Gilboa NY trace fossil? Root system?

[Dsailor]

Hi Folks,

 

Would appreciate any ideas on this one. My first thought is trace fossil since it branches in so many different ways. It is, however, black and the rest of the rock is brown which makes me think plant or vine type material. Was found  near Schoharie Creek in Gilboa NY. Middle Devonian, Gilboa Fm and where I was is full of both seafloor fossil hash (with brachiopods, crinoids, and trilobites) and Wattieza stem hash. What do you think?

[abyssunder]

It looks like there are ancient mudcracks.

link

[Tidgy's Dad]

Looks like trace fossils to me.

Something like Thalassinoides. 

[caldigger]

I am on the mud crack caravan. 

[Plantguy]

I like the mudcrack ID as well. Could be some other things going on in there as well but the overall pattern seems more mudcrack like. Mighty cool!

Regards, Chris 

[Rockwood]

Could there have been frost patterning there in the late Devonian ?

 

[Dsailor]

13 hours ago, abyssunder said:

It looks like there are ancient mudcracks.

link

 

Thanks, mudcracks make sense, there are a lot of seafloor ripple fossils out there so conditions were there to create it

[Rockwood]

20 minutes ago, Dsailor said:

Thanks, mudcracks make sense, there are a lot of seafloor ripple fossils out there so conditions were there to create it

Just how are sea floor ripples related to mud cracks ? regression ?

Interference patterns related to crossing currents can produce a pattern similar to this. 

[Dsailor]

3 hours ago, Rockwood said:

Just how are sea floor ripples related to mud cracks ? regression ?

Interference patterns related to crossing currents can produce a pattern similar to this. 

I would say regression and a location with calm enough conditions for that type of pattern to be preserved without being washed away. I think the fossil is too vague to really pinpoint what it is but thanks for the ideas

[Al Tahan]

I’m getting a filled mud crack vibe 

[abyssunder]

5 hours ago, Al Tahan said:

I’m getting a filled mud crack vibe 

Yep, I think that's the case!