Monica Posted July 27, 2016 Share Posted July 27, 2016 Hi all! We had a wicked thunderstorm here in the Toronto area this past Monday, so I decided to go out to a nearby location on Etobicoke Creek to see if I could make any fossil finds. I found some similar stuff to what I found by the Humber River last week (i.e. crinoid stems, other crinoid fragments, bivalve or brachiopod impression) but I also picked up a pretty big piece of rock that has lots of stuff embedded within it. I recognize the crinoid stem and fragments in the piece, but there are a couple of fossils that I haven't seen before, so I've included a few pictures of the rock below: This is the "back" of the piece of rock. I can see the crinoid fragments, but there is a triangular-shaped item/impression about halfway up the rock, closer to the left side of the image. Is this a bivalve or brachiopod? Or is it something else? This is the "front" of the piece of rock. Again, I can see the crinoid stuff (piece of stem and other fragments), but there is something wierd in the upper righthand corner of the piece of rock. It is white, hard, and looks segmented. It is about 3.5 cm long, 1.5 cm wide at the top, and 0.5 cm wide at the bottom. Could this be a rugose coral? Or a sponge? Or something else??? Help, please!!! This a view of the "top" of the piece of rock, showing the "opening" of the white, hard, segmented fossil viewed in the previous photo. This "opening" can be seen towards the left side of this photo. This is a view of the "side" of the piece of rock. There appears to be a dark-coloured bivalve or brachiopod (3 cm long) towards the right side of this photo. Any ideas as to the identity of this fossil? Again, this piece of rock was colleced by Etobicoke Creek, at the border between Etobicoke (Toronto) and Mississauga. Thanks in advance for your help! Monica Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doushantuo Posted July 27, 2016 Share Posted July 27, 2016 Three blind mice playing a Fender Telecaster!!! Nice piece of rock you have there. Of course,you're surrounded by Paleozoic. If i was surrounded by Paleozoic,i'd never eat or sleep again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted July 27, 2016 Share Posted July 27, 2016 Crinoid stem pieces (1 partially articulated) Brachiopod internal molds, Possible trilobite parts, Orthocone cephalopod. 4 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...
doushantuo Posted July 27, 2016 Share Posted July 27, 2016 thanks Tim. In all honesty: the orthocerid had me troubled,I didn't recognize it at all as such Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted July 27, 2016 Share Posted July 27, 2016 thanks Tim. In all honesty: the orthocerid had me troubled,I didn't recognize it at all as such 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...
Monica Posted July 28, 2016 Author Share Posted July 28, 2016 Crinoid stem pieces (1 partially articulated) Brachiopod internal molds, Possible trilobite parts, Orthocone cephalopod. post-22019-0-46533800-1469616144.jpg post-22019-0-90610400-1469616134.jpg Hi Tim! Thanks for helping me out by identifying the orthocone cephalopod in the corner of my rock - I really appreciate it! Monica Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyrice11 Posted July 30, 2016 Share Posted July 30, 2016 Crinoid stem pieces (1 partially articulated) Brachiopod internal molds, Possible trilobite parts, Orthocone cephalopod. post-22019-0-46533800-1469616144.jpg post-22019-0-90610400-1469616134.jpg I agree with the trilobite parts hypothesis. I also saw what I thought might be some more parts. Top left looks like the hypostome from a Lichas trilobite, or some other trilobite from the family Lichida The thoracic segments also look like Lichida 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monica Posted July 30, 2016 Author Share Posted July 30, 2016 Hi all! Since some TFF specialists think that there may be some trilobite parts found within my hash plate along with many other goodies, would you recommend that I try to remove the fossils from the rock? If so, how would you recommend I go about doing so? Thanks for your help! Monica Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted July 30, 2016 Share Posted July 30, 2016 First, I am not a specialist by any means. Just an interested amateur. Second, I would not try to remove the fossils from the rock. I might be tempted to try to enhance the matrix itself, by air abrasion of some of the matrix covered bits. This is a whole other different kind of preparation. You would need a compressor, an air eraser, and a box to work in. Look through the preparation forum for some ideas - this is well covered territory there. Regards, 2 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...
erose Posted July 30, 2016 Share Posted July 30, 2016 (edited) Hi all! Since some TFF specialists think that there may be some trilobite parts found within my hash plate along with many other goodies, would you recommend that I try to remove the fossils from the rock? If so, how would you recommend I go about doing so? Thanks for your help! Monica In some of those Ordovician layers the most you usually get is trilo-hash. But there is still always the possibility* of a complete trilobite in among the debris. Just keep looking and don't be afraid to drag stuff home for a wash and closer look. Soak them in a tub with some dish soap and then a gentle scrub with a soft brush (toothbrush) for the first pass at cleaning. But, as stated already, don't bother doing higher level preparation with these hash plates until you start finding more complete specimens. *I have collected on many occasions from the Whitewater Formation in SW Ohio. The trilobites in those rocks are generally a mash up of bits and pieces of Isotelus and Flexicalymene. Some from very large individuals. But over the years persistence has paid off and I have found several complete Flexicalmene and almost complete Isotelus along with the odd cephalon or pygidium of rarer genera. I always like to think there will always be one better specimen to be found and that is what keeps me going back to sites over and over. PS I think the cephalopod in that slab is quite nice. Edited July 30, 2016 by erose 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monica Posted July 30, 2016 Author Share Posted July 30, 2016 Thanks for your input and suggestions Tim and erose. I'll just have to keep looking for a better/more complete trilobite specimen... :-) Monica Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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