Kane Posted July 21, 2018 Share Posted July 21, 2018 The missus and I spent a good part of the day at our spot in the middle Devonian. I chopped out several large slabs while Deb split some of the smaller chunks and managed some overburden duty. The split in the wall may seem promising, but there are a lot of interlocking pieces that have to be removed in sequence, something like taking apart a jigsaw puzzle, but needing to locate the key stones first. ...How to Philosophize with a Hammer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kane Posted July 21, 2018 Author Share Posted July 21, 2018 On this trip, nautiloids were particularly abundant. It is more common that they come out in pieces that you glue back together later. It is also usual that they appear fully pyritized. We probably acquired a good number of them. Pictured here is one poking out of the strata. The other image shows two interesting features of the nautiloid in cross-section: 1. The lovely rainbow colour of the pyrite, which is something I rarely see (it is usually gold- or greenish-coloured), and 2. The nautiloid is completely inflated and round as opposed to how they usually come out as being oval from being crushed/flattened. ...How to Philosophize with a Hammer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kane Posted July 21, 2018 Author Share Posted July 21, 2018 Trilobites are the usual goal of these trips. Deb found the first large partial of the day, and I keep those around for restoration spare parts. I later found a complete prone slightly buried in matrix and under a brach. This one is well above average size for this site, and may come out close to 4 cm when it is more common to find them in the 2.5 cm range. Despite all best efforts to control the rate of drying, the rock did crack taking a small bit of the bottom right pygidium lappets with it. Fortunately, I was armed with thin super glue to attach the pieces by wicking into the cracks on all sides. It now awaits preparation at the bench. There are a few other potential full ones not photographed, but only some scribing will say for sure. ...How to Philosophize with a Hammer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kane Posted July 21, 2018 Author Share Posted July 21, 2018 It was also a day for ammonoids. Here are just two representative ones. I do like when they come out fully inflated and finely detailed. The one in the rock will be simple to extract at the bench, and the other one is going to clean up very nicely. Once i have a chance to prepare the day's finds, I'll post followups here. ...How to Philosophize with a Hammer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kane Posted July 21, 2018 Author Share Posted July 21, 2018 And finally, I've been having some bizarre luck finding fish pieces at my spot this year,. and this day was no exception. Somehow, these pieces don't quite look like Protitanichthys to me. In all, a great time. It wasn't too hot (about 29 C, but 35 C with humidity), as we had a bit of a breeze. We packed up in time, too, as a brief but spectacular rainstorm came through just as we were making the drive home. UPDATE: The placoderm has been tentatively identified by a specialist as showing sensory canals belonging to Macropetalichthys sp. ...How to Philosophize with a Hammer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan 1000 Posted July 21, 2018 Share Posted July 21, 2018 Nice trilobites! Looks like a cool place to hunt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monica Posted July 21, 2018 Share Posted July 21, 2018 2 hours ago, Kane said: On this trip, nautiloids were particularly abundant. It is more common that they come out in pieces that you glue back together later. It is also usual that they appear fully pyritized. We probably acquired a good number of them. Pictured here is one poking out of the strata. The other image shows two interesting features of the nautiloid in cross-section: 1. The lovely rainbow colour of the pyrite, which is something I rarely see (it is usually gold- or greenish-coloured), and 2. The nautiloid is completely inflated and round as opposed to how they usually come out as being oval from being crushed/flattened. Oh my gosh, Kane - I LOVE this photo!!!!!!!!!! Congrats on the great day out with Deb - I look forward to seeing what you have post-prep... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kane Posted July 21, 2018 Author Share Posted July 21, 2018 Thanks! It certainly is doubly rewarding to come away with some goodies after a month not being able to get out there. I'll definitely post some prep photos in the near future. ...How to Philosophize with a Hammer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monica Posted July 21, 2018 Share Posted July 21, 2018 By the way, @Kane - perhaps you should submit your rainbow nautiloid for FOTM - if you do, you'll definitely have my vote!!! I can't stop staring at it - you can even see the siphuncle in yellow with green, blue, and purple surrounding it - amazing!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minnbuckeye Posted July 21, 2018 Share Posted July 21, 2018 All of the finds are spectacular, but like Monica says, the cross section of the cephalopod is truly stunning!!! How much of the nautiloid exists?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kane Posted July 21, 2018 Author Share Posted July 21, 2018 1 minute ago, minnbuckeye said: All of the finds are spectacular, but like Monica says, the cross section of the cephalopod is truly stunning!!! How much of the nautiloid exists?? It is complete, but in three pieces. It will be sad to glue it together and obscure the pyrite rainbow! I might actually leave it in pieces, though, as I probably have enough examples of this species whole. ...How to Philosophize with a Hammer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minnbuckeye Posted July 21, 2018 Share Posted July 21, 2018 Don't you dare glue that together!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monica Posted July 21, 2018 Share Posted July 21, 2018 1 minute ago, minnbuckeye said: Don't you dare glue that together!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL Ditto!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kane Posted July 21, 2018 Author Share Posted July 21, 2018 7 minutes ago, Monica said: By the way, @Kane - perhaps you should submit your rainbow nautiloid for FOTM - if you do, you'll definitely have my vote!!! I can't stop staring at it - you can even see the siphuncle in yellow with green, blue, and purple surrounding it - amazing!!! It's an idea. I'll see how the rest of it preps, perform a temporary assembly, snap a few pics, and then keep the pieces in cross-section. I should say it isn't very large (but they rarely come out very large in the Widder Fm), about 4-5 cm (and thus just a wee bit on the smaller side of what normally comes out). In the end, I'll probably gift or trade this one if I can improve on its prettiness. ...How to Philosophize with a Hammer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monica Posted July 21, 2018 Share Posted July 21, 2018 1 minute ago, Kane said: It's an idea. I'll see how the rest of it preps, perform a temporary assembly, snap a few pics, and then keep the pieces in cross-section. I should say it isn't very large (but they rarely come out very large in the Widder Fm), about 4-5 cm (and thus just a wee bit on the smaller side of what normally comes out). In the end, I'll probably gift or trade this one if I can improve on its prettiness. It doesn't have to be big to be beautiful, and that cross-section is indeed beautiful - I think your idea is a good one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darktooth Posted July 21, 2018 Share Posted July 21, 2018 Great finds Kane! Glad that you and Deb had a good hunt! I like Trilo-butts and I cannot lie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted July 21, 2018 Share Posted July 21, 2018 Well done sir! Looking forward to your prepped pictures. Good luck, Kane. 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...
caldigger Posted July 21, 2018 Share Posted July 21, 2018 I'm so jealous of a you guys and gals with spouses that join in on your interests. I couldn't drag my wife out to do any of my enjoyable digging in the Earth activities. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJB Posted July 21, 2018 Share Posted July 21, 2018 Looks like you had a great trip Kane. I have to say though, your fish looks very crustacean like? RB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monica Posted July 21, 2018 Share Posted July 21, 2018 18 minutes ago, caldigger said: I'm so jealous of a you guys and gals with spouses that join in on your interests. I couldn't drag my wife out to do any of my enjoyable digging in the Earth activities. Neither my husband nor my son come hunting with me - they're not fans. Luckily I have Viola, though - she's good hunting company Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kane Posted July 21, 2018 Author Share Posted July 21, 2018 I'm definitely lucky to have a partner who is keen on the digs. Managed to play a little bit at the bench this morning. - The big Greenops is going to be tricky. I managed to get most of the brach off it, but there are some unique challenges to this one. Also missing a tiny piece of cephalon that needs to be restored from spare parts. I may hand this one off to someone with more prep experience. - It's a full "roller" Greenops (the two "flying" genal spines sticking out like antennae are clear giveaway), but these "rollers:" are not kind and robust like the PD Eldredgeops rana. Instead, they tend to just fold in half like a piece of paper. And they are very delicate and flaky. Not a task I'm looking forward to! - The little Torno came out fine after a prelim blasting. Sadly, it has some little chips/dings, so not perfect. Still ok in terms of showing some detail. - The larger ammonoid was regrettably not complete, but at that size they rarely are. ...How to Philosophize with a Hammer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ynot Posted July 21, 2018 Share Posted July 21, 2018 Nice report/finds/pictures. Glad You could get out after such a long hiatus from hunting. (Been 2 years since My last hunt.) 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...
minnbuckeye Posted July 21, 2018 Share Posted July 21, 2018 2 hours ago, Monica said: It doesn't have to be big to be beautiful, So true. Just look at Viola!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcolmt Posted July 21, 2018 Share Posted July 21, 2018 Very nice looks like you had a good day Let me know when you want to go for a weekday trip Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kane Posted July 21, 2018 Author Share Posted July 21, 2018 2 hours ago, Malcolmt said: Very nice looks like you had a good day Let me know when you want to go for a weekday trip Let's look at the weather for next week and make it happen. ...How to Philosophize with a Hammer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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