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My First Taste of the Tivola Eocene!


MeargleSchmeargl

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Hello again, my fossiling friends!

 

It has been quite some time, between graduation, moving, and preparing for a vacation to Sicily to watch active volcanoes do their thing, schedule's been pretty loaded. Since the last time we talked, I was able to fit a visit to Dalton/Chatsworth before school ended, but I never got around to posting it.

 

Ever since I was able to talk to Thomas Thurmon at my last PAG meeting, we were looking to hit the Tivola Limestone in Perry GA as he has had experience with it before. After a rain-induced postponement the week prior, we were able to make the trip this past Saturday, and boy did the Tivola not disappoint.

 

We arrived on the roadside to pleasant weather and a short hike to the main area. Loggers had recently been in the area, as evidenced by a number of downed trees lying around. As we hiked, it didn't take long for Thurman and I to start finding Periarchus bits to take with us (while my step-grandpa was bewildered by how quickly we could spot them :P). 

 

After emerging from what was left of the forest, we had a view of our destination:

 

IMG_20190615_104802884_HDR.thumb.jpg.dd898652e264bdf80bd84744f8205dd6.jpg

 

Being a long since abandoned quarry, the area was huge and quite a sight to behold. Thurman guided us to an access point where we could climb down to the best of the Tivola goodness, picking up Pectens and Periarchus along the way.

 

IMG_20190615_113441757_HDR.thumb.jpg.6228bfbad1b8f5ba7e8e2589b603a0aa.jpg

 

The inside of the pit had a huge array of goodies, with Pectens, Periarchus and more in good supply.

 

Cont.

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Among the spoils was this bivalve, one Thurmon had never seen before in the area: 

 

IMG_20190615_112355551_HDR.thumb.jpg.298205877a73c07496406ac534a21dfd.jpg

 

Thurmon took it with him to see about an ID at some point (any hints?).

 

After a good few hours searching away, I had quite a few new pieces to show off for it:

 

IMG_20190615_232301919.thumb.jpg.fe23bb6fc43859c120ee3a6e5d8fc965.jpg

 

As for the individual photos, I only have a few, as I was only able to get a few in between moving things today.

 

I've pretty much confirmed I have a soft spot for scallops this trip, having gotten quite a few from the site. Here are a few of the best in-situ Pecten Perplanus (not sure, confirmation?) I got!

 

IMG_20190618_220029766_HDR.thumb.jpg.cd604bdc7bd4b34e2a072cabc5dd5f40.jpg

IMG_20190618_222028155_HDR.thumb.jpg.b5ce85117eb50f407d38eaa0e45532ff.jpg

IMG_20190618_220231370_HDR.thumb.jpg.bbd664da2295f2c904380a5af2a0b200.jpg

 

_IMG_000000_000000.thumb.jpg.d562eca6f10ef512301e6ccddff635ad.jpgIMG_20190618_220906778.thumb.jpg.664f648784aea363ada0c563bc94a550.jpg

IMG_20190618_221839620_HDR.thumb.jpg.588a10b2e059781d70119504490f5354.jpg

 

Cont.

Edited by MeargleSchmeargl
Optimizing photo quality
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Every single fossil you see is a miracle set in stone, and should be treated as such.

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IMG_20190618_222828528_HDR.thumb.jpg.5542dff808b083dc88c49fa577552745.jpg

IMG_20190618_222920036_HDR.thumb.jpg.826317059a054b9bcf5e4af426115cb5.jpg

 

And here is the best Periarchus pileussinenis I found with a scallop bit and another sand dollar in the matrix:

 

IMG_20190618_223455082_HDR.thumb.jpg.ffdb208941da0cac920a22246119d7d2.jpgIMG_20190618_223916204_HDR.thumb.jpg.d5176c6a18536446daa67bec24448194.jpgIMG_20190618_224322336_HDR.thumb.jpg.b83266a5554e696c2dbc34c0de140c99.jpgIMG_20190618_224713060_HDR.thumb.jpg.60501183c9f238889cf267a96aac4cc2.jpg

 

Cont.

 

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IMG_20190618_224917846_HDR.thumb.jpg.6c3418625ae14945fcd2297cc33bfa41.jpg

 

And last but not least for what I snapped pictures of today, another mystery bivalve!

 

IMG_20190618_225120136_HDR.thumb.jpg.0bd7f59a49e42f63148d8d204ec28abd.jpgIMG_20190618_225156622_HDR.thumb.jpg.1174af89ceea60228541bd78acb7f3e1.jpgIMG_20190618_225410528_HDR.thumb.jpg.348af2f6c0f2db6f8db97925ffc4db1f.jpg

 

More images will be on the way tommorow of the rest! :D

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Nice field trip report :) That Periarchus looks really nice!

Looking forward to the next photos!

-Christian

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Opalised fossils are the best: a wonderful mix between paleontology and mineralogy!

 

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Good report and nice finds/photos. :) 

Thanks for posting it.

    Tim    -  VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER

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2 hours ago, MeargleSchmeargl said:

 

And here is the best Periarchus pileussinenis I found with a scallop bit and another sand dollar in the matrix:

Nice finds. Some echinoid experts consider P. pileussinensis as a variant of P. lyelli. Here's a clip from Porter Kier-

 

 

sanddollar.JPG

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Congratulations on your graduation. Thanks for sharing your fossil hunt with us, it looks like a terrific place to explore. I'd be excited to find those echinoids, and the scallops look wonderful. Good luck with the moving, and enjoy that upcoming vacation!

 

 

Start the day with a smile and get it over with.

 

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On 6/19/2019 at 2:11 PM, RJB said:

   Cute little scallops and a nice echy.  must have been a fun hunt. 

 

RB

Definitely fits that bill! :D

Every single fossil you see is a miracle set in stone, and should be treated as such.

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Finally got around to getting images for the rest of what I found (Braves game happened yesterday):

 

My Pecten Perplanus stash (some of which can use a prep job):

 

IMG_20190620_215514428_HDR.thumb.jpg.a61de1f4ad7e6166f6b86432ce4cd7bb.jpg

 

IMG_20190620_221856900.thumb.jpg.7f919a06e70987048d97416cb913c976.jpg

IMG_20190620_221912538.thumb.jpg.e5fe6443776418a02428a6dd2c2cd079.jpg

 

IMG_20190620_220231897.thumb.jpg.a60bf993adcc04d2fda7e584f4c7ccbd.jpg

 

All the rest of the Periarchus material of the day:

 

IMG_20190620_223208011.thumb.jpg.2a0ef207ccd634959a8531355f2a9315.jpg

 

We also found an urchin or two:

 

IMG_20190620_222712463.thumb.jpg.b34f090ff94de5a0fd85ac71392516a0.jpg

 

An extra bivalve here and there...

 

IMG_20190620_223722037.thumb.jpg.df719d6f21dcdebbdf9b95ebb6e88a3b.jpg

 

Cont.

Every single fossil you see is a miracle set in stone, and should be treated as such.

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IMG_20190620_223732679.thumb.jpg.26322173fd61019db86676ada164d91a.jpg

 

And lastly, Bryozoans and other miscellaneous things:

 

IMG_20190620_002316978.thumb.jpg.dc1333e0c7fb62265d421d0543bcd47f.jpg

 

IMG_20190620_002556070.thumb.jpg.50d2802f90babb54f6836cafd181b7a8.jpg

 

IMG_20190620_223816048.thumb.jpg.fb8d9e14aae9ab7cb00849e6e58f3883.jpgIMG_20190620_223907748.thumb.jpg.f48b353822b17cd14e8a44bf6ea3e26e.jpgIMG_20190620_224007412.thumb.jpg.1398e7576030b73a11ae7d5a1f18441c.jpg

 

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IMG_20190620_224026941.thumb.jpg.0988ca31874a4cb427f92074429b47bb.jpg

Every single fossil you see is a miracle set in stone, and should be treated as such.

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3 hours ago, MeargleSchmeargl said:

We also found an urchin or two:

 

 

 

This is a dome shaped bryozoan, common in some Eocene deposits.

9FE3B0D7-766C-4EBC-A21C-ED928ECC07D0.jpeg

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14 minutes ago, Al Dente said:

 

 

 

This is a dome shaped bryozoan, common in some Eocene deposits.

9FE3B0D7-766C-4EBC-A21C-ED928ECC07D0.jpeg

Huh. Had Thurmon and I fooled.

Every single fossil you see is a miracle set in stone, and should be treated as such.

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2 hours ago, Ludwigia said:

Nice finds. What’s the stratigraphy of that site?

 

Tivola Limestone, Upper Eocene (Priabonian) Jackson Group.  I cut my fossil collecting teeth in the Tivola.

 

Meargle Shmeargle--The Tivola is equivalent in age to the Upper Ocala Limestone in Florida.  Your unknown pecten is Amusium ocalanum, very common in the Ocala, not so much in the Tivola although I have found it at that site.  Your other pecten is Chlamys spillmani chlinchfieldensis.

 

Eric is most definitely correct about the bryozoan Lunulites sp.

 

Mike

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6 hours ago, MikeR said:

 

Tivola Limestone, Upper Eocene (Priabonian) Jackson Group.  I cut my fossil collecting teeth in the Tivola.

 

Meargle Shmeargle--The Tivola is equivalent in age to the Upper Ocala Limestone in Florida.  Your unknown pecten is Amusium ocalanum, very common in the Ocala, not so much in the Tivola although I have found it at that site.  Your other pecten is Chlamys spillmani chlinchfieldensis.

 

Eric is most definitely correct about the bryozoan Lunulites sp.

 

Mike

Any papers with the species names? Went on a search the other day that came up with a few that didn't delve into too much detail, aside from mentioning a Pecten perplanus, and a few other names.

 

Also, is spillmani clinchfieldensis a sub-species of spillmani or clinchfieldensis?

Every single fossil you see is a miracle set in stone, and should be treated as such.

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1 hour ago, MeargleSchmeargl said:

Any papers with the species names? Went on a search the other day that came up with a few that didn't delve into too much detail, aside from mentioning a Pecten perplanus, and a few other names.

 

Georgia Geological Survey Bulletin 81 and Information Circular 46 are very useful for the Tivola.  They are too large to upload to the Forum, but are free downloads from the Georgia DNR website here LINK and here LINK.

 

 

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"A problem solved is a problem caused"--Karl Pilkington

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Beautiful stuff!!!  The scallops are sweet but I love that first sand dollar - what a beauty!  Congrats!

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1 hour ago, Monica said:

Beautiful stuff!!!  The scallops are sweet but I love that first sand dollar - what a beauty!  Congrats!

I personally am a sucker for the scallops. Sand dollars are pretty high up there, too!

Every single fossil you see is a miracle set in stone, and should be treated as such.

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19 hours ago, MeargleSchmeargl said:

Also, is spillmani clinchfieldensis a sub-species of spillmani or clinchfieldensis?

 

Chlamys spillmani clinchfieldensis Harris, 1951 is a subspecies or variety of Chlamys spillmani (Gabb, 1860).  G.D. Harris, the founder of the Paleontological Research Institute and first publisher of the Bulletins of American Paleontology, named the variety clinchfieldensis based upon rib differences.  Much like Eric's post of Porter Kier's description of Periarchus lyelli pileus-sinensis, intergrades exist and can be found together.  My experience however is that both C. spillmani clinchfieldensis and P. lyelli pileus-sinensis greatly outnumber the parent species in the Tivola.  The low domed P. lyelli are much more numerous in the Bartonian whereas the sharper apex P. lyelli pileus-sinensis predominates within the Priabonian.  There is a site on the Alabama River where the scutella bed of the Moodys Branch Formation underlies the Pachuta Marl Member of the Yazoo Formation.  The exact interface is hard to determine but somewhere in the transition, P. lyelli gives way to P. lyelli pileus-sinensis.

 

Mike

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"A problem solved is a problem caused"--Karl Pilkington

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Nice finds! 

Some super bivalves and urchins but I love that Lunulites! :)

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