Flurry Posted January 6, 2017 Share Posted January 6, 2017 Can anyone identify the fossil I have numbered 1 in this photo? I am unable to find a similar photo in a book or online. I wonder if it is a crinoid flower and if number 2 and 3 are types of coral horn. I found these on my hillside (very steep and several acres in length) in St. Charles County, Missouri. I also find geodes, drusy quartz, and (possibly) petrified wood in the same area. Posting photos of the petrified wood next to ask for identification. May I also ask which geologic period you believe these fossils are from? I enjoy finding unusual rocks on the hill and want to understand more. Many thanks for allowing me to learn from you. Additional pictures below because my photo files are too large. Photo 1: Four fossils Photo 2: Front of fossil 1 Photo 3: Bottom of fossil 1 Photo 4: Back of fossil 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flurry Posted January 6, 2017 Author Share Posted January 6, 2017 Front Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flurry Posted January 6, 2017 Author Share Posted January 6, 2017 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flurry Posted January 6, 2017 Author Share Posted January 6, 2017 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FossilGuy1024 Posted January 6, 2017 Share Posted January 6, 2017 Cool finds! I first thought for #1 was it is an internal mold of a solitary coral. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pumpkinhead Posted January 6, 2017 Share Posted January 6, 2017 I think that #1 is a rugose coral as well as fossils 2 and 3. They are definitely Paleozoic, most likely Mississippian in age. See following geological map of Missouri: Nice finds, thanks for sharing them with us 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted January 6, 2017 Share Posted January 6, 2017 Looks like 1, 2, and 3 seem to be rugose or "horn" corals. 4 is a gastropod, something akin to Leospira sp., I think. Neat finds. Regards, EDIT: What part of St. Charles County? Looking at the Geologic map provided by Pumpkinhead, it appears there is Ordovician aged strata in southwest St. Charles Count, ,... and Mississippian aged strata through most of the rest of the county. Oh, ... and Welcome to the Forum. 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...
BobWill Posted January 6, 2017 Share Posted January 6, 2017 I don't know the fauna of St. Charles but the gastropod also looks a lot like Trepospira sp. we find in the Pennsylvanian of Texas. Maybe Leospira sp. is old enough to be Miss. or Ord. if one of those is the right age. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted January 6, 2017 Share Posted January 6, 2017 A cursory Google search turned up Ceratopea, Sinuopea and Lecanospira as other possibilities. 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...
fifbrindacier Posted January 7, 2017 Share Posted January 7, 2017 I agree 1, 2 and 3 are rugose corals. The number 1 is impressive. 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...
Flurry Posted January 7, 2017 Author Share Posted January 7, 2017 Many thanks to all of you. Will have fun researching your suggestions. I live just on the line where Mississippian and Ordovician meet on the map in Southern St. Charles County. That's one reason I asked for your identification...trying to learn which period fossils to study. When I find fossils, identification may be easier if I have the period narrowed down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobWill Posted January 7, 2017 Share Posted January 7, 2017 If you don't find a local geologist to ask or rock club to join you might look up the names of the formations from a more detailed geological map for descriptions of the rock. Then make comparisons of the fossil and rock material in road cuts or streambeds from both sides of the line between periods to gain a familiarity with the differences. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archimedes Posted January 7, 2017 Share Posted January 7, 2017 the gastropod does look like Trepospira like Bobwill suggested, and has been reported from the uppermost Mississippian, Imo Fm., and Horn corals (rugose coral) are fairly common in the upper Mississippian also. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RockHound66 Posted February 23, 2017 Share Posted February 23, 2017 Definitely Horn Coral I find it all the time where I live in Mo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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