Fossils Adventures from the Devonian Disphyllum Locality

[Arizona Chris]

Hi all,

 

Last weekend was an awesome trip back to a site we had not been to in over 10 years.  This location offers three geologic formations from Devonian to Pennsylvanian.  I put a write up together for all of you on what we found, and the sites, and finally the fossils after we plunged them into the acid bath to extract them!  Thanks for looking!

 

Devonian and Pennsylvanian Fossils in the Martin and Naco Limestones Coral Locality at Tonto Creek

 

At the convergence of the Tonto and Horton creeks east of Payson, we find three primary formations, all with some type of fossils. The lowest in the stratagraphic column is the Devonian Martin formation, a pink hued platy limestone with trace fossils and a low diversity of silicified tabulate and rugose corals. Lying directly over is the gray and melted looking Redwall Limestone. Dominated by crinoidal material in the limestones, it contains beds of brown cherts with molds of a huge variety of invertebrates. Also localized beds of oolitic limestone found in the same area contain huge Straparollus gastropods. And finally, overlying the Redwall is the Pennsylvanian Naco formation. Again many crinoids in the limestones which are more angular and reddish stained. Beds of brown/red cherts can be either totally non fossiliferous or contain both molds and casts of corals, sponges and crinoids. This locality within a half mile area contains all three formations and is a great place to spend a few hours hiking in a stunning backdrop of pine trees and flowing rivers!

 

The Martin Limestone Locality:

Here I am seen at the Disphyllum coral locality in the pink platy limestones.

 

Dawn finds hordes of Disphyllum tubes lying right on the ground here!

 

Fossils from the Naco near the Power Line road:

Here we walked along this road to find large amounts of red cherts, some highly fossiliferous. Up ahead is the Mogollon Rim, the south end of the Colorado Plateau.

 

 

Bone fragment found in Naco. This type of fossil is very rare - Most of the time we find sharks teeth that are very tiny. But here, a big piece of what is most likely a fish bone in a huge boulder. (Yes, its still there). Now some of you may question how we know this is a bone and not just a piece of petrified wood or something. First, of all, this is a deep water marine environment, with a depth around 200 meters. Bone also does not have the exterior detail of wood. Finally, it easily passed the famous "Lick and stick" test. This is where you lick your finger, and touch the fossil. The porous nature of fossil bone causes your finger to stick like touching a piece of scotch tape, and the surrounding rock will just get wet and not stick. Sharks teeth from this formation do the same thing.

 

 

 

 

Aulopora - such a beautiful coral, this is a colonial tabulate with no septa visible.

 

 

Side view of Disphyllum colonial rugose shows the branching pipes from a common attachment base.

 

 

Disphyllum - End view of calice interiors showing septa.

 

 

Unknown and poorly preserved colonial rugose from the same area.

 

 

Composita c.f. Composita Subtilita brachiopods in red cherts. These were found loose on the ground.

 

 

Spirifer brachs too!

 

 

Disphyllum on the left and Aulopora on the right. The Aulopora was very fragmented, and if we left the limestone in the acid too long, all we would get is a pile of pieces. So as in this specimen, we only dissolved the rocks about half way down to provide a stable base to hold the corals. Even so, you have to be pretty careful on handling them!

 

 

 

 

Thanks for looking.  Many more shots including close ups with the microscope can be found here on our web site:

http://www.schursastrophotography.com/paleo/Disphyllum022218.html

 

 

 

[Darktooth]

Thanks for this report and info.those corals are really nice!

[oldtimer]

Very nice write up with great pictures.

Your finds are awesome. I will be headed down

that direction in a week or so.  If time permits I may have to stop and do a little hunting.

[FossilDAWG]

Very nice corals and brachiopods!    I collected a similar fauna from the Martin near Peppersauce Canyon on the north side of the Catalina Mountains north of Tucson, and I think it occurs further southeast such as in the Whetstone Mountains a little north of Sierra Vista, so these Devonian coral reefs were very extensive across Arizona.

 

Don

[doushantuo]

Agree with Don.

Lovely finds ,Chris

[Arizona Chris]

Thanks guys!  Here are more shots from a new batch from todays acid bath.  I used a decent camera on these, so they came out pretty good.

 

[doushantuo]

love that closeup!

[ynot]

Wonderful finds, and scenery!

Thanks for the report.

[Manticocerasman]

Those corals are incredible. They seem to clean up very wel. 

[Monica]

I love those loose red brachiopods !!!

[Shamalama]

The Martin formation is fun to collect despite the low diversity. The preservation of the Silicified specimens is awesome!  Great photos of your finds, thank you for sharing!

[Arizona Chris]

Thanks again everyone!  We carefully screened the acid fines as well with very fine sieves, and no other tiny fossils were found.  I was expecting at least a few brachs or gastropods (and hoping for Phacops or something similar!) but zilch.  But what fun it is to see that coral fossil emerge from the matrix when you wash it for the first time1

[Peat Burns]

Holy schneikies, those are amazing finds! 

[Sjfriend]

Those are awesome pieces and great write up. I'm sure you mentioned it somewhere (maybe even another thread) but I missed it, what acid and how long do you soak? I have a few pieces from NW of Payson I collected years ago and still need to prep. Maybe when down in May I'll make another trip that way. Only there for couple weeks but should be able to make a day of it (will be in Phoenix)

[gwestbrook]

Beautiful finds! I absolutely love those corals. 

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Me too, haven't seen this thread before, but glad i have now.

Beautiful corals and most excellent brachiopods.