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Ordovician Collecting Day 3- St. Leon, Indiana


Nimravis

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This morning I got up early so I could hit the St. Leon, Indiana road cut before I did my 5 hour drive home. Like all of the other areas that I visited these past couple days, I was the only one collecting. I thought yesterday was hot, but today I spent 5 1/2 hours in 93 degree heat. I only hit a small portion of the roadcut and only on one side. This location is one of my favorite to collect and I could spend 1 week there and not check out the whole area. Unlike the other locations from this week that are mostly made up of bryozoan, this place is mainly made up of different species of brachiopds. I like to take the road less traveled at this location and that means going vertical on the scree to move up to the different levels. Doing this is very sketchy and you have to watch your footing as you can loose three feet of progress with a misstep. If you have not had a chance to visit this location and if you like Ordovician fossils or just fossils in general, this is a bucket list must.

 

Here are some pictures of the area-

 

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Fossils are found on all levels of this terraced roadcut, I found a lot of great looking brachiopods that were on the larger site for this location. The farther up that you go, I ran into some really cool small brachiopods, I do not know what species they are, but they are very nice. Hash plates are also all over this site and I you want a glimpse of past life in a plate, you will have your pick.

 

Here are some pictures of the different brachiopods along with some nice hash plates. During this visit I found 1 or 2 of my best Rafinesquina that I have ever found, there are some so so ones also. In my experience, it is not very often that I find real nice ones.

 

IMG_5781.jpg.35a8e6b7acaa5d267e445694c8d4101e.jpgIMG_5782.jpg.1cfa33711a713b609720e16b648eaa3e.jpg

 

I believe that this is an Eochonetes-

 

IMG_5840.jpg.45ee5882731ff90191b9b44944d54a11.jpg

 

Here are some of the little ones that I found on the Trilobite layer- if someone knows what species they are, please let me know.

 

IMG_5868.jpg.ff832c18881af8a8e10558e6d7638725.jpgIMG_5863.jpg.5ec35d0f5b73acbc4d03977de6cfc2e1.jpg

 

 

I have never found one of these at this location and I am looking for an ID on this one also- it is almost complete. I am thinking it might be Vinlandostrophia.

 

IMG_5837.jpg.83b1f5f2e18cc49ec24dff5070e549bb.jpg

 

I found several nice brachs that I believe are Rhynchotrema dentatum.

 

IMG_5758.jpg.d01dd54008e65742465dd84a5049c5aa.jpgIMG_5838.jpg.d0078a9a702519f68d5256f77732decc.jpg

 

 

Here are pics of other species and Hash Plates-

 

 

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More Brachs on next Post

 

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IMG_5852.jpg.026fdd371aa8466a616ae932bd0811b4.jpgIMG_5854.jpg.d71cf55528ecc3e82e7407853484cba6.jpgIMG_5855.jpg.d50af2c4946924f20f58cb434a8067ac.jpgIMG_5856.jpg.1da3e786e394dc85a9d3bcbad3e7fd5d.jpgIMG_5857.jpg.f46c2fbcabf17e3e0f9caf7afcd4ede6.jpgIMG_5858.jpg.8c6c4450b719223c793d0286a06ab655.jpgIMG_5860.jpg.e73d3b64db8f0298b38acb33504de57e.jpgIMG_5867.jpg.c5b164e42aa8a1218ea7d09e59f6ae62.jpgIMG_5882.jpg.ba7e325ea8e5c50109d04910a5dc1404.jpg

 

Here are some tiny Flexicalymene meeki trilobites that I found on the trilobite layer as well as some Trilo-bits , including some from Isotelus. As many others have stated about St. Leon, you need to move up about half way on the roadcut to the first flat terrace which is where the trilobites are found. Once there, you need to get very low to the ground and look very carefully for some tiny rollers.

 

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Cephalopods-

 

IMG_5778.jpg.0453d37108c2eeed1175dc81081f9860.jpgIMG_5841.jpg.8667c7d14cfba6a40707b17eb80109eb.jpgIMG_5842.jpg.ba64651a8bed4dc810f1ee3531146861.jpg

 

Climbing farther up the hillside you will come across many examples of horn coral - Grewingkia canadensis.

 

IMG_5770.jpg.53a964f6586dc9caaf290632b53906a0.jpgIMG_5771.jpg.42882bac74f3a3c808c198d82fb1c01c.jpgIMG_5775.jpg.b3ae223d1d11bf870f489e7411d51e49.jpgIMG_5779.jpg.cdb5de9f0b5216d6a69393608f1cfa1d.jpgIMG_5783.jpg.9474897b5be5263f025cd919e6447fa2.jpgIMG_5791.jpg.6e74256c4d75bdb8ffd5ee39b36d246d.jpgIMG_5792.jpg.353b3f6ea7979095caf5d38d3387d00e.jpgIMG_5793.jpg.84fc0d0de498a6a53cd52b87818fc8b4.jpgIMG_5795.jpg.0d55adbe68b381110fa636cd37a77c0e.jpgIMG_5802.jpg.73888641db78092c1a3334bc43a23032.jpgIMG_5806.jpg.eeae55f227751d0f3f44fedfa78517dd.jpgIMG_5817.jpg.b1d00dee42bf0ceb3f59c5f80bc1e5bf.jpgIMG_5830.jpg.48d7afbf326b9e7a6546e29ffd3391f5.jpgIMG_5834.jpg.fd068e576af8c3a3a5301f4073ff187d.jpgIMG_5829.jpg.44e32bf0a055811dcab431ade0d0bf67.jpgIMG_5844.jpg.ae846600dc7e74c7543cff7de6a8aa8c.jpgIMG_5848.jpg.c4290b4630d5f1eea6e5726f57eb5b33.jpgIMG_5849.jpg.0fb91d8ce2c2d95dfc33e6a0ffb8b936.jpg

 

 

IMG_5836.jpg

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Gastropod-

 

I think that this may be Liospira vitruvia-

 

IMG_5755.jpg.d54b8c80cceb87ab95ede451a54f9735.jpg

 

These were just some of my finds for the day and I did grab a number of nice hash plates. I left a lot of the fossils that I have posted here, so if you head out to St. Leon, make sure that you have a number of hours to spend looking and you will not be disappointed.

 

 

 

 

 

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Excellent report and pictures!

This is the kind of immersive report that really makes me feel like I am along for the fun and adventure. :) 

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    Tim    VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER

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"In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks."
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Great finds (as usual!), Ralph!  I think my favourite this time is the hash plate below, because I think I see a Leptaena brachiopod on it???

IMG_5776.jpg.1a137b7331ea2fe3812b7f04b6efa765.jpg

:wub:

Thanks for sharing your adventure with us!!!

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Very nice report.  That is also one of my favorite sites.  I tend to spend too much time on the "trilobite layer" ("butter shale") and so don't get to search the other layers as much.  There are some rare crinoids, trilobites, and coiled cephalopods that are on my wish list that keep me coming back whenever I'm in the vicinity.

 

I'm always amazed at the productivity of the "trilobite layer".  I crawled that on hands and knees about a month ago and found five complete rollers.  All it takes is a good rain and the site is replenished.

 

BTW the large horn corals are Grewingkia canadensis.  Geniculograptus typicalis is a graptolite.

 

Don

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Spectacular report, Ralph!

 

I have fond memories of this site which we visited several years back as a side trip when we were up in Chicago. While poking around there we had visitors who showed up and were fossil hunting as well. This turned out to be a chance meeting with forum member @Mediospirifer and her significant other. Diane knows this formation well and can answer your ID questions above. Within 5 minutes of searching the roadcut, I had a nice flexi-roller. As that had been so easy and immediate, I (momentarily) had visions (delusions, really) of filling a bag with these--it was the only one I found all day. :P

 

I can spin around in the chair in my office and see across the room a nice big hash plate packed to the gills with brachiopods, bryozoans, and even some Isotelus bits. I was greedy and picked up several nice hash plates which have been distributed to friends and family and have even appeared in a few forum auctions over the years (my extended friend base). ;) The only one I kept is the big hefty one in my office. As it had nice views on both sides of the hash plate I used a rented paver saw with a diamond blade to slice a nice straight edge along one side of the plate so that it stands up nicely for display. Most tile saws only have the blade extend less than half an inch from the table and as such are useless for cutting a 2 inch thick block of hash plate. When I have collected enough items that would benefit from some slicing (including colorful rocks for my tumbler), I rent one of these paver saws from a local rental company and do it Saturday morning to get the extra day of rental for free (most rental places are closed on Sunday). This tool with the large overhead saw blade on a sliding track makes quick work of trimming plates and shaping jaspers, agates, or other pretty stones before they hit the tumbler.

 

Thanks for the memories of a place that indeed should be high on the list of anybody who loves fossils (especially Ordovician).

 

 

Cheers.

 

-Ken

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My goodness! Some great finds and a great report! For some reason I have a fondness for horn coral, and you found some nice ones. :drool: :wub:

 

@Tidgy's Dad will be here shortly to drool over the brachiopods. ;) 

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The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it.  -Neil deGrasse Tyson

 

Everyone you will ever meet knows something you don't. -Bill Nye (The Science Guy)

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Wow you make these reports so beautifully detailed, I love it. It's almost as if we were actually there!

Very nice haul, especially the cephalopods and trilobites!

-Christian

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

 

Q. Where do dinosaurs study?

A. At Khaan Academy!...

 

My ResearchGate profile

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2 hours ago, FossilDAWG said:

BTW the large horn corals are Grewingkia canadensis.  Geniculograptus typicalis is a graptolite.

Lol- I had all kinds of names written down last night and I was beat and knew it started with a “G” and typed that one, I will have to double check that I put the correct name down for the graptolites the day before.

 

and you are correct about the trilobite layer, it was the last thing that I hit and I found the Flexi’s in abut 25 minutes all within 5 feet of each other. I waited until the end brought knew if I found some first, then I may have just stayed there.

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1 hour ago, digit said:

I used a rented paver saw

Thanks for the comments Ken and I will need to look into this. Because of the limitations with the tile saw I only take thin pieces, but like you know, those can be found at this site.

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3 hours ago, FossilNerd said:

My goodness! Some great finds and a great report! For some reason I have a fondness for horn coral, and you found some nice ones. :drool: :wub:

 

@Tidgy's Dad will be here shortly to drool over the brachiopods. ;) 

Thanks and yes Adam would be in heaven at this site.

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58 minutes ago, The Amateur Paleontologist said:

Wow you make these reports so beautifully detailed, I love it. It's almost as if we were actually there!

Very nice haul, especially the cephalopods and trilobites!

-Christian

Thanks Christian, that is what I attempt to do, I like seeing members fossils, but I really like seeing the collecting area and the fossils as they are found. 

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11 hours ago, Monica said:

Great finds (as usual!), Ralph!  I think my favourite this time is the hash plate below, because I think I see a Leptaena brachiopod on it???

IMG_5776.jpg.1a137b7331ea2fe3812b7f04b6efa765.jpg

:wub:

Thanks for sharing your adventure with us!!!

 

 

Yes Monica, that is one on the lower left of the plate and I think there is another one poking out right below it.

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Yes, Vinlandostrophia sp. There are many species.

 

Nice haul. FYI your "Rhynchotremas" are actually Hiscobbecus capax.  Rhynchotrema dentatum which can be found there as well but is a bit smaller and has a different pattern of folds in the sinus, see here: http://www.drydredgers.org/brachrhyncho.htm

 

Your two best internet resources for the Cincinnatian are the Dry Dredgers web site and this:  http://strata.uga.edu/cincy/fauna/fauna.html

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Also, nice to see others using Theodolite. Just be careful not to post coordinates for sites that are private or otherwise should be guarded.

 

There are two common horn corals in the Cincinnatian. One is the large Grewengkia canadensis that you have many of. The other, and often overlooked, coral is Streptelasma divaricans. They are much smaller and always have an attachment scar. They also sometimes occur in sweet little clusters.  I've known folks to ignore them thinking they were just tiny Grewengkia.

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Popcorn's almost all gone now. I'm gonna hafta get some more. Again, thank you for the most enjoyable post. Your trips are fun and informative. The photos are stunning. The sites you visit are amazing. Thank you.

 

 

Mark.

 

Fossil hunting is easy -- they don't run away when you shoot at them!

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Nice post! I love visiting St. Leon, although Mr. Spirifer tends to get focused on finding TRILOBITES!!! (and was disappointed this spring in that search).

 

The tiny brachiopods that are all over the butter shale layer are Zygospira modesta. They are little beauties! I've collected a few hundred in my once-a-year visits, and I can't seem to refrain from picking up more.

 

I'm not sure of ID's on your other pieces with consulting my reference book. You do have some gorgeous pieces!

 

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18 hours ago, Nimravis said:

I believe that this is an Eochonetes-

 

IMG_5840.jpg.45ee5882731ff90191b9b44944d54a11.jpg

 

I think this one is Strophomena.

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4 hours ago, erose said:

Also, nice to see others using Theodolite. Just be careful not to post coordinates for sites that are private or otherwise should be guarded.

 

There are two common horn corals in the Cincinnatian. One is the large Grewengkia canadensis that you have many of. The other, and often overlooked, coral is Streptelasma divaricans. They are much smaller and always have an attachment scar. They also sometimes occur in sweet little clusters.  I've known folks to ignore them thinking they were just tiny Grewengkia.

Yes- I would not post coordinates for private land.

 

Thanks for all the info on my finds- I am not a true Ordovician collector, I just like collecting.

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3 hours ago, Mark Kmiecik said:

Popcorn's almost all gone now. I'm gonna hafta get some more. Again, thank you for the most enjoyable post. Your trips are fun and informative. The photos are stunning. The sites you visit are amazing. Thank you.

Thanks Mark

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59 minutes ago, Peat Burns said:

I think this one is Strophomena.

Lol- that’s what I get for trying to ID this stuff, I should just post the pics and say “Look what I found” and if it something interesting, someone would tell me.

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