Herkimer Fossil

[Philosoraptor]

I recently went to the Herkimer diamond mines. Although I did find a decent amount of "diamonds" as I was packing up I spotted this. It's a piece of dolostone with what looks like brachiopods on it. After doing a little research, it seems like the rocks in the mines are Cambrian in age with little record of fossils being found. Any help with figuring this out would definitely be appreciated. 

[ynot]

Looks like a hash plat with brachiopods to Me.

Nice find.

[Darktooth]

I agree with Tony,  but the only fossils that I know are there are stromalites. I wonder if that was left there by someone cleaning out space in their car. I have been there trading specimens with others, so it could have been left behind.

[Philosoraptor]

The matrix seems to be the same as the rocks that hold the "diamonds". It even has a little "diamond" on one edge. If it was something someone left there from another site, then the site would probably be very similar to the diamond mines. At least I would think so.

[Fossildude19]

That looks like the Ordovician limestone that the New York state DOT uses as fill around and underneath bridges.

[Philosoraptor]

On 7/16/2017 at 10:34 PM, Fossildude19 said:

That looks like the Ordovician limestone that the New York state DOT uses as fill around and underneath bridges.

I'm not so sure that's what it could be. I found this by the dolomite/dolostone ledges in the Herkimer Diamonds Mines(name of the open quarry were you can collect the diamonds). Regardless of if it's dolomite/dolostone or limestone, it seems to be associated with the site. 

[Philosoraptor]

Another part that interests me with this is the little black bit in the center. Could it be part of a sponge?

[DevonianDigger]

Brachiopods are documented, but pretty rare in the Little Falls Dolostone. It's most likely that this is material from another location that was transferred there. Also, it's possible that the "diamonds" you're seeing in the piece are actually calcite crystals which were formed inside the brachiopods and have since been exposed. Just my two cents.

[Philosoraptor]

What brachiopods are documented in the little falls dolostone? Could the species of brachiopods be evidence that the fossil isn't from there originally or are they too poorly preserved to get a solid id on them? Thanks for the input so far

[Fossildude19]

1 hour ago, Philosoraptor said:

What brachiopods are documented in the little falls dolostone? Could the species of brachiopods be evidence that the fossil isn't from there originally or are they too poorly preserved to get a solid id on them? Thanks for the input so far

The brachiopods known from the dolostone are Lingulepis acuminata sequens Walcott ( Glossina acuminata, Hall and Clarke )