FossilSniper Posted May 30, 2018 Share Posted May 30, 2018 Whenever I find a new fossil, I usually put effort into identifying it. Usually, I can turn off my computer with a label for the fossil, and I'll go to bed happy with the new item on my display shelf. However, these guys have always been at the back of my mind for years, and it really nags at me when I have to explain what they are to someone else. Not anymore, I guess! ----------------------------- These were found in the Liberty Formation of the well-known St. Leon roadcut in Indiana. I am thinking they are some kind of internal clam mold, but consider it very unlikely due to an inwards impression that is identical in both fossils. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FossilSniper Posted May 30, 2018 Author Share Posted May 30, 2018 I did my best to point out the 3D curvature of the fossils. They are both dented in the same way. I also filled marked some gaps in the fossil's edge (from erosion). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted May 30, 2018 Share Posted May 30, 2018 I'm seeing concretions here. But wait for the people with experience from the area. They may have better insights. Tim - VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER VFOTM --- APRIL - 2015 __________________________________________________ "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." John Muir ~ ~ ~ ~ ><))))( *> About Me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FossilSniper Posted May 30, 2018 Author Share Posted May 30, 2018 Now, to ID #2! This fossil was found last year at the Caesar Creek Lake Spillway. I don't know which formation it came from- I found it at the bottom of a huge pileup near a cliff edge. I believe this is some type of cephalopod. We do not have ammonites in Ohio, but we have some of their ancestry in the forms of coiled cephalopods and nautiloids. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tidgy's Dad Posted May 30, 2018 Share Posted May 30, 2018 i agree that the first items seem to be nodules of some form. The new item is a nautiloid of some sort. Life's Good! Tortoise Friend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FossilSniper Posted May 30, 2018 Author Share Posted May 30, 2018 10 minutes ago, Fossildude19 said: I'm seeing concretions here. But wait for the people with experience from the area. They may have better insights. I think the edges of both fossil are very precise, this is why I have not passed it off as a concretion. I should have added this detail, my fault haha. Does this new piece of information change anything? All ideas are welcome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FossilDAWG Posted May 30, 2018 Share Posted May 30, 2018 Check out Westonoceras or Gomphoceras for the nautiloid. It's a nice example. I agree the first objects have an aura of bivalve internal molds, but too worn or distorted to ID confidently. Don 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FossilSniper Posted May 30, 2018 Author Share Posted May 30, 2018 ID #3 More from St. Leon! I think my only true question mark is on the item on the left here. I have no guess to what it is, but the mineralization of it is similar to that of trilobites in my area. These fossils were found in the Liberty formation at the St. Leon roadcut in Indiana. I have included the four trilobites on the left because I want to be certain of their IDs. I have identified the two on the left as Tricopelta breviceps (some rare trilobites!). I still can't comfortably ID the trilobites on the left of the group. The farthest trilobite on the left has a pygidium that is identical to that of the two right trilobites. But, it's glabellum is different from the ones on the right. I am thinking T. Breviceps is unlikely... The 2nd trilobite from the left has it's pygidium covered, and it's eyes are bout a full mm taller than that of the other three trilobites. I need help identifying it. If I have gone wrong in my ID of T. Breviceps for the two on the left, please tell me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peat Burns Posted May 30, 2018 Share Posted May 30, 2018 I'm pretty sure pictures 2 and 3 are bivalve steinkerns. The shells of many species are rarely preserved in the Cincinattian. That cephalopod is amazing 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tidgy's Dad Posted May 30, 2018 Share Posted May 30, 2018 The fossil on the left looks like a coral to me. See if it has any septa. Could be a phaceloid Cyathophyllum? Life's Good! Tortoise Friend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FossilSniper Posted May 30, 2018 Author Share Posted May 30, 2018 1 hour ago, Tidgy's Dad said: Could be a phaceloid Cyathophyllum? That's what I thought when I picked it up. It was interesting to see it had no septa. My only guess is some type of encrusting coral, but I don't think this ID is correct (there are no septa!!). If it had septa, I could see it being a cephalopod that was encrusted by a coral, and now all that is left now is a perfect semi-circle encrusting coral. Still very strange though... Glad we are on the same page. I guess I'm not crazy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tidgy's Dad Posted May 31, 2018 Share Posted May 31, 2018 Maybe a tabulate coral, but I can't think which one. mmmmm. 1 Life's Good! Tortoise Friend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FossilDAWG Posted May 31, 2018 Share Posted May 31, 2018 The specimen on the left may be a clast with encrusting bryozoan or crinoid holdfasts. The resolution on the photo doesn't allow a clear enough look for a certain ID. Don 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FossilSniper Posted May 31, 2018 Author Share Posted May 31, 2018 I need a better camera. I went as close as the camera could automatically adjust before going out of focus. I am getting a camera microscope soon, this should solve the problem! I had not thought of a crinoid holdfast, but there is no evidence of branching in the fossil. I think an encrusting coral/bryozoan is the most likely ID for now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Siphuncle Posted May 31, 2018 Share Posted May 31, 2018 You knocked it out of the park on trilos at St. Leon. Are we looking at Isotelus far right, then some crazy rare ones (I've never found0 on the left? Macro photos shot outdoors in good light would answer a lot of questions. That cyrtocone nautiloid is killer as well. My son found one at Caesar Creek 8-10 years ago. He's still one up on me in that category. Again, wonderful finds that would satisfy even the most discriminating of collectors. 1 Grüße, Daniel A. Wöhr aus Südtexas "To the motivated go the spoils." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piranha Posted May 31, 2018 Share Posted May 31, 2018 24 minutes ago, Uncle Siphuncle said: ...Are we looking at Isotelus far right,...? Look again at the position of the eyes and the corresponding pygidium. They are all Tricopelta breviceps. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Siphuncle Posted May 31, 2018 Share Posted May 31, 2018 14 minutes ago, piranha said: Look again at the position of the eyes and the corresponding pygidium. They are all Tricopelta breviceps. ...Even better. Couldn't see the details too well in the pics. I've found a goodly number of bugs around Cincy over the years, but never this genus. A very good start for Sniper as I believe these are his first. 1 Grüße, Daniel A. Wöhr aus Südtexas "To the motivated go the spoils." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erose Posted May 31, 2018 Share Posted May 31, 2018 Outstanding! All of them. But FOUR Tricopelta at a go is fantastic. Were they clustered? The Cincinnatian can produce pockets of well preserved and rare criiters. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peat Burns Posted May 31, 2018 Share Posted May 31, 2018 2 hours ago, Uncle Siphuncle said: ...Even better. Couldn't see the details too well in the pics. I've found a goodly number of bugs around Cincy over the years, but never this genus. A very good start for Sniper as I believe these are his first. Agreed. I've hunted that site for years also and never found one of those or seen anyone else find one. I've found a fragment of an even more rare trilobite there, but not a smidgen of a Tricopelta... @FossilSniper Count yourself talented or lucky or both... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FossilSniper Posted May 31, 2018 Author Share Posted May 31, 2018 Now that I look again, I think the glabella and pygidiums are all identical. I don't want giddiness to get in the way of logic too fast, but I think all are T. Breviceps. Four of the same rare trilobite! WOW! I have found these over two trips at the same formation and area, so yes, @erose, I think they are clustered. These actually are my first trilobites! I have also about half a dozen of Tricopelta pygidiums as well from the same spot. I found them all within 25 feet of each other. This is a shock to me! Thank you for posting the prone T. breviceps piranha, it really helped the ID. I did not find any other trilobites (apart from these four) on both of my trips to St. Leon. Thank you all for tuning in! One thing is certain- I must go back and find more... (edit: I just realized that my first trilobite was a perfect T breviceps... ) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FossilSniper Posted May 31, 2018 Author Share Posted May 31, 2018 I've kept researching and these are definitely T. Breviceps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tidgy's Dad Posted May 31, 2018 Share Posted May 31, 2018 Congratulations! 1 Life's Good! Tortoise Friend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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