Mystery find

[Jackson g]

Hello all, I found this a couple weeks back and forgot to post about this. Not sure if it's even a fossil, but any ideas are appreciated. I really cant make anything out. My best guess here is a bryozoan or sponge if it was anything. Found in Henry County, Missouri. Assumed age is Osagean, Mississippian, though I am not 100% certain and it could be older than I think.

 

[TqB]

I'm pretty sure it's a bryozoan, preserved as a negative.

[Mark Kmiecik]

I enlarged the photo. There's a lot going on there. Is that how a bryozoan should look?

[TqB]

12 hours ago, Mark Kmiecik said:

I enlarged the photo. There's a lot going on there. Is that how a bryozoan should look?

Yes - I've seen that preservation often in beds where specimens have been decalcified. The rods are steinkerns of the zooecial tubes. If Carboniferous, it's something like Tabulipora.

[Jackson g]

23 minutes ago, TqB said:

Yes - I've seen that preservation often in beds where specimens have been decalcified. The rods are steinkerns of the zooecial tubes. If Carboniferous, it's something like Tabulipora.

Good call! I think your probably correct with the id after checking some literature. Unfortunately the other side of the specimen was crushed to pieces, but I did keep the solid chunk shown in the first picture. It's hard to see but it's coated in the same tubes also. I could try to take a better picture for reference when I get back home in a week.

[Mark Kmiecik]

9 hours ago, TqB said:

Yes - I've seen that preservation often in beds where specimens have been decalcified. The rods are steinkerns of the zooecial tubes. If Carboniferous, it's something like Tabulipora.

Cool -- score another learning experience for today! Thank you.