Excited Newbie Coral ID Requested

[fernwood]

Rudist Coral?

 

Location:  SE Portage County, Central Wisconsin, USA.

Geology:  South Western advance of Green Bay Glacial Lobe.  Former Glacial Lake Oshkosh.  Niagara Escarpment Debris.  My land.  Ordovician onward. 

 

Been lurking here for a couple of years, learning everything I can.  Finally decided to join.  Always loved fossils, but never had access to many.  That changed a couple of years ago, when I unknowingly purchased some very unique land. 

 

The age of fossils I find on my property range from Ordovician era to more “modern” times.  Have found Chain Coral, Favosites and Horn Coral previously.  Plus a few other marine, plant, bone and tooth specimens. 

 

There are many moraines in the area, some smaller ones are on the land I have. 

 

I posted the below specimen on another forum but was told it was “just a hunk if quartz”.  Hoping all the experts here can shed some light on this.  The overall feel is waxy, not like quartz around here.  There are some inclusions of quartz crystals.  If it is “just a hunk of quartz”, then it is an interesting quartz rock. 

 

Apologize for not being able to put a size reference in the photo, as my phone kept focusing on the size reference.  The specimen is 2”, 50 mm across by 1 ¾”, 45 mm on the top.  The sides are 1 5/8” 40 mm by 1 2/3” 70 mm.  The formation on the top which reminds me of Rudist Coral is 3/8” 9mm, across. 

 

The colors in most photos are true.  I did change them a little in some photos of the top to enhance the formations.  Sorry, they are a little blurry.  Taken with my phone,  a portable photo tent and combo of LED and natural, North facing light. 

 

During the glitch over the past few days, I composed several posts for ID.  Please let me know how many I an post right away, or if it is better to wait a few days between posts.  

 

Top:

Top a

top b

Top c

Top d

 

Side 1:

side 1a

side 1b

 

Side 2:

side 2

 

Side 3:

side 3a

side 3b

 

Side 4:

side 4

side 4a[/url

 

Bottom:

bottom a

bottom b

bottom c

 

Please let me know if additional photos are needed.  I tried to take some of each surface, but it was tough.  I can crop the other photos I have to show more detail in specific areas. 

 

Thank you.

[Kane]

Hello and welcome to the forum, long-time lurker  

 

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I am in agreement with the previous assessment that this is not a fossil.  It is likely quartzite or something similar. Of course, do not be deterred! Wisconsin is a tough state for fossil finding, but it is certainly possible with the aid of a few maps and finding the right outcrop locations. 

[Fossildude19]

+1 for Quartz/Quartzite.

 

Geologic map of Wisconsin:

 

 

 

EDIT: According to this website, probably not too much in the way of fossils in your area.

[fernwood]

Yup, have seen that map, but have many others.  Also know what I have found.  Will ,post some other fossil finds, that are obvious.  Those might help with this one.  

 

Thanks.

[Fossildude19]

I'm not seeing any coral features to your item. 

No coralites, septum, or tabulae.  

[Kane]

Looking forward to seeing more.  

 

Unfortunately, in this piece, there are none of the typical diagnostic features for a fossil coral such as distinct coralites, septae, etc. It is pretty much a near probability one that this is quartz/quartzite. The banding and the pitted surfaces seem to strongly suggest that. 

 

EDIT: Tim was faster on the draw!  

[FossilDAWG]

If you have moraines on your property, you are likely getting a mix of all the bedrock (including fossils) that can be found in the territory the glaciers scraped before they deposited the till.  

 

Unfortunately the specimen you show here does not present any evidence of coralites, so there is no evidence to support the coral ID.  It does have the appearance of a chunk of massive quartz.

 

Hopefully you will show us some of the fossils you have found on your property.

 

Don

[ynot]

Welcome to TFF!

+ 1 for a quartz stone. Not a coral.

[fernwood]

Thought the upper left formation in first photo and subsequent potential areas below this indicated coral.  Oh well.  Guess the bully on another forum was right.  Have posted many other things I know are fossils here, so awaiting responses on those.  Many others to come, including those I know are coral, at least local geologists have said they are.   Thanks.  

[Kane]

Sorry to hear that you've been bullied.  Certainly not the way we roll around here. It's all science and encouragement on TFF.  

 

You do have some responses waiting on your other pieces posted here. 

[ynot]

11 minutes ago, fernwood said:

Many others to come,