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Famous Faringdon Sponges and Associated Fossils


DE&i

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FOSSIL SPONGES

115 million years old

Faringdon Sponge Gravels
Faringdon, Oxfordshire
 
These gravels were formed during the Cretaceous period when the area was submerged beneath the sea. Sponges lived on the sea floor and when they died underwater currents swept them into hollows where they accumulated to form the gravels.

The Faringdon Sponge Gravels is part of the Lower Greensand. It is composed predominantly of the remains of calcareous sponges, with brachiopods, echinoderms and bryozoa. Derived fossils such as reptile bones from older formations also occur such as a partial Ichthyosaur rostrum I have (I think that’s what it is at present).

I’ve only lightly dusted them as they will make a great prepping project for someone to pick out all the tiny pieces of gravels. Except for this one as an example which I believe to be the sponge Raphidonema Faringdonense, a classic fossil from the Faringdon Sponge Gravels

 

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These specimens are from an old collection and were collected at the date below give or take a few weeks. I’ve decided to keep the old newspaper with the fossils for future generations to read.

 

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  • I found this Informative 5

Regards.....D&E&i

The only certainty with fossil hunting is the uncertainty.

https://lnk.bio/Darren.Withers

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Very interesting, thanks for sharing this with us!:)

Dipleurawhisperer5.jpg

I like Trilo-butts and I cannot lie.

 

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  • 2 years later...
On 30/05/2017 at 11:14 PM, DE&i said:

Derived fossils such as reptile bones from older formations also occur such as a partial Ichthyosaur rostrum I have (I think that’s what it is at present).

 

Revisted this Faringdon sponge collection today, as I wanted to closer examine the fossils that are stained by iron oxide and phosphate such as this piece. Fragments of vertebrae and ribs from large marine reptiles have been, and even dinosaur remains. 

 

Would anyone have a suggestion what this fragment might be from. I'm going with partial marine reptile mandible but could be way off the mark...dinosaur would be cool.

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Regards.....D&E&i

The only certainty with fossil hunting is the uncertainty.

https://lnk.bio/Darren.Withers

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I've just had the possibility of a plesiosaur or ichthyosaur bone ruled out for this find. But there was a suggestion of a possible dinosaur bone due to the cavity running through the middle. Could you possibly shed a little light on this find please @Troodon

Regards.....D&E&i

The only certainty with fossil hunting is the uncertainty.

https://lnk.bio/Darren.Withers

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The cavity is not indicative of a dinosaur, the center marrow has just weathered out.  Its possible but I cannot support that ID, just dont know.

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