badfish182 Posted February 17, 2019 Share Posted February 17, 2019 I have searched since I found this, to figure out exactly what it is. Nobody that I have talked to has been able to for sure ID it. I found it while searching for crinoid fossils at a beach near Michigan City, Indiana, in Lake Michigan. I was swimming around, picking up anything I found, taking a look, and I tossed this one up on the beach. We were guessing that it may be the bulb part of a crinoid, but I haven't found anything online that looks exactly like this one. We used dental tools to pick out some of the sandy stuff, so we could see more detail. My hand is not in the picture for size reference, rather, I had to hold it upright to get more picture angles. My mom took this fossil to a rock show, and people were amazed by it, though they couldn't identify exactly what it is. Some said it is a once in a lifetime find. If it can't be ID'd here, I will likely take it to the university I attend, or a museum. My dinosaur class professor wasn't entirely sure about it either. I would really like to know exactly what it is. Thanks in advance for any help! I look forward to contributing to these forums! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnBrewer Posted February 17, 2019 Share Posted February 17, 2019 I’m thinking geological rather than biological. What say you Tony? @ynot John Map of UK fossil sites Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockwood Posted February 17, 2019 Share Posted February 17, 2019 I think it's a sponge that was attached to a crinoid stem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abyssunder Posted February 17, 2019 Share Posted February 17, 2019 I believe it's a geodized crinoid. 2 " We are not separate and independent entities, but like links in a chain, and we could not by any means be what we are without those who went before us and showed us the way. " Thomas Mann My Library Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ynot Posted February 17, 2019 Share Posted February 17, 2019 Looks like one of the geodized fossils that can be found in the tri-state area. Not sure if they can be found around the great lakes area. Often these types of geodes are too distorted to make a good ID. What Rockwood said is as good a possibility as any. Edit.. Abyssunder has another good possibility. 1 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...
abyssunder Posted February 17, 2019 Share Posted February 17, 2019 Take a look at specimen 5 from plate XXIV, from this older topic. " We are not separate and independent entities, but like links in a chain, and we could not by any means be what we are without those who went before us and showed us the way. " Thomas Mann My Library Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockwood Posted February 17, 2019 Share Posted February 17, 2019 11 minutes ago, abyssunder said: I believe it's a geodized crinoid. Stretching the definition of geode a might isn't it ? It does change the perspective though. The similarity of the pattern in second photo to that in the first does suggest the pattern is a poorly preserved feature rather than a mold left from attachment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ynot Posted February 17, 2019 Share Posted February 17, 2019 1 minute ago, Rockwood said: Stretching the definition of geode a might isn't it ? Do a google search for "midwestern sedimentary type geodes" 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...
Rockwood Posted February 17, 2019 Share Posted February 17, 2019 2 minutes ago, ynot said: Do a google search for "midwestern sedimentary type geodes" Too close to my bedtime, but I'll take your word for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ynot Posted February 17, 2019 Share Posted February 17, 2019 7 minutes ago, Rockwood said: Too close to my bedtime, but I'll take your word for it. Well, that is a first! 1 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...
badfish182 Posted February 17, 2019 Author Share Posted February 17, 2019 Thanks for the info, everyone! I really appreciate it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abyssunder Posted February 17, 2019 Share Posted February 17, 2019 18 minutes ago, Rockwood said: Stretching the definition of geode a might isn't it ? It does change the perspective though. The similarity of the pattern in second photo to that in the first does suggest the pattern is a poorly preserved feature rather than a mold left from attachment. The silica replacement in this kind of fossil make them inflated and almost unrecognizable, but I think we are dealing with geodized crinoid columnal. 1 " We are not separate and independent entities, but like links in a chain, and we could not by any means be what we are without those who went before us and showed us the way. " Thomas Mann My Library Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockwood Posted February 17, 2019 Share Posted February 17, 2019 Looks like an extreme case of the bends ? Seriously. Gas release on sharp pressure drop ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abyssunder Posted February 17, 2019 Share Posted February 17, 2019 9 minutes ago, Rockwood said: Looks like an extreme case of the bends ? Seriously. Gas release on sharp pressure drop If the specimen is transported material (and it looks like that) the geodized patterns might have a pronounced pattern due to the weathering. 1 " We are not separate and independent entities, but like links in a chain, and we could not by any means be what we are without those who went before us and showed us the way. " Thomas Mann My Library Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herb Posted February 17, 2019 Share Posted February 17, 2019 I agree with geodized crinoid calyx. "Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence"_ Carl Sagen No trees were killed in this posting......however, many innocent electrons were diverted from where they originally intended to go. " I think, therefore I collect fossils." _ Me "When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth."__S. Holmes "can't we all just get along?" Jack Nicholson from Mars Attacks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abyssunder Posted February 18, 2019 Share Posted February 18, 2019 35 minutes ago, Herb said: I agree with geodized crinoid calyx. I would disagree with crinoid calix (although, two times I was fooled by the pentameral character) according to the patterns, but it might be just my understanding related to R. S. Bassler's relevant document, here for reference. " We are not separate and independent entities, but like links in a chain, and we could not by any means be what we are without those who went before us and showed us the way. " Thomas Mann My Library Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herb Posted February 18, 2019 Share Posted February 18, 2019 I have found dozens of crinoids that look like that from the Ft Payne formation around L.Cumberland, KY. Some as big as hardballs. "Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence"_ Carl Sagen No trees were killed in this posting......however, many innocent electrons were diverted from where they originally intended to go. " I think, therefore I collect fossils." _ Me "When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth."__S. Holmes "can't we all just get along?" Jack Nicholson from Mars Attacks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abyssunder Posted February 18, 2019 Share Posted February 18, 2019 I believe you with respect, Herb, but in the case of crinoid calyx, where are the polygonal plates or the mineral growths between supposed polygonal dislocated plates characteristic to crinoid cup in diagenetical transformation? " We are not separate and independent entities, but like links in a chain, and we could not by any means be what we are without those who went before us and showed us the way. " Thomas Mann My Library 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