autismoford Posted July 7, 2019 Share Posted July 7, 2019 I found this near the 476 turnpike where they tore up all the ground and exposed the New Brunswick Formation. This formation is triassic. I went to a dump site where the construction company took all the rock. Is this possibly some sort of trace fossil from a lizard or sphenodontid? (If you neer to see it better flip your phone or device upside down) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westcoast Posted July 7, 2019 Share Posted July 7, 2019 That does look promising, I think you are on the right track 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
autismoford Posted July 7, 2019 Author Share Posted July 7, 2019 If its a track its gonna be a pain in the to determine the species. Maybe a Gwyneddichnium track? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockwood Posted July 7, 2019 Share Posted July 7, 2019 I'd say quite confidently a track. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doushantuo Posted July 7, 2019 Share Posted July 7, 2019 me too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Kmiecik Posted July 7, 2019 Share Posted July 7, 2019 I would say possibly a track. Would be easier to say yes if two or more were present. There are many things that can make that kind of impression. I would be all over that dump pile looking for more. Tracks are seldom singular entities. They travel in groups. 1 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...
autismoford Posted July 7, 2019 Author Share Posted July 7, 2019 Mark finding tracks are very difficult for me. Its overwhelming. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Kmiecik Posted July 7, 2019 Share Posted July 7, 2019 13 hours ago, autismoford said: Mark finding tracks are very difficult for me. Its overwhelming. Yeah, that's more than I anticipated, but if I was you I'd give it a couple of tries at least. A proven track specimen that is not of marine origin is worth having. 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...
doushantuo Posted July 7, 2019 Share Posted July 7, 2019 Auty, would that be your search area, then? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
autismoford Posted July 7, 2019 Author Share Posted July 7, 2019 I agree. I'll be returning another Sunday when the construction workers are off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
autismoford Posted July 7, 2019 Author Share Posted July 7, 2019 Doushantuo yes. I searched here twice already. Only one time I found a trace fossil. The other time I found a rippled water fossil. Really close to this site over the bridge is an outcrop of this formation it's about 40 feet high all exposed. I didnt go because to get their I need to cut across the cranes and its risky because of getting caught. No trespassing signs tho Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doushantuo Posted July 7, 2019 Share Posted July 7, 2019 Auty, try to make sure that what you are doing there is: A) Perfectly legal. Totally non harzardous/perilous. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Kmiecik Posted July 7, 2019 Share Posted July 7, 2019 1 minute ago, autismoford said: Doushantuo yes. I searched here twice already. Only one time I found a trace fossil. The other time I found a rippled water fossil. Really close to this site over the bridge is an outcrop of this formation it's about 40 feet high all exposed. I didnt go because to get their I need to cut across the cranes and its risky because of getting caught. No trespassing signs tho The water rippling is also a trace fossil, and therefore supports to a minor degree that trace fossils are common in that member and any additional trace fossil finds would also support the supposition that this specimen may indeed be a track. 1 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...
autismoford Posted July 7, 2019 Author Share Posted July 7, 2019 Yeah but in my eyes it's totally fine. They just use all this triassic rock for development homes they are building... destroying all of the possible fossils in the process. If I can sneak in and grab some before they are annihilated then I see my self saving all these specimens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Kmiecik Posted July 7, 2019 Share Posted July 7, 2019 4 minutes ago, doushantuo said: Auty,try to make sure that what you are doing there is A)perfectly legal B)totally non harzardous/perilous And see if you can get the construction outfit crew to help you look. Sometimes a feeling of participation in a search like this can get things really rolling. Tell them what you think you found and perhaps they will help you search. I would ask the boss for permission. 2 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...
doushantuo Posted July 7, 2019 Share Posted July 7, 2019 good thinking there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
autismoford Posted July 7, 2019 Author Share Posted July 7, 2019 That's a good idea thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockwood Posted July 7, 2019 Share Posted July 7, 2019 11 minutes ago, Mark Kmiecik said: The water rippling is also a trace fossil, UhAh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Kmiecik Posted July 7, 2019 Share Posted July 7, 2019 5 minutes ago, Rockwood said: UhAh Yeah, ok, technically. But you know what I'm getting at. EDIT: Actually, there were bacteria in the water, so it really is a trace fossil made by those bacteria that made contact with the sediment. 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...
DPS Ammonite Posted July 7, 2019 Share Posted July 7, 2019 35 minutes ago, Mark Kmiecik said: Yeah, ok, technically. But you know what I'm getting at. EDIT: Actually, there were bacteria in the water, so it really is a trace fossil made by those bacteria that made contact with the sediment. Mark, we do not want to see you hurt from the collapse of the hole that you are digging. Water ripples are not trace fossils since water is not alive. Theoretically you could have a bacterial mat that is shaped like ripples. In that case the mat would be the fossil. 1 My goal is to leave no stone or fossil unturned. See my Arizona Paleontology Guide link The best single resource for Arizona paleontology anywhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockwood Posted July 7, 2019 Share Posted July 7, 2019 Had the shovel out too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Kmiecik Posted July 7, 2019 Share Posted July 7, 2019 4 minutes ago, Rockwood said: Had the shovel out too. I had two shovels out. One to dig, one to fill. 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...
caldigger Posted July 8, 2019 Share Posted July 8, 2019 While asking permission, see if they'll mind you using their heavy equipment to move stuff around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
autismoford Posted July 8, 2019 Author Share Posted July 8, 2019 That would be very helpful with them huge slabs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randyw Posted July 8, 2019 Share Posted July 8, 2019 Have you thought about removing another layer or 2 on the left side to see if there’s any more prints under there? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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