EFswt Posted October 18, 2016 Share Posted October 18, 2016 I found this many years ago as a child on a beach, either in Florida or North/South Carolina, but I'm not 100% certain. I always assumed it was maybe fossilized poop of some sort, or maybe even fossilized coral. The "rock" is very dense, can scratch almost anything(note glass), and is maybe .5-2lbs. I have dropped it onto concrete from approx. 3-5ft, and it chipped the concrete, and I at least noticed no changes to the "rock". No odor, not even when I originally found it. Non-magnetic. One Side of this "rock" appears to have a crystal-like structure/pattern, but going from the center to the outside. I've included pics:https://i.imgur.com/hmglsiL.jpg https://i.imgur.com/v0KFYv4.jpg https://i.imgur.com/dTiw952.jpg https://i.imgur.com/3QZqrfJ.jpg https://i.imgur.com/iJqIBYM.jpg https://i.imgur.com/SP3ykwU.jpg https://i.imgur.com/UWibNML.jpghttps://i.imgur.com/Ory9WDp.jpg Yeah, after about a week of researching I'm thinking(like 85-95% sure) it's a Fossilized(?) Horn Rugose Coral. Looks very much like these pics on this page: http://woostergeologists.scotblogs.wooster.edu/2015/10/09/woosters-fossils-of-the-week-a-rugose-coral-and-its-encrusters-from-the-middle-devonian-of-new-york/ and it also looks very familiar to these/this pic(s): http://woostergeologists.scotblogs.wooster.edu/files/2015/08/3-Wanakah-corals.jpg The one pic I included( https://i.imgur.com/v0KFYv4.jpg) looks like calcite crystals I am also curious how old this item may be, and I think it's app. from the Ordovician to Late Permian era, so maybe 485.4–443.8 million years to 298.9–252.17 million years old. Any help is greatly appreciated, and thanks in advance! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
belemniten Posted October 18, 2016 Share Posted October 18, 2016 HI ! I think you are right with your ID ! Good work and nice fossil ... Welcome to TFF 1 Many greetings from Germany ! Have a great time with many fossils Regards Sebastian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FossilDAWG Posted October 18, 2016 Share Posted October 18, 2016 It very much resembles a rugose coral in the genus Heliophyllum. The diagnostic character is the septa with yard-arm carinae (you'll have to google that, I can't think how to describe them). Heliophyllum halli is very common at many Middle Devonian sites in New York state and in Ontario, it's probably impossible to know just where yours came from. However it is certainly not from Florida or the Carolinas, unless someone dropped it there, as there are no rocks of the right age anywhere in those states. Don 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EFswt Posted October 18, 2016 Author Share Posted October 18, 2016 My family took a lot of vacations to the east coach beaches, Key West Islands beaches, the ones I mentioned in Florida(even Gulf Coast beaches)/NC/SC, Georgia. I'm probably missing a few locations, I'm sure. 8 hours ago, FossilDAWG said: It very much resembles a rugose coral in the genus Heliophyllum. The diagnostic character is the septa with yard-arm carinae (you'll have to google that, I can't think how to describe them). Heliophyllum halli is very common at many Middle Devonian sites in New York state and in Ontario, it's probably impossible to know just where yours came from. However it is certainly not from Florida or the Carolinas, unless someone dropped it there, as there are no rocks of the right age anywhere in those states. Don Yes I agree on what you say! I'd doubt someone dropped it there, but if so then props for them leaving me to find it!! Is it possible it could have been unearthed NY/Ontario and somehow became washed down the east coast to a FL/GA/NC/SC beach? 8 hours ago, belemniten said: HI ! I think you are right with your ID ! Good work and nice fossil ... Welcome to TFF Thanks a ton! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted October 19, 2016 Share Posted October 19, 2016 Posting the images here, for archival and continuity purposes. 1 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...
EFswt Posted October 19, 2016 Author Share Posted October 19, 2016 I am also curious if anyone thinks I could "polish" this fossil up, if it's even possible, or if I should leave it alone. I already rinsed it off w warm water before I took any pics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fifbrindacier Posted October 19, 2016 Share Posted October 19, 2016 No, it is better like this. If you polish it you'd probably damage it. But you can clean it with a tooth brush, water and soap. 1 "On ne voit bien que par le coeur, l'essentiel est invisible pour les yeux." (Antoine de Saint-Exupéry) "We only well see with the heart, the essential is invisible for the eyes." In memory of Doren Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DevonianDigger Posted October 19, 2016 Share Posted October 19, 2016 Yup, big honkin' Rugose coral there. Looks like the ones @Kane brought me from Arkona! They often crystallize on the interiors, like this one from the Penn Dixie site: (Despite popular opinion, I maintain that 'big honkin' is, in fact, an acceptable scientific term.) 1 Jay A. Wollin Lead Fossil Educator - Penn Dixie Fossil Park and Nature Reserve Hamburg, New York, USA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minnbuckeye Posted October 19, 2016 Share Posted October 19, 2016 6 hours ago, EFswt said: I am also curious if anyone thinks I could "polish" this fossil up, if it's even possible, or if I should leave it alone. I already rinsed it off w warm water before I took any pics. I have had success with the rugosa corals locally dipped in a vinegar solution. It helps take a bit of the subtle residual matrix off and exposes more detail of the coral. If left in acid too long, the coral itself can be affected , so short frequent trips to the acid bath till you are satisfied with the results. Anyway, nice find 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EFswt Posted October 19, 2016 Author Share Posted October 19, 2016 THANKS VERY MUCH to ALL the members who helped me ID this!!! Is there a way i can add or leave a +positive feedback to the users profiles? I've clicked the icon with a "Yellow star-Informative" to users posts... is this the same as leaving positive feedback? 2 hours ago, minnbuckeye said: I have had success with the rugosa corals locally dipped in a vinegar solution. It helps take a bit of the subtle residual matrix off and exposes more detail of the coral. If left in acid too long, the coral itself can be affected , so short frequent trips to the acid bath till you are satisfied with the results. Anyway, nice find Yeah, gonna pass on tryin that. I said before I washed with warm water and soap, but did not brushing of any sort. 8 hours ago, DevonianDigger said: @KaneThey often crystallize on the interiors, like this one from the Penn Dixie site: So do you, or anyone else, think that the crystals are calcite crystals ? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DevonianDigger Posted October 19, 2016 Share Posted October 19, 2016 I'm not a coral guy really, I just find a lot of it. But my understanding is yes, calcite crystals. Jay A. Wollin Lead Fossil Educator - Penn Dixie Fossil Park and Nature Reserve Hamburg, New York, USA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DevonianDigger Posted October 19, 2016 Share Posted October 19, 2016 That being said, be careful with vinegar. Even though it's pretty weak, it's acetic acid, which dissolves calcite. It will help to clean the exterior but it will also eat away at the interior! (This I do know from experience, lol) Jay A. Wollin Lead Fossil Educator - Penn Dixie Fossil Park and Nature Reserve Hamburg, New York, USA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fifbrindacier Posted October 20, 2016 Share Posted October 20, 2016 Yes, be very careful with vinegar, it dissolves calcite. Try to use the mechanic way as i said before, and then, if there remain matrix, try the vinegar as minnbuckeye said. You made well by clicking informative to give a positive feedback, it adds points on the count of the users. Thank you to have given me a point. "On ne voit bien que par le coeur, l'essentiel est invisible pour les yeux." (Antoine de Saint-Exupéry) "We only well see with the heart, the essential is invisible for the eyes." In memory of Doren Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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