Rockin' Ric Posted November 6, 2018 Share Posted November 6, 2018 Hello All! Ichnology has to be a fascinating field of study. I don't know bout you guys but as a citizen scientist/ fossil collector I definitely find them fascinating and when I post them on The Fossil Forum or the other social networks. I enjoy hearing the different discussions about them. Alabama is known for it's fossil diversity and these are no exception. The samples presented here are overshadowed by the specimens coming out of the Union Chapel Mine northwest of the my present location. http://kudzu.astr.ua.edu/apsmono1/paper19_APS_MONO_1_Hauboldetal.pdf Union Chapel produces all sorts of tracks from tetrapods, horseshoe crabs and a plethora of insects as well as plants specimens. Not to say the site I visit is the same because it's not but still provides a glimpse into an ancient mudflat during the Carboniferous Period teeming with life. Thanks to all the professionals who have help me identify some of these trace fossils. My goal and hope will be to eventually find impressions of the track makers. I have been visiting this site for over ten years and it still eludes me! 8 WELCOME TO ALL THE NEW MEMBERS! If history repeats itself, I'm SO getting a dinosaur. ~unknown www.rockinric81.wixsite.com/fossils Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Innocentx Posted November 6, 2018 Share Posted November 6, 2018 These are beauties, Ric. 1 "Journey through a universe ablaze with changes" Phil Ochs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monica Posted November 7, 2018 Share Posted November 7, 2018 I agree - those are stunning - wow!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Salande Posted November 8, 2018 Share Posted November 8, 2018 Nice finds! Joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thair Posted November 9, 2018 Share Posted November 9, 2018 Those are neat finds Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plantguy Posted November 11, 2018 Share Posted November 11, 2018 Hey Ric, more very cool traces! I especially like these: So instead of hopping did the arthropod somehow glide in with landing gear down and do a very low level landing/appendage drag before resting? Pardon my imagination. Mighty neat! And what is going on with these markings/impressions bordering the cool trackway? Almost looks like mudcracks? Or is that some other crazy being's impression? Continued hunting success! Regards, Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockin' Ric Posted November 12, 2018 Author Share Posted November 12, 2018 On 11/11/2018 at 9:41 AM, Plantguy said: Hey Ric, more very cool traces! I especially like these: So instead of hopping did the arthropod somehow glide in with landing gear down and do a very low level landing/appendage drag before resting? Pardon my imagination. Mighty neat! And what is going on with these markings/impressions bordering the cool trackway? Almost looks like mudcracks? Or is that some other crazy being's impression? Continued hunting success! Regards, Chris Hey Chris! Your theory sounds just as good as any...I checked with the local Ichnologist, he told me that the organism "dragged its heels" across the mud? I seem to think that the mud and water beneath it slowly receded beneath it??? As for the second picture, the Ichnologist said that the patterns are "load casts", pretty common for the Parkwood formation. 3 WELCOME TO ALL THE NEW MEMBERS! If history repeats itself, I'm SO getting a dinosaur. ~unknown www.rockinric81.wixsite.com/fossils Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted November 12, 2018 Share Posted November 12, 2018 Awesome stuff, Ric! Always enjoy seeing your cool carboniferous finds. 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...
Plantguy Posted November 13, 2018 Share Posted November 13, 2018 9 hours ago, Rockin' Ric said: Hey Chris! Your theory sounds just as good as any...I checked with the local Ichnologist, he told me that the organism "dragged its heels" across the mud? I seem to think that the mud and water beneath it slowly receded beneath it??? As for the second picture, the Ichnologist said that the patterns are "load casts", pretty common for the Parkwood formation. Thanks Ric, I can see the water receding as those traces do seem to pinch out which is really interesting. As for the load casts its been a long while since I've seen any for sure. seems in one section we had some turbid flows which slumped into some softer sediments and disturbed the bedding and created some really crazy sedimentary structure/forms. My old soft rock geology professor would be shaking his head at me now for forgetting that stuff. ..wish I would have kept some of those examples and remembered have of the stuff they taught/showed us. I miss being in the field. Thanks for clarifying! Hoping you snag a critter eventually. Continued hunting success. Regards, Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corporateidentity Posted November 13, 2018 Share Posted November 13, 2018 Ric, Your finds are awesome! I am a novice fossil hunter from Pittsburgh, and also in a Carboniferous area. I was reading this thread and saw your images. Do you have any idea what exactly made those impressions in your middle image? Reason why I ask, I found these impressions on a rock today in a creek, and thought they looked very similar, so maybe they are from the same animal. To me, based on the images I've found on google, a lot of your fossils look like either trilobite or millipede impressions! “Too much change is as destructive as too little. Only at the edge of chaos can complex systems flourish.” ― Michael Crichton, The Lost World Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockin' Ric Posted November 13, 2018 Author Share Posted November 13, 2018 On 11/12/2018 at 10:11 PM, corporateidentity said: Ric, Your finds are awesome! I am a novice fossil hunter from Pittsburgh, and also in a Carboniferous area. I was reading this thread and saw your images. Do you have any idea what exactly made those impressions in your middle image? Reason why I ask, I found these impressions on a rock today in a creek, and thought they looked very similar, so maybe they are from the same animal. To me, based on the images I've found on google, a lot of your fossils look like either trilobite or millipede impressions! Thanks for the kind words corporateidentity! I'm not an authority on ichno fossils but have learned a lot from the ones who do. Trace fossils are fascinating and love hunting them. The answer to your question, what made the impressions will remain a mystery until I find impression of the track maker. Ichnologists assign a scientific name to a different track and possible track makers. I've been told my finds were made by insects, shrimp, trilobite or horseshoe crabs? If you are on FB, I encourage you to look up "Ichnology" and post your pics there. There are several professional ichnologist including the local fella who created the page. I've learned quite a bit from those guys and gals, perhaps they can help you with your finds. Your finds look quite interesting and would love to hear their thoughts on them. WELCOME TO ALL THE NEW MEMBERS! If history repeats itself, I'm SO getting a dinosaur. ~unknown www.rockinric81.wixsite.com/fossils Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corporateidentity Posted November 13, 2018 Share Posted November 13, 2018 Thank you Ric! I will definitely do that! I was definitely thinking your finds looked like trilobite! You seem to find a lot of them. Trace fossils are a new interest of mine and Im gonna keep an eye out for them when I do out next. Would love to find a temnospondlyi trace fossil! If I find more of them I'll try to share them with you since we are both near Carboniferous areas! “Too much change is as destructive as too little. Only at the edge of chaos can complex systems flourish.” ― Michael Crichton, The Lost World Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redleaf101 Posted March 4, 2019 Share Posted March 4, 2019 Those diplichnites trackways are freakin' nice. =P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now