Kane Posted September 10, 2017 Share Posted September 10, 2017 Deb and me just got in from a good six hour search for Greenops, carving out and extending benches. Did we find full ones? Well, yes and no. As those familiar with the area know all too well, finding a full Greenops is not easy. Apart from a zillion moulted pieces, their notorious delicate flakiness, and sometimes the frustration with the matrix itself, full ones - when they appear - rarely come out nice and pristine without some damage. I haven't been as much of a Greenops whisperer this year, but some pics of finds... First up are the heartbreakers - stuff that had the potential to be full, but for one reason or another wasn't. Next is a cluster of more heartbreakers, but there are two "full" ones in there, but with considerable damage on one and distortion on the other. The others in that group may prep out full, but they already display considerable damage. I don't usually find crinoid stems this far up in the Widder shale. This stem actually continues on the other side. Some very delicate prep, and I'm hoping I might find a surprise at the end of that stem. My rule about this orthocone nautiloids is, if it is intact, wrap it up and put it in the bucket. This might actually come free of the matrix. ...How to Philosophize with a Hammer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kane Posted September 10, 2017 Author Share Posted September 10, 2017 And my rule for ammonoids is always pick them up! Flanked by smaller cousins, note the big kahuna in the middle. I was stunned to find this, and it pretty much was a trip-maker for me. The second picture shows a bit more of the suture detail. Fully inflated, and by far the biggest intact goniatite I've found at the site. It may clean up very nicely. Finally, a mystery piece Deb found. Not entirely sure what this is. Hopefully an Arkona expert wanders by and recognizes probably something that is easy to identify. Two images: in full and up close. ...How to Philosophize with a Hammer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted September 10, 2017 Share Posted September 10, 2017 Awesome hunt for you, Kane! Congratulations. The last item looks a bit like placoderm armor, to me. 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...
Kane Posted September 10, 2017 Author Share Posted September 10, 2017 Thanks, Tim! I'm really hoping that last one is placo armour (it was fairly big) as it will definitely thrill Deb to know that! ...How to Philosophize with a Hammer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crinus Posted September 10, 2017 Share Posted September 10, 2017 It definite is placo armor. Do you have the missing pieces? Joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kane Posted September 10, 2017 Author Share Posted September 10, 2017 Just now, crinus said: It definite is placo armor. Do you have the missing pieces? Joe She picked up every spare piece she could, so we might be able to reconstruct the missing parts. She'll be over the moon! ...How to Philosophize with a Hammer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crinus Posted September 10, 2017 Share Posted September 10, 2017 Glue the pieces together but don't glue it back on the rock. That way you can view both side of the armor. Joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kane Posted September 10, 2017 Author Share Posted September 10, 2017 Turns out there were only a few more pieces, and she checked extensively. I've just pieced those together and added a measurement scale. Possibly a chunk of Bothriolepis... ...How to Philosophize with a Hammer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arizona Chris Posted September 10, 2017 Share Posted September 10, 2017 That is a very nice piece of arthrodire armor, we have Bothriolepis in Arizona, and are familiar with our species. But what I dont see are the individual plates that make up the armor, ours has many small sections that cover the fish. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Arizona Chris Paleo Web Site: http://schursastrophotography.com/fossiladventures.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kane Posted September 10, 2017 Author Share Posted September 10, 2017 1 minute ago, Arizona Chris said: That is a very nice piece of arthrodire armor, we have Bothriolepis in Arizona, and are familiar with our species. But what I dont see are the individual plates that make up the armor, ours has many small sections that cover the fish. I've been trying to map this one on the reconstructions I've seen, but not yet entirely sure where it "fits" anatomically. The lack of the individual plates is a bit odd, I agree. And then there is this little bit of banding that none of the images I've looked at seem to compare with. A head-scratcher! My knowledge of Widder Fm placoderms is admittedly pretty scant, although I always pocket them. Usually up here we get the B. canadensis. ...How to Philosophize with a Hammer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FossilDAWG Posted September 10, 2017 Share Posted September 10, 2017 Excellent piece of placoderm armor. However the impression where pieces are missing shows an ornament of many bumps or knobs. I don't think that ornament is found on Bothriolepis. Don Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ludwigia Posted September 10, 2017 Share Posted September 10, 2017 Hey, Kane! You've got some nice and interesting finds there. Looks like the excursion was well worth it. Greetings from the Lake of Constance. Roger http://www.steinkern.de/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kane Posted September 10, 2017 Author Share Posted September 10, 2017 Just now, Ludwigia said: Hey, Kane! You've got some nice and interesting finds there. Looks like the excursion was well worth it. Thanks, Roger! I admit that when I found that big Torno, I thought of your time over here. ...How to Philosophize with a Hammer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ludwigia Posted September 10, 2017 Share Posted September 10, 2017 7 minutes ago, Kane said: Thanks, Roger! I admit that when I found that big Torno, I thought of your time over here. At least you really found it there Nice one, by the way. Greetings from the Lake of Constance. Roger http://www.steinkern.de/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcolmt Posted September 10, 2017 Share Posted September 10, 2017 Definitely fish armour. Looks like you were in greenops heaven.... Gotta get there with you this season......A couple of the greenops look like they have potential Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monica Posted September 10, 2017 Share Posted September 10, 2017 Hey Kane! I LOVE your orthoconic nautiloid!!! Those colours are beautiful!!! I'm very much Thanks for sharing! Monica Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kane Posted September 11, 2017 Author Share Posted September 11, 2017 1 hour ago, Ludwigia said: At least you really found it there Nice one, by the way. Just wait until you find a torno in your Callovian Hills! 1 hour ago, Malcolmt said: Definitely fish armour. Looks like you were in greenops heaven.... Gotta get there with you this season......A couple of the greenops look like they have potential I venture to guess the placo is Protitanichthys. The one Greenops that shows promise comes with its impression (with some of the cephalon stuck to it). That would take some delicate prep and recon, so it is probably best for me to gift it to someone with the tools, patience and skill. I've finally pinpointed the layer where the fuller ones come out most often, so hopefully we'll have a chance to work that layer. 50 minutes ago, Monica said: Hey Kane! I LOVE your orthoconic nautiloid!!! Those colours are beautiful!!! I'm very much Thanks for sharing! Monica Thanks! And if you and Viola ever wander upriver to the Widder shale exposures, they do come out there every once in a while, much bigger an the Arkona bactrites. ...How to Philosophize with a Hammer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnBrewer Posted September 11, 2017 Share Posted September 11, 2017 Interesting and fab varied finds Kane. John Map of UK fossil sites Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcolmt Posted September 11, 2017 Share Posted September 11, 2017 25 minutes ago, Kane said: I venture to guess the placo is Protitanichthys. The one Greenops that shows promise comes with its impression (with some of the cephalon stuck to it). That would take some delicate prep and recon, so it is probably best for me to gift it to someone with the tools, patience and skill. I've finally pinpointed the layer where the fuller ones come out most often, so hopefully we'll have a chance to work that layer. But what if the individual with the tools, patience and skills wants to hold out for a pristine prone specimen as promised ..... lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ynot Posted September 11, 2017 Share Posted September 11, 2017 Nice finds! Darwin said: " Man sprang from monkeys." Will Rogers said: " Some of them didn't spring far enough." My Fossil collection - My Mineral collection My favorite thread on TFF. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kane Posted September 11, 2017 Author Share Posted September 11, 2017 1 hour ago, Malcolmt said: But what if the individual with the tools, patience and skills wants to hold out for a pristine prone specimen as promised ..... lol Lol... well, it may take a few more digs there and some luck on my part! ...How to Philosophize with a Hammer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossil-Hound Posted September 11, 2017 Share Posted September 11, 2017 @Kane some of those Greenops looking promising. Excellent report and finds. Do or do not. There is no try. - Yoda Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kane Posted September 12, 2017 Author Share Posted September 12, 2017 A quick follow-up on the Greenops. Some light Dremel prep this morning to uncover some matrix on a few of the other more promising ones (the pyritized one with the accompanying impression I'm leaving alone. It would make an excellent practice piece for someone who seeks a challenge in restoration). Left: That may indeed be a full roller, but is extremely delicate (the genal spines are sticking out awkwardly and would flake off easily if I applied the Dremel closely). It split on the right side, but I can glue it back. Centre: Pretty intact prone if not for the missing upper right cephalon. A real bummer it came out of the rock that way, but you can see the rest will come out complete (and, as per Malcolm's sage prep advice, I'm taking a break and will come back to it later - better than go too long and botch it). Right: This one will be tough. It may be all there, but it is crushed into a kind of concave depression. This one is not a Dremel job! ...How to Philosophize with a Hammer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcolmt Posted September 12, 2017 Share Posted September 12, 2017 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kane Posted September 12, 2017 Author Share Posted September 12, 2017 And just one more bunch from the prep table. Not sure if the upper left will be more complete, but it is under a pygidium that will have to be blasted off. Some of these are very twisted, which presents a bit of a challenge. The one at the bottom right is not a roller, but pretty much folded in half and so very thin - complete-ish (missing cheeks/genal spines, and pygidial spines on the other side, sadly). ...How to Philosophize with a Hammer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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