Coral or Concretion?

[BLT]

I found this in the creek that borders my property in middle Tennessee. (Mississippian, St. Louis Limestone & Warsaw Limestone) I’m wondering if it is a type of fossilized coral? 

[ynot]

The shape makes Me think sponge, but it could be a concretion. (Leaning more towards sponge.)

 

[BLT]

2 minutes ago, ynot said:

The shape makes Me think sponge, but it could be a concretion. (Leaning more towards sponge.)

 

Thanks! It looks like both of my guesses were wrong this time. 

[ynot]

5 minutes ago, BLT said:

Thanks! It looks like both of my guesses were wrong this time. 

At least You had a guess. Your getting better at identifying the rocks as fossil or not.

[BLT]

Just now, ynot said:

At least You had a guess. Your getting better at identifying the rocks as fossil or not.

Lol! Thanks! 

[FranzBernhard]

3 hours ago, ynot said:

The shape makes Me think sponge, but it could be a concretion. (Leaning more towards sponge.)

Sure the outline is very sponge-like, incl. the central cavity. Would be a really strange shape for a concretion.

Are such sponges known from the Mississipian? If this is indeed a sponge, I have the feeling, that it would be a very good specimen!
Franz Bernhard

[Innocentx]

Very interesting shape.

Besides shape, what are the other diagnostic features that would make it sponge? 

[BLT]

16 hours ago, FranzBernhard said:

Sure the outline is very sponge-like, incl. the central cavity. Would be a really strange shape for a concretion.

Are such sponges known from the Mississipian? If this is indeed a sponge, I have the feeling, that it would be a very good specimen!
Franz Bernhard

 

16 hours ago, Innocentx said:

Very interesting shape.

Besides shape, what are the other diagnostic features that would make it sponge? 

I waited to reply to y’all’s comments because I assumed they were for @ynot? I’ve been googling Mississippian sponges, but haven’t found much information as of yet.

[ynot]

23 hours ago, FranzBernhard said:

Sure the outline is very sponge-like, incl. the central cavity. Would be a really strange shape for a concretion.

Are such sponges known from the Mississipian? If this is indeed a sponge, I have the feeling, that it would be a very good specimen!
Franz Bernhard

I have no idea whether they are or not.

22 hours ago, Innocentx said:

Very interesting shape.

Besides shape, what are the other diagnostic features that would make it sponge? 

The very fine pore like texture of the last picture, but I know little of sponges.

6 hours ago, BLT said:

 

I waited to reply to y’all’s comments because I assumed they were for @ynot? I’ve been googling Mississippian sponges, but haven’t found much information as of yet.

OK, make Me answer questions I do not know the answer to. Thanks.

[BLT]

1 hour ago, ynot said:

OK, make Me answer questions I do not know the answer to. Thanks.

Oh dear.  I guess I did rather put you on the spot to supply all of the answers. Oops!  

[Innocentx]

I was unable to see any pore-like structures in the last photo. @BLT You might try taking one more close-up of the surface or simply take any photo that results in the ability to see pore-like structures. Thanks and good luck, Patty.

[Walt]

I'm thinking it is a souvenir from a neighbor's hip replacement 

[ynot]

51 minutes ago, Innocentx said:

I was unable to see any pore-like structures in the last photo.

All the little dots that are scattered across the surface are not a feature I have seen in concretions.

To Me they resemble the pores found in sponges, but I am far from knowledgeable on sponges.

[BLT]

2 hours ago, Innocentx said:

I was unable to see any pore-like structures in the last photo. @BLT You might try taking one more close-up of the surface or simply take any photo that results in the ability to see pore-like structures. Thanks and good luck, Patty.

I tried getting better pictures.

[BLT]

[BLT]

2 hours ago, Walt said:

I'm thinking it is a souvenir from a neighbor's hip replacement 

Um, how did you know my neighbor just had hip replacement surgery? 

[Walt]

7 minutes ago, BLT said:

Um, how did you know my neighbor just had hip replacement surgery? 

Lucky guess. 

(Now put the glass of ice tea down, return your daughter's text, and go put on a warmer shirt.  It looks like rain.)  

[BLT]

1 minute ago, Walt said:

Lucky guess. 

(Now put the glass of ice tea down, return your daughter's text, and go put on a warmer shirt.  It looks like rain.)  

I do hope you realize that I was joking? 

[Walt]

8 minutes ago, BLT said:

I do hope you realize that I was joking? 

Oh yes.  And I was really hoping you would know I was too! 

[BLT]

1 minute ago, Walt said:

Oh yes.  And I was really hoping you would know I was too! 

Indeed. However, it did occur to me that others could think I was actually serious.

[westcoast]

I would be thinking shrimp or crab burrow for this, something along the lines of psilonichnus

[Bronzviking]

It looks like a rusty pipe perhaps from the neighbors yard, LOL. The pictures are much better but I can't ID it sorry. You definitely can rule out coral though.

[FranzBernhard]

6 hours ago, westcoast said:

I would be thinking shrimp or crab burrow for this

Interesting thought! Although the bedrock is Missisipian there, we can not rule out that some stuff was brought to her propertry from elswhere by the previous owner of the property.

Btw, @BLT, have you found something definitely non-Mississippian on your property or in the creek?

Franz Bernhard

[BLT]

12 hours ago, westcoast said:

I would be thinking shrimp or crab burrow for this, something along the lines of psilonichnus

Hmm. I did a quick google search of psilonichnus. The images I saw didn’t quite match, but I will look into it more. Thanks!

11 hours ago, Bronzviking said:

It looks like a rusty pipe perhaps from the neighbors yard, LOL. The pictures are much better but I can't ID it sorry. You definitely can rule out coral though.

Lol! Thanks!

5 hours ago, FranzBernhard said:

Interesting thought! Although the bedrock is Missisipian there, we can not rule out that some stuff was brought to her propertry from elswhere by the previous owner of the property.

Btw, @BLT, have you found something definitely non-Mississippian on your property or in the creek?

Franz Bernhard

Yes, Ordovician. ~ Tracey

[caldigger]

12 hours ago, Bronzviking said:

It looks like a rusty pipe perhaps from the neighbors yard, LOL. The pictures are much better but I can't ID it sorry. You definitely can rule out coral though.

How did you know her neighbor had a rusty pipe?!

Man, there's a lot of psychics on this forum.