
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abyssunder Regular Member

abyssunder

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I just prepared the document (mentioned by Al Dente) for an easy access. THE FORMATION OF GEODES WITH REMARKS ON THE SILICIFICATION OF FOSSILS - Ray S. Bassler.pdf

" 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

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