Graptolite or New Species?

[Bev]

SE Minnesota, USA

Ordovician

Galena Formation

 

I'm sorry I do not have a better pic but it went home with the guy who found it. I just hosted a Father's Day hunt and this was found. I would say graptolites but NO SAWTOOTH EDGES! It did not, in the field, to me appear to be crinoid. I have honestly not seen anything like it before. Maybe it is just how it fossilized, but this was a wow to me!

 

He was pretty thrilled! I would be too!  :-D

 

Thoughts anyone?

[Tidgy's Dad]

Cross-section through a brachiopod valve? 

[Fossildude19]

I agree with Adam, ... this is most likely a cross section through a bivalve or brachiopod.

[KimTexan]

I also agree that it is a brachiopod or bivalve shell cross section. I’m thinking more along the lines of bivalve, but I don’t know my brachiopods that well since we have so few near here and what we do have aren’t that big.

[caldigger]

I think taking one of your tour/hunts would be fun. Too bad you are half way across the US. 

[Bev]

WOW, I had no idea that this is what a brach cross section would look like and so big for this area! Thank you all so much for sharing your knowledge!!!

 

11 hours ago, caldigger said:

I think taking one of your tour/hunts would be fun. Too bad you are half way across the US. 

 

From the Eastern half of the U.S. we are right on the way to the Hell Creek Formation (Dakotas, MT, WY) just off I-90! 

[Fossildude19]

Actually, the more I look at it, I can see it possibly being a bryozoan. 

[Bev]

9 minutes ago, Fossildude19 said:

Actually, the more I look at it, I can see it possibly being a bryozoan. 

WOW! Never considered that either. It is so three dimensional though it is extraordinary!

[minnbuckeye]

14 hours ago, caldigger said:

I think taking one of your tour/hunts would be fun. Too bad you are half way across the US. 

 @caldigger, I think @Bev charges about 10 dollars for a guided hunt. But that DOES include airfare, housing, and daycare if needed. I suggest booking it soon!

[Bev]

3 minutes ago, minnbuckeye said:

 @caldigger, I think @Bev charges about 10 dollars for a guided hunt. But that DOES include airfare, housing, and daycare if needed. I suggest booking it soon!

LOL Go ahead and get me into trouble Mike!!!   :-D

[caldigger]

Well I won't need daycare, so can I get a discount? 

[abyssunder]

It might be a little too big and too flat for brachiopod shell, and the teeth... reminds me of Fisherites.

[Bev]

44 minutes ago, abyssunder said:

It might be a little too big and too flat for brachiopod shell, and the teeth... reminds me of Fisherites.

No, I see a lot of Fisherites and it isn't even close, too narrow and these are roundish. This is something I personally have never seen before especially so articulated. I've also never seen a brach this large here and I just don't see bryozoan. I'm hoping the person who found it will take good pics and post them as I strongly encouraged him too. This is not even close to anything I have ever seen before and I see a lot of Ordo fossils here. But heck, I am only familiar with this area and the common fossils we see here.  :-)

[minnbuckeye]

1 hour ago, abyssunder said:

It might be a little too big and too flat for brachiopod shell, and the teeth... reminds me of Fisherites.

 

 

 

Some of our brachiopods are quite straight on edge,  flat and can be substantially larger than this. I am still in the brachiopod group. Bev needs to quit taking people fossil hunting and spend her time prepping this out so we have an answer. I am sure the owner of this would let Bev work on it.

[Bev]

He went back to the Cities with his prize. Mike, I still can't see fisherite in any wa,y shape, or form BUT you guys are all a lot smarter than I am....  :-)