Phymosoma Phusillade

[Uncle Siphuncle]

I had a couple long time collecting friends roll through from out of state recently, and the responsibility of a successful outing fell on my shoulders more so than usual since our last outing a year or 2 ago was a bust.

 

I had a full itinerary of sites to roll through, beginning with one in the Walnut Formation (Albian) where I had scored a career high of 68 Phymosoma texanum echinoids 2-3 years prior.

 

We never made it to the other sites.  I picked up the first P. texanum within the first 15 seconds on site, and over the next 2-3 hours, our combined take exceeded 100.  Many were dusted with glittering marcasite, hard to see in the pics, but will be abundantly evident post prep.  There were spatangoids present as well, dominated by Heteraster texanus, and including something in the Hemiaster/Toxaster group with 5 depressed ambulacra.  I also picked up a svelt Engonoceras ammonite, thin and fragile, usually found in fragments.

 

Always satisfying to hear your guests exclaim, “Now I have a lifetime supply of this species.”

 

I think I’ll let this place go fallow for a while, then put my wife on point next round.

 

 

[Fossildude19]

Quite the haul, sir!   

Thanks for another impressive report.  

Glad to see you getting out and finding these treasures.

 

[Arizona Chris]

Awesome finds, not used to seeing so many in one pile.  The first shot I thought at first you had them on the BBQ grilling them...

[PFOOLEY]

Good work, my friend! 

 

I have always been fond of the suture pattern found on Engonoceras though I have never ventured south to find one for myself...              ...yet.  

 

If you are interested...

 

The late Albian ammonite Engonoceras from southwest New Mexico

 

...for your perusal.

[Uncle Siphuncle]

4 hours ago, Fossildude19 said:

Quite the haul, sir!   

Thanks for another impressive report.  

Glad to see you getting out and finding these treasures.

 

Been tiling the floor lately after the water heater blew this spring and flooded half the house, but I’ve been slipping the shackles of domesticity whenever possible this year and disappearing into the outback of Texas and beyond.  Maybe I’ll do another annual photo summary at year’s end, and show some of the better Phymosoma and the Engonoceras dressed a little better.

3 hours ago, Arizona Chris said:

Awesome finds, not used to seeing so many in one pile.  The first shot I thought at first you had them on the BBQ grilling them...

I’ve never seen the quite so gregarious either.  At this site they seemed to outnumber Heteraster, an uncommon flip flop of distribution in this formation.

[Uncle Siphuncle]

1 hour ago, PFOOLEY said:

Good work, my friend! 

 

I have always been fond of the suture pattern found on Engonoceras though I have never ventured south to find one for myself...              ...yet.  

 

If you are interested...

 

The late Albian ammonite Engonoceras from southwest New Mexico

 

...for your perusal.

Complicated sutures are rather easy on the eyes, my friend.  And thanks for the paper.  Your state is far from devoid of paleo riches.

[Ludwigia]

I'm impressed! You guys can play a lot of games of checkers with those.

[Fruitbat]

Now THAT is a big bunch of dead spiny things!  Looks like you had a lot of fun!

-Joe

[Nimravis]

Great report and finds.

[Monica]

Beautiful echinoids 

[erose]

No Tetras hiding in there? You checked all those tubercules....?

 

[sixgill pete]

Fantastic. Looks like you collecting friends now owe you one.

[Uncle Siphuncle]

1 hour ago, sixgill pete said:

Fantastic. Looks like you collecting friends now owe you one.

They are great peeps and I’m not keeping score.