MeargleSchmeargl Posted April 1, 2018 Share Posted April 1, 2018 April's arrival and the start of spring break was more than enough for me to warrant a 5th trip to the hometown favourite: the Conasauga Formation. This time, I had a primary objective: Find the ever illusive Agnostid Trilo. I had a feeling today was special, rendering any boredom the hour and a half long car ride brought with it negligible. When we finally arrived, I saw that we weren't alone in our search. It was only when I got down the hill that I noticed just who was already here. It was the man, the myth, the legend, the Ditch Weasel! For those not in the know, this is the guy that runs the channel Blackriverfossils, and has a Meg hunting video with over 2 million (million!) views. He was also accompanied by his partner in all things fossil hunting, Fossil Diva, seen here working diligently to get to those GA bugs: DW recognized me when I told him my YouTube alias (which is also my username here), and we quickly talked up a storm about our adventures. All the while, I scoured the rocks looking for the irresistible Cambrian bugs that lay within. Once again, it was the first find of the day that had me gushing: my very first Agnostid find: The little gem lay on the very fringe of a hash plate I found sitting on the slope, seemingly forgotten. Unfortunately, I couldn't find the Agnostid's negative, as it appears to have been elsewhere. That was not too much of a downer, though, as my primary objective had ALREADY been found, and I had the chance to meet the legendary Ditch Weasel. Speaking of whom, he actually recorded my ID'ing the trilos, as this was only his second trip here and he didn't know very much about the formation. Look for a new video out on his channel in the near future! Another interesting thing I found today was this: In all 4 of my previous trips to Chatsworth, not once have I gotten something that looks like this. I found a 2nd one that has the exact same structure half an hour later in another slab I split, so I don't think it's chance mineralization. More on this peculiar specimen later. When all was said and done, I had come home with another great Conasauga haul: Going into more detail, here is the unknown I found, as well as the second one: Cont. 1 Every single fossil you see is a miracle set in stone, and should be treated as such. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeargleSchmeargl Posted April 1, 2018 Author Share Posted April 1, 2018 And the one I found later: What on Earth these are exactly, I haven't a clue. I haven't seen any examples of these in scholarly articles on the Conasauga I've pulled up, either. My first wild stab at it is some form of echinoderm. Anybody familiar correct me if I'm wrong. Next, we have my first ever Agnostid find (Barrandagnostus inexpectens): Now for an Aphelaspis Brachyphasis parade! 3 Every single fossil you see is a miracle set in stone, and should be treated as such. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darktooth Posted April 1, 2018 Share Posted April 1, 2018 Congratulations on a nice trip and some nice finds! Thanks for the report! I like Trilo-butts and I cannot lie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kane Posted April 1, 2018 Share Posted April 1, 2018 Good trip. I've not encountered an Agnostid in that shale before. It must have been - true to its Latin species namesake - totally "unexpected" 1 ...How to Philosophize with a Hammer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobby Rico Posted April 1, 2018 Share Posted April 1, 2018 25 minutes ago, MeargleSchmeargl said: Agnostus Inexpectens Very beautiful, absolutely a great days fossil hunting. Nice get-up you are wearing too. Good report. cheers Bobby Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phevo Posted April 1, 2018 Share Posted April 1, 2018 Very nice finds, could that unknown be part of a trilobite cheek? Just a guess though, I have zero knowledge on this formation ! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piranha Posted April 1, 2018 Share Posted April 1, 2018 Congrats! Schwimmer & Montante 2012 discussed the various reassignments between Innitagnostus and Agnostus. The leading agnostid specialist, Elena Naimark, has recently reclassified it: Barrandagnostus inexpectans Naimark, E.B., & Pegel, T.V. (2017) Revision of the Cambrian Agnostina (Trilobita?) from Russia. Paleontological Journal, 51(11):1167-1248 PDF LINK "The morphology of the specimens assigned to B. barrandei resembles the diagnosis of Innitagnostus; therefore, Petrunina and Gabova suggested Innitagnostus was a junior synonym of Barrandagnostus, invoking principle of nomenclatural priority. Here we distinguish these genera by the shape of the preglabellar furrow whether complete in Barrandagnostus or incomplete or absent in Innitagnostus. According to this difference, I. inexpectans (Kobayashi, 1938) should be assigned to Barrandagnostus." 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tidgy's Dad Posted April 1, 2018 Share Posted April 1, 2018 Great haul, the agnostid is wonderful and the other 'thing' very interesting indeed. I am busy smashing open pieces from this location kindly sent to me by Ralph @Nimravis So hoping I find an agnostid too. Results later. Your report and photos are great too! Congratulations. Life's Good! Tortoise Friend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piranha Posted April 1, 2018 Share Posted April 1, 2018 2 hours ago, MeargleSchmeargl said: What on Earth these are exactly, I haven't a clue. I haven't seen any examples of these in scholarly articles on the Conasauga I've pulled up, either. My first wild stab at it is some form of echinoderm. Anybody familiar correct me if I'm wrong... As suggested by Phevo: trilobite librigenae = free cheeks 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DevonianDigger Posted April 1, 2018 Share Posted April 1, 2018 Very neat stuff! Looks like a productive area for some rather neat bugs! Thanks for sharing! Jay A. Wollin Lead Fossil Educator - Penn Dixie Fossil Park and Nature Reserve Hamburg, New York, USA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeargleSchmeargl Posted April 1, 2018 Author Share Posted April 1, 2018 1 hour ago, piranha said: As suggested by Phevo: trilobite librigenae = free cheeks I think this might be it. 1 Every single fossil you see is a miracle set in stone, and should be treated as such. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nimravis Posted April 1, 2018 Share Posted April 1, 2018 @Phevo suggested and @piranha confirmed, they are trilobite cheeks. Here are a couple of mine from that location. BTW- nice finds. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miocene_Mason Posted April 1, 2018 Share Posted April 1, 2018 Awesome! I gotta visit sometime. “...whilst this planet has gone cycling on according to the fixed law of gravity, from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been and are being evolved.” ~ Charles Darwin Happy hunting, Mason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monica Posted April 1, 2018 Share Posted April 1, 2018 Wonderful finds!!! And congrats on finding your first agnostid at this location! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeargleSchmeargl Posted April 1, 2018 Author Share Posted April 1, 2018 20 minutes ago, WhodamanHD said: Awesome! I gotta visit sometime. It's definitely a great spot! 56 minutes ago, Nimravis said: @Phevo suggested and @piranha confirmed, they are trilobite cheeks. Here are a couple of mine from that location. BTW- nice finds. Alright! The more you know. Every single fossil you see is a miracle set in stone, and should be treated as such. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tidgy's Dad Posted April 1, 2018 Share Posted April 1, 2018 And I just found a Barrandagnostus inexpectans in my matrix samples! Yaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Not as nice as yours, but a result for me! Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you, I think it helped me find it having so recently seen a close up of your specimen. 4 Life's Good! Tortoise Friend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeargleSchmeargl Posted April 1, 2018 Author Share Posted April 1, 2018 2 minutes ago, Tidgy's Dad said: And I just found a Barrandagnostus inexpectans in my matrix samples! Yaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Not as nice as yours, but a result for me! Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you, I think it helped me find it having so recently seen a close up of your specimen. Congrats, friend! 1 Every single fossil you see is a miracle set in stone, and should be treated as such. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peat Burns Posted April 1, 2018 Share Posted April 1, 2018 That Agnostid is in great shape for that site. Congrats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caldigger Posted April 2, 2018 Share Posted April 2, 2018 6 hours ago, MeargleSchmeargl said: Unfortunately, I couldn't find the Agnostid's negative, as it appears to have been elsewhere. Its likely somewhere in north west Africa and a tortoise named Tidgy is laying on it. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeargleSchmeargl Posted April 2, 2018 Author Share Posted April 2, 2018 45 minutes ago, caldigger said: Its likely somewhere in north west Africa and a tortoise named Tidgy is laying on it. Perhaps... Every single fossil you see is a miracle set in stone, and should be treated as such. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ynot Posted April 2, 2018 Share Posted April 2, 2018 Nice haul! Congratulations on the first. 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...
Tidgy's Dad Posted April 16, 2018 Share Posted April 16, 2018 On 4/2/2018 at 1:30 AM, caldigger said: Its likely somewhere in north west Africa and a tortoise named Tidgy is laying on it. She genuinely does like to sit on my fossils. Life's Good! Tortoise Friend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KimTexan Posted April 16, 2018 Share Posted April 16, 2018 Nice finds and nice pics. Congrats on your elusive, until now, find. I’ve never found a trilobite yet, but hope to one day. That is one deficiency with Texas Cretaceous or any other Cretaceous for that matter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeargleSchmeargl Posted April 16, 2018 Author Share Posted April 16, 2018 2 minutes ago, KimTexan said: Nice finds and nice pics. Congrats on your elusive, until now, find. I’ve never found a trilobite yet, but hope to one day. That is one deficiency with Texas Cretaceous or any other Cretaceous for that matter. Maybe you could come visit the Conasauga one day! Got plenty of bugs to go around east of you! 58 minutes ago, Tidgy's Dad said: She genuinely does like to sit on my fossils. Wanna show your own newly acquired Agnostid? Every single fossil you see is a miracle set in stone, and should be treated as such. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tidgy's Dad Posted April 16, 2018 Share Posted April 16, 2018 5 hours ago, MeargleSchmeargl said: Maybe you could come visit the Conasauga one day! Got plenty of bugs to go around east of you! Wanna show your own newly acquired Agnostid? I did. It's under Adam' Cambrian in the Member's Collections section. I'll post it and my others in the Show Us Your Agnostids thread later. Life's Good! Tortoise Friend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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