Post Oak Potpouri

[sharko69]

Have been in Europe the last two weeks and have been itching to get back out. I heard it has rained while I was gone and thought I would try my luck at Post Oak Creek. It was pretty dug up when I got there but some of my best finds are in others spill piles. Shark teeth were plentiful but quality was poor. Most were broken but I did manage to find a couple of complete Squalicorax. I only spent about three hours but found a few cool items besides the normal shark teeth. One appears to be possible coprolite and I found a nice piece of mosasaur bone as well as a horse tooth. I was also surprised to find the first Echinoid I have ever found at POC. When I picked it up, I was even more surprised to find out it was not just one but two Echinoids and a partial third together in matrix. Attached are some pictures of the day's load.

[sharko69]

Mosasaur bone

[sharko69]

Horse tooth

[sharko69]

Echinoids

[DPS Ammonite]

The echinoids are very unusual. Does anyone know if the Austin Chalk contains similar sea urchins? I have seen urchins upstream and above the high water line which were probably dumped by a collector.

Here's a paper that might help: "American Upper Cretaceous Echinoidea",
By C. WYTHE COOKE in GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 254-A

http://pubs.usgs.gov/pp/0254a/report.pdf

Edited June 11, 2016 by DPS Ammonite

[ynot]

Nicely done!!

Good finds and story, thanks for sharing!

[DPS Ammonite]

It looks most like Hemiaster texanus which occurs in the Austin Chalk. See plate # 13 in "American Upper Cretaceous Echinoidea", By C. WYTHE COOKE in GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 254-A

http://pubs.usgs.gov...254a/report.pdf

[Coco]

Hi,

DPS Ammonite, your link doesn't work !

Coco

[Uncle Siphuncle]

The echs look like Heterasters. Any chance a collector found them elsewhere, then dumped or dropped them there?

[sharko69]

I met a guy one time who showed me several he had found in Sherman where 56 crosses Calf Creek.

[DinoMike]

Man, Post Oak came through with the goods for you! Nice finds!

[JohnBrewer]

That's a great haul you have there!

[sixgill pete]

Great finds. I love the ech's in matrix.