Jeffrey P Posted June 14, 2018 Share Posted June 14, 2018 Hi, Monday I visited a new site highly recommended by another TFF member. It was a roadcut on an interstate highway near Schoharie, NY. The roadcut exposed what I believe (based on fauna and preservation) the Lower Devonian Kalkberg Formation, part of the Helderberg Group (410 million years old). The day was gorgeous. Temp was in the low 70s. Fossils were plentiful in particular layers and the preservation was often excellent. Many were found loose from the matrix lying in the rubble. As with other exposures of the Kalkberg in Schoharie County, the biodiversity was awesome. I collected for two and a half hours, exploring only about half of the exposure when a state trooper pulled up and informed me that this highway allowed emergency stopping only and recommended I move along. I had time to gather all of my finds and my tools. I am a bit sad knowing I can't return to this very productive site and that there were likely more magnificent specimens still sitting there waiting to be picked up. However, I'm glad that I had the opportunity to collect there once. Here is an overview of my finds and a pair of Diaphorostoma ventricosum gastropods on matrix. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffrey P Posted June 14, 2018 Author Share Posted June 14, 2018 Some crinoid parts: a partial root base, a calyx (Edriocrinus pocilliformis), and unidentified stem section. Sponges: Hindia sphaeroidalis Tentaculites with Discomyorthis oblate (brachiopod) 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tidgy's Dad Posted June 14, 2018 Share Posted June 14, 2018 What a shame you can't go back! But still, as you say, what you did collect is super, the gastropods are great and some of those brachiopods look gorgeous. Life's Good! Tortoise Friend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffrey P Posted June 14, 2018 Author Share Posted June 14, 2018 Trilobite parts. the two pygidiums are likely Paciphacops logani. A brachiopod- Macropleura macropleura Another brachiopod- Uncinulus abruptus 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffrey P Posted June 14, 2018 Author Share Posted June 14, 2018 3 more species of brachiopods: Costistrophonella sp. Megakozlowskiella perlamellosa Trematospira multistrata 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffrey P Posted June 14, 2018 Author Share Posted June 14, 2018 And more brachiopods: Discomyorthis oblata though some could be Levenea or Tyersella Another Megakozlowskiella perlamellosa, but what is that odd stem-shaped object below it? A bryozoan, a crinoid, what? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darktooth Posted June 14, 2018 Share Posted June 14, 2018 Excellent finds Jeff! I like Trilo-butts and I cannot lie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tidgy's Dad Posted June 14, 2018 Share Posted June 14, 2018 Just now, Jeffrey P said: And more brachiopods: Discomyorthis oblate though some could be Levenea or Tyersella Another Megakozlowskiella perlamellosa, but what is that odd stem-shaped object below it? A bryozoan, a crinoid, what? Looks like the bryozoan Archimedes to me. And those brachiopods. Life's Good! Tortoise Friend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffrey P Posted June 14, 2018 Author Share Posted June 14, 2018 8 minutes ago, Tidgy's Dad said: Looks like the bryozoan Archimedes to me. And those brachiopods. It does superficially resemble Archimedes, the bryozoan, but as far as I know Archimedes didn't appear until the Mississippian. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tidgy's Dad Posted June 14, 2018 Share Posted June 14, 2018 Just now, Jeffrey P said: It does superficially resemble Archimedes, the bryozoan, but as far as I know Archimedes didn't appear until the Mississippian. Yes, but i wonder if there was a similar fenestrate bryozoan back in the early Devonian ? 1 Life's Good! Tortoise Friend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peat Burns Posted June 14, 2018 Share Posted June 14, 2018 2 hours ago, Jeffrey P said: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miocene_Mason Posted June 14, 2018 Share Posted June 14, 2018 Very nice! “...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...
caldigger Posted June 14, 2018 Share Posted June 14, 2018 Wondering...can you park your vehicle elsewhere and walk to the site? The GW shark site I have dug in ( even though right next to the highway) I have to park about 3/4 of a mile away and walk to it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FossilDAWG Posted June 14, 2018 Share Posted June 14, 2018 Fenestrate bryozoans can be found as far back as the Ordovician. Archimedes is characterized by a screw-like central axis, and it is only found in the Carboniferous as far as I know. Don 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GordonC Posted June 15, 2018 Share Posted June 15, 2018 Fine assortment and preservation, Jeff. And appreciate the Id's for future reference. Macropluera macropluera is found in the upper 5' of the Kalkberg (Rickard 1962). Gordon 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monica Posted June 15, 2018 Share Posted June 15, 2018 Great finds!!! I especially like the piece with the brachiopod and the Tentaculites - two fossils for the price of one! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shamalama Posted June 15, 2018 Share Posted June 15, 2018 Great finds Jeff! I hope that Phacops logani turns out to be complete. BTW, Discomyorthis oblata was the name of my album of dance music from the 70's. -Dave __________________________________________________ Geologists on the whole are inconsistent drivers. When a roadcut presents itself, they tend to lurch and weave. To them, the roadcut is a portal, a fragment of a regional story, a proscenium arch that leads their imaginations into the earth and through the surrounding terrain. - John McPheeIf I'm going to drive safely, I can't do geology. - John McPheeCheck out my Blog for more fossils I've found: http://viewsofthemahantango.blogspot.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erose Posted June 15, 2018 Share Posted June 15, 2018 On 6/14/2018 at 6:51 AM, caldigger said: Wondering...can you park your vehicle elsewhere and walk to the site? The GW shark site I have dug in ( even though right next to the highway) I have to park about 3/4 of a mile away and walk to it. Over the years I tried that at two interstate localities. At one the exposure was far enough back from the road that no one seemed to notice me. At the other, much closer to the road, a trooper pulled over and said he was getting calls about someone wandering along the highway on foot. I never went near the road but folks still called me in. Trooper was nice enough but I still had to leave. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FossilSniper Posted June 16, 2018 Share Posted June 16, 2018 Simply superb! I have never seen anything like that unidentified stem! Splendid, splendid, splendid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peat Burns Posted June 16, 2018 Share Posted June 16, 2018 On 6/15/2018 at 1:59 PM, erose said: Over the years I tried that at two interstate localities. At one the exposure was far enough back from the road that no one seemed to notice me. At the other, much closer to the road, a trooper pulled over and said he was getting calls about someone wandering along the highway on foot. I never went near the road but folks still called me in. Trooper was nice enough but I still had to leave. Wear a hi-vis vest and a hard hat and generally dress like a construction worker. Very effective in convincing people you belong there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrDave Posted June 17, 2018 Share Posted June 17, 2018 Really beautiful finds!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankh8147 Posted June 18, 2018 Share Posted June 18, 2018 Nice stuff Jeff! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffrey P Posted June 22, 2018 Author Share Posted June 22, 2018 A few more brachiopods: left- Meristella sp. middle- Rhynchospira globosa right- Howellella sp. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffrey P Posted June 22, 2018 Author Share Posted June 22, 2018 On 6/13/2018 at 10:04 PM, Tidgy's Dad said: What a shame you can't go back! But still, as you say, what you did collect is super, the gastropods are great and some of those brachiopods look gorgeous. Glad you appreciate my finds Adam. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffrey P Posted June 22, 2018 Author Share Posted June 22, 2018 On 6/14/2018 at 12:37 AM, Peat Burns said: Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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