MeargleSchmeargl Posted July 24, 2016 Share Posted July 24, 2016 As some may know, I recently returned from my trip to Nashville on the hunt for Ordovician Brachiopods. I was hunting along the cliff at Nashville West target (Catheys formation, 450 million years old) when I stumbled upon this: My first thought is cephalopod, though in the end I am not entirely confident I know what it is. A definitive ID would be splendid! Every single fossil you see is a miracle set in stone, and should be treated as such. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CraigHyatt Posted July 24, 2016 Share Posted July 24, 2016 (edited) How big is it. I gotta say, it looks geological to my untrained eye: crooked outline, no anatomical detail, perfectly flat. See what experts say. Also, got any more photos? There is some perspective distortion because of the angle at which the image was captured. The photo is a bit lacking in detail, so I can't tell whether the upward hooked curve on the left end of the specimen is a continuation or a separate feature. I'd also like to see a more clear and complete image of the feature(s) on the right side of the photo. Are the bands (resembling septa) parallel to any layering in the surrounding rock? Edited July 25, 2016 by CraigHyatt Info: Craig Hyatt, retired software/electrical engineer Experience: Beginner, fossil hunting less than a year Location: Eagle Pass, TX USA on the border with Mexico, hot dry desert Formation: Escondido, Marine, Upper Cretaceous Materials: Sandstone, Mudstone, Shale, Chert, Chalk Typical: Thalassinoides, Sphenodiscus, Exogyra, Inoceramus Reference: http://txfossils.com/Txfossils.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimB88 Posted July 25, 2016 Share Posted July 25, 2016 I believe its geological. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeargleSchmeargl Posted July 25, 2016 Author Share Posted July 25, 2016 How big is it. I gotta say, it looks geological to my untrained eye: crooked outline, no anatomical detail, perfectly flat. See what experts say. Also, got any more photos? There is some perspective distortion because of the angle at which the image was captured. The photo is a bit lacking in detail, so I can't tell whether the upward hooked curve on the left end of the specimen is a continuation or a separate feature. I'd also like to see a more clear and complete image of the feature(s) on the right side of the photo. Are the bands (resembling septa) parallel to any layering in the surrounding rock? uncropped photo: Other closeups: Every single fossil you see is a miracle set in stone, and should be treated as such. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herb Posted July 25, 2016 Share Posted July 25, 2016 I do not believe it is a fossil either "Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence"_ Carl Sagen No trees were killed in this posting......however, many innocent electrons were diverted from where they originally intended to go. " I think, therefore I collect fossils." _ Me "When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth."__S. Holmes "can't we all just get along?" Jack Nicholson from Mars Attacks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeargleSchmeargl Posted July 25, 2016 Author Share Posted July 25, 2016 What I'm wondering: What geological mark would this be...? Every single fossil you see is a miracle set in stone, and should be treated as such. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CraigHyatt Posted July 25, 2016 Share Posted July 25, 2016 uncropped photo: 20160721_141214.jpg Other closeups: 20160724_212732.jpg 20160724_212942.jpg In the "uncropped photo" there appears to be a similar, but smaller, feature on the right. To me, these look like chips caused by temperature cycling combined with differential weathering. Info: Craig Hyatt, retired software/electrical engineer Experience: Beginner, fossil hunting less than a year Location: Eagle Pass, TX USA on the border with Mexico, hot dry desert Formation: Escondido, Marine, Upper Cretaceous Materials: Sandstone, Mudstone, Shale, Chert, Chalk Typical: Thalassinoides, Sphenodiscus, Exogyra, Inoceramus Reference: http://txfossils.com/Txfossils.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockwood Posted July 25, 2016 Share Posted July 25, 2016 What I'm wondering: What geological mark would this be...? I believe water current can mold clay minerals into shapes like this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeargleSchmeargl Posted July 25, 2016 Author Share Posted July 25, 2016 Interesting. Every single fossil you see is a miracle set in stone, and should be treated as such. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnBrewer Posted July 25, 2016 Share Posted July 25, 2016 I'm with Rockwood here. John Map of UK fossil sites Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeargleSchmeargl Posted July 26, 2016 Author Share Posted July 26, 2016 I'm with Rockwood here. Might be true. I may have to take better pics when we move, since I wasn't entirely satisfied with how fuzzy they came out. Every single fossil you see is a miracle set in stone, and should be treated as such. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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