Small Pyritized Brachiopod UPDATE - Pyritized Buchiola sp.

[DevonianDigger]

UPDATE: Thanks to the help of @Fossildude19, @Al Dente and @abyssunder, (plus others), I'm currently listing this as a Buchiola sp., a bivalve from the upper Hamilton.

 

This little fella is about 8mm across. I have yet to find another example at the site. It was found in the pyrite beds, so it's a float from somewhere, but I couldn't tell you where. It's from Penn Dixie, it's Middle Devonian, Hamilton Fm. That's what I know. Absolutely beautiful little piece. But I have no idea what it is.

 

[ynot]

Nice little brach!

Sorry I can not help with ID.

[Bullsnake]

Perhaps Atrypa reticularis

[doushantuo]

(NOT an assessment of affinities,BTW)

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Bullsnake]

Well, my IFNA is 1972. Just offering a direction!

[doushantuo]

IFNA?

BTW,DD: humongously nice looking specimen,congrats!!!

[DevonianDigger]

Thanks everyone!

 

The thing that is really throwing me is the small number of ribs/costae and those protuberances. They just aren't like any of the Atrypa I've encountered in the area.  Most of the Atrypa seem to have a much higher number of costae. It is a wickedly cool specimen, and I'm excited to have found it. I don't think it could present any more beautifully if it were painted. The copper effect on it makes it just awesome to look at!

 

I had spent about 5 hours crawling around on my knees in the pyrite beds trying to find goniatites when I found this. I've been sitting on it ever since. If I can't find a convincing ID on it, it might be my first meaningful contribution to the field!!! (It's probably something that is common at another location, and just and odd find at PD, but a guy can dream!!!)

[DevonianDigger]

@doushantuo, you make a compelling case with that publication, but I don't see the protuberances, which are just so clearly pronounced that I simply can't imagine them not being diagnostic to a species. I've got a brach expert looking into it as well, (Dr. Holly Schreiber, who happens to also be our director of education). I will share whatever info I get.

[westcoast]

Stunning brachiopod!

Can you get a better image of the protuberences on the ventral valve? They may be just  worn remnants of costae.

[Tidgy's Dad]

No idea. 

But very beautiful and very interesting. 

Can't wait to find out what it is! 

[minnbuckeye]

4 hours ago, DevonianDigger said:

protuberances, which are just so clearly pronounced 

 

Excellent find. As I was looking at the posted pictures, my mind was playing games with me. Your protuberances were seen as depressions giving  further uniqueness to it's appearance. So I was confused when you mentioned protuberances. It wasn't until re reading for a third time that I saw the brachiopod from the correct perspective.

[Bullsnake]

8 hours ago, doushantuo said:

IFNA?

 

I'm sorry. Index Fossils of North America.

But, looking closer it doesn't quite match up. It's the closest I could find. And your resources are way better than I can access!

Image 14

 

Edited March 17, 2018 by Bullsnake
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[Al Dente]

Are you sure it is a brachiopod? The symmetry doesn’t look right. Looks like a clam.

[DevonianDigger]

1 hour ago, Al Dente said:

Are you sure it is a brachiopod? The symmetry doesn’t look right. Looks like a clam.

 

Thats the camera angle, it’s dead on symmetrical. I’ll try to get more photos. It’s hard to get it to sit straight because it is so convex on both sides.

[Kane]

Just now, DevonianDigger said:

 

Thats the camera angle, it’s dead on symmetrical. I’ll try to get more photos. It’s hard to get it to sit straight because it is so convex on both sides.

A small piece of plasticine or putty can help keep it in position while you snap a few pictures. I find that helps with the more roundy-rolly fossils!

[Al Dente]

4 minutes ago, DevonianDigger said:

 

Thats the camera angle, it’s dead on symmetrical. I’ll try to get more photos. It’s hard to get it to sit straight because it is so convex on both sides.

It’s a nice looking fossil.

[DevonianDigger]

1 hour ago, Al Dente said:

Are you sure it is a brachiopod? The symmetry doesn’t look right. Looks like a clam.

 

I pulled it back out of my collection to photograph again after having had it stored for about a year. I'm starting to think you might be right. Because of its size, it was hard to tell at first, but now that I have it out, it's definitely not a brachiopod. I remembered it differently and the photos I had didn't help.

 

22 minutes ago, Kane said:

A small piece of plasticine or putty can help keep it in position while you snap a few pictures. I find that helps with the more roundy-rolly fossils!

 

Certainly this is true, but alas, I have none in my possession at the moment to use.

 

Here are some new pics I tried to get with my microscope. Only problem is that my scope won't give me a good shot at the right level of zoom, so be patient with me please as I try to find other camera solutions throughout the day.

 

[westcoast]

Well spotted Al dente. Fairly clear from that last image. I had initially thought it might be an artefact of compaction. Now let's see who is going to educate us on odd little  Devonian bivalves. .. 

[DevonianDigger]

I’ve checked Grabau in the hopes that I could find some direction to go in, but no dice.

[abyssunder]

Might this help?

 

 

or this ?

[DevonianDigger]

@abyssunder, thank you! I’m checking the Brett paper, but not finding anything yet. As for the second one, I was actually a contributor to that one, and it’s definitely not in that one.

 

The hunt continues!!

[Fossildude19]

I'm thinking it may be Buchiola retrostriata.

 

[DevonianDigger]

@Fossildude19, OMG 

 

It was seriously in Wilson this entire time, and I never even noticed it. (Probably because I thought it was a Brachiopod.)

 

There are differences it seems, but that's a mighty close start for sure!

[Fossildude19]

1 minute ago, DevonianDigger said:

@Fossildude19, OMG 

 

It was seriously in Wilson this entire time, and I never even noticed it. (Probably because I thought it was a Brachiopod.)

 

There are differences it seems, but that's a mighty close start for sure!

I thought so too. 

It's not a great match, but the closest I could find.

Spinatrypa  was the only brachiopod that comes close.

[DevonianDigger]

I also found Buchiola speciosa as another good fit, so I’m guessing it’s in the genus. But I haven’t found a species that comes from this particular time frame, or even the Hamilton group yet. They’re all listed as late Devonian.