Chunkette Posted March 10, 2019 Share Posted March 10, 2019 Hello, I wondered if someone can help me identify some fossils I found, please? I am completely new to fossil hunting and don’t know very much at all yet. Yesterday I found 3 beautiful shell fossils half way up a mountain called Jebel Hafeet in the desert of Al Ain, United Arab Emirates, Middle East. Is it possible you could tell me anything about them please? I know the mountain used to be under the sea millions of years ago (the ocean was called the Tethys), so I’m guessing the shells were sea shells, not land shells. They are filled with lovely clear crystals. They also have very small circular fossils on them, I have circled the fossil circles in red in one of the photographs. I have no idea what those are! The shell fossils are very heavy and are the size of my hand. (Roughly 12cm x 10cm / 5”x4” ) Any information you can give me on the shells/crystals would be much appreciated. Thank you so much. Kind regards, Caroline 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tidgy's Dad Posted March 10, 2019 Share Posted March 10, 2019 The shells are molds of marine gastropods, not sure which kind and the objects you've circled are the shells of single- celled organisms, foraminifera called Nummulites. Nice finds. Hello, and a very warm welcome to TFF from Morocco. 5 Life's Good! Tortoise Friend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrangellian Posted March 10, 2019 Share Posted March 10, 2019 The things you have circled are Nummulites, a type of foraminiferan that indicate an age of Eocene to Miocene. I can't help with the ID of your snail, however... it looks to be just a steinkern (the internal space filled with sediment, shell is missing). It might be possible to ID it if someone had access to paleontological papers pertaining to your local area/formation. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrangellian Posted March 10, 2019 Share Posted March 10, 2019 ...And as usual I'm a little slow on the draw.. Sheesh, I thought I was early enough when I saw it had been posted "3 minutes ago"! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tidgy's Dad Posted March 10, 2019 Share Posted March 10, 2019 Nummulites fichteli, apparently. See : https://www.alshindagah.com/Shindagah75/a_peak_into_the_past.htm 1 Life's Good! Tortoise Friend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chunkette Posted March 10, 2019 Author Share Posted March 10, 2019 Thank you so much to Wrangellian and Tidgy’s Dad for your quick replies and the information you have supplied. It’s most appreciated. The article you sent a link to about the mountain near my home (Jebel Hafeet) was very useful. I’ll go there again tomorrow to look for sea urchin fossils! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chunkette Posted March 10, 2019 Author Share Posted March 10, 2019 I forgot to ask, do you know what the crystals are and why they are there? Is it likely that the inside of the fossil could be filled with crystals and is it possible (or wise) to attempt to open one to have a look. I would hate to damage the fossils if they are valuable to a museum or similar, however if they are common, then should I attempt to chip open one of poorer conditioned shells to have a look inside? (I actually have no idea how to do that, a chisel and hammer?) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tidgy's Dad Posted March 10, 2019 Share Posted March 10, 2019 The crystals are almost certainly calcite, if they fizz a little when vinegar is applied you can know almost for certain. I wouldn't break these lovely fossils, myself. 1 Life's Good! Tortoise Friend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chunkette Posted March 10, 2019 Author Share Posted March 10, 2019 Excellent thank you. I will leave the fossils just as they are in that case. Thank you for your help. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tidgy's Dad Posted March 10, 2019 Share Posted March 10, 2019 1 minute ago, Chunkette said: Excellent thank you. I will leave the fossils just as they are in that case. Thank you for your help. 1 Life's Good! Tortoise Friend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrBones Posted March 14, 2020 Share Posted March 14, 2020 Hello! I have been staying in the UAE for quite some time now, and have grown quite familiar with its fossils. We have visited Jebel Hafeet twice, and have found numerous fossils on and close to the mountain. The nummulites and gastropod steinkerns are pretty common in that area. You can message me if you have any other questions... Regards, MrBones 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Kmiecik Posted March 14, 2020 Share Posted March 14, 2020 On 3/10/2019 at 4:16 AM, Wrangellian said: ...And as usual I'm a little slow on the draw.. Sheesh, I thought I was early enough when I saw it had been posted "3 minutes ago"! The concise bird catches the worm first. Mark. Fossil hunting is easy -- they don't run away when you shoot at them! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrangellian Posted March 15, 2020 Share Posted March 15, 2020 So I've learned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tidgy's Dad Posted March 15, 2020 Share Posted March 15, 2020 Tweet. Life's Good! Tortoise Friend. 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