Lori LuvsFossils Posted July 27, 2016 Share Posted July 27, 2016 (Ignore the rock lower right) A very good friend showed up today with these chunks of Kentucky coal. He's proud of the fossils he found in them. I don't see anything but "ripples", but he's so excited I want him to be right. I did hunt Kentucky last year, but the fossils I found were very defined & don't look like these. Having said that, I barely know anything about coal. Anyone able to give me good news for him? (a couple of close up photos following) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori LuvsFossils Posted July 27, 2016 Author Share Posted July 27, 2016 He sees plants. I get it, but I can't say I agree. In this case, I would like to be wrong. What say you ??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted July 27, 2016 Share Posted July 27, 2016 Sorry Lori. I'm not seeing any fossils there. Only conchoidal fractures/ hackle fringe. Regards, Tim - VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER VFOTM --- APRIL - 2015 __________________________________________________ "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." John Muir ~ ~ ~ ~ ><))))( *> About Me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CraigHyatt Posted July 27, 2016 Share Posted July 27, 2016 I am torn. On the one hand, the fine detail on the "roots" looks biological. On the other hand, it doesn't make sense structurally. I've definitely seen fractures like the larger scale seen in these items. If I were forced to call it, I'd say even the "roots" are some kind of fracture artifact. Interested to see what experts say. 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...
CraigHyatt Posted July 27, 2016 Share Posted July 27, 2016 I concur with "hackle fringe" for the "roots". Found some matching images with the same complex branching. 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...
fossilcrazy Posted July 27, 2016 Share Posted July 27, 2016 I'd like to bear good news, but I can't. They are Conchoidal fractures in the coal. I have found many fossils in coal. These are not fossils. It is perfectly understandable how the eye could interpret them as fossils. Enjoy the unique character of these rocks but don't figure them as fossils. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori LuvsFossils Posted July 27, 2016 Author Share Posted July 27, 2016 Dang it, but he took it well. It's always good to hear what others think / know. THANK YOU EVERYONE !!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ynot Posted July 27, 2016 Share Posted July 27, 2016 Dang it, but he took it well. It's always good to hear what others think / know. THANK YOU EVERYONE !!!! This is a case of YES & NO. The others are correct that the marks / ripples are not fossils. However coal is a fossil made of compressed and carbonized plant material. So the rock is a fossil but the hackle fringe marks are a product of the force of the brake. 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fossilcrazy Posted July 27, 2016 Share Posted July 27, 2016 Ynot you are absolutely correct. The coal is fossils and the patterns are not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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