MeargleSchmeargl Posted April 2, 2018 Share Posted April 2, 2018 On Wednesday, relatives have invited me to accompany them to Shell Bluff along the Savannah River, home to the Dry Branch formation which is late Eocene (approx. 38 MYA) in age. This formation is home of an oyster bed, but not just any old oysters: Enter Crassostrea Gigantissima, a YUGE prehistoric Oyster that can grow a whopping 20 inches long. That's almost as long as my forearm! So how much do you guys know about these behemoths? 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...
Ludwigia Posted April 2, 2018 Share Posted April 2, 2018 That sure is a big one. Too bad the photo's so small I know nussing. Greetings from the Lake of Constance. Roger http://www.steinkern.de/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Dente Posted April 2, 2018 Share Posted April 2, 2018 Good luck, they should be easy to spot. We have them here in North Carolina but are younger. Ours are Oligocene. They occasionally wash up on the beaches on the northern part of Topsail Island in NC. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kane Posted April 2, 2018 Share Posted April 2, 2018 Best of luck - I'm sure you'll bag a bunch. These oysters are quite interesting as they do provide insights into the slight cooling event on the southeast coast during the late Eocene. Perhaps a bit heavy reading, but this Masters thesis by M.B. Jarrett is interesting. He was able to section a number of these from Griffin Landing, GA along the same river you'll be at, subject them to an oxygen isotope analysis that has implications on the temperature of those shallow marine environments where these big ones thrived. https://getd.libs.uga.edu/pdfs/jarrett_matt_b_200908_ms.pdf 4 ...How to Philosophize with a Hammer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJB Posted April 2, 2018 Share Posted April 2, 2018 Thats one dang big oyster!!! RB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FossilDAWG Posted April 2, 2018 Share Posted April 2, 2018 Some of the oysters at Griffin Landing have species of barnacles that are found only in the McBean Formation; keep an eye out as they should occur at Shell Bluff as well. I have only collected at Griffin Landing, but there vertebrate material is very very scarce. Also look around some at Shell Bluff as I recall there is another layer (don't remember if it is above or below the oyster bed) with a more diverse shell fauna. Don 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tidgy's Dad Posted April 2, 2018 Share Posted April 2, 2018 Good luck! Splendid oysters. Even with my eyesight I may be able to spot one of those. Life's Good! Tortoise Friend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max-fossils Posted April 5, 2018 Share Posted April 5, 2018 Max Derème "I feel an echo of the lightning each time I find a fossil. [...] That is why I am a hunter: to feel that bolt of lightning every day." - Mary Anning >< Remarkable Creatures, Tracy Chevalier Instagram: @world_of_fossils Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeargleSchmeargl Posted April 5, 2018 Author Share Posted April 5, 2018 Update: Went to Shell Bluff, and found out the place is private property, a gated community. So Uncle Frank and I decided the best option was postponement until we could figure out who on Earth the landowners are, and ask permission to hunt the bluff. We did, however visit Georgia Southern University's natural history museum, and saw the fabled Crassostrea Gigantissima oysters, a cluster of 5 in one piece (no images, as phone was DED at this point). All of them were almost as big as my arm. Giant is an understatement! 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...
Beau65 Posted February 9, 2019 Share Posted February 9, 2019 Found on N. Topsail Beach 2/19. Ruler pictured is 30cm, so this fossil is slightly longer. Assume it is CG but would like comments including approx. epoch: Eocene? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philip T. Posted March 6, 2019 Share Posted March 6, 2019 On 4/2/2018 at 6:18 AM, Al Dente said: Good luck, they should be easy to spot. We have them here in North Carolina but are younger. Ours are Oligocene. They occasionally wash up on the beaches on the northern part of Topsail Island in NC. Do I assume correctly that the Topsail Island ones are the same species (Crassostrea gigantissima)? Thanks! Aloha, -pt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Dente Posted March 6, 2019 Share Posted March 6, 2019 1 hour ago, Philip T. said: Do I assume correctly that the Topsail Island ones are the same species (Crassostrea gigantissima)? Thanks! Aloha, -pt Yes. You can find them in Oligocene quarries too. I think they are now called Striostrea gigantissima. Here's one from a quarry. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now