Jeffrey P Posted July 19, 2019 Share Posted July 19, 2019 Monday was an extremely nice one weather wise. I took advantage and visited a small private quarry near Morrisville in Central New York. I've been to this site several times in the past, but the last trip was roughly a year ago. The quarry exposes the Mottville Member of the Middle Devonian Oatkacreek Formation. It is part of the Marcellus Shale which represents the bottom of the Hamilton Group. In terms of fauna it has similarities with the nearby Deep Springs Road and Briggs Road quarry sites which are younger in age. There are also notable differences. 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffrey P Posted July 19, 2019 Author Share Posted July 19, 2019 A lot of fossils can be picked up surface collecting here. The preponderance of the gastropod, Bembexia sulcomarginata and the brachiopod, Spinocyrtia granulosa masks the diversity of species that are present here. Here are a few Bembexia I picked up, adding to what is already a very large collection from the site. Digging, I also found a small pocket of the tiny gastropod, Palaeozygopleura hamiltoniae. And these are couple nautiloid pieces I found-Michelinoceras: 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffrey P Posted July 19, 2019 Author Share Posted July 19, 2019 Brachiopods are a notable, if not a predominate feature of most marine Middle Devonian sites. Morrisville is no exception. From the upper left corner (clockwise) Spinocyrtia granulosa, Mucrospirifer mucronatus- found loose lying on the ground, Ambocoelia umbonata, and lastly Protoptostrophia perlplana a Strophomenid. The other three are Spiriferids. Probably my over all best find of the day was this Acrotretid inarticulate brachiopod, Orbiculoidea found on the shell of a Spinocyrtina. I also found this Spinocytina exposing the interior of the shell, including the muscle scar. 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffrey P Posted July 19, 2019 Author Share Posted July 19, 2019 A variety of bivalves are another big feature of this location including some that are not found in other formations or sites. Clockwise from the top: Nuculites oblongatus, Paleoneilo filosa, and Goniophora hamiltonensis.The first two are Paleotaxadont bivalves. Goniophora is a Palaeoheterodont. For me, one of the prizes of this site is the Pteriomorph bivalve, Gosselettia triqueter which is only found in the Marcellus Shale and I've only seen at two sites, both near Morrisville, including this one. 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffrey P Posted July 19, 2019 Author Share Posted July 19, 2019 Here's a couple more photos of a complete specimen. These are usually found as single valves or broken. Complete ones are very uncommon. I didn't find any conularids or complete crinoids today which are the rarest finds from this site, but still found some decent stuff to add to my collection. That's why I keep returning. 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted July 19, 2019 Share Posted July 19, 2019 Glad you were able to get out there, Jeff. Great finds and report. Thanks for showing us. Tim - VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER VFOTM --- APRIL - 2015 __________________________________________________ "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." John Muir ~ ~ ~ ~ ><))))( *> About Me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bguild Posted July 19, 2019 Share Posted July 19, 2019 Nice haul! Those Gastropods are sweet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I_gotta_rock Posted July 19, 2019 Share Posted July 19, 2019 Vey nice! I was out there the other week and haven't begun IDs yet. This will be helpful when I do. I refuse to give up my childish wonder at the world. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pagurus Posted July 19, 2019 Share Posted July 19, 2019 I'm glad you took advantage of the good weather, Jeff, and got to play in the dirt. As always, thanks for showing us your finds and sharing your knowledge of the site and the wonderful invertebrates you identified for us. I appreciate it. Start the day with a smile and get it over with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FossilDAWG Posted July 19, 2019 Share Posted July 19, 2019 Very nice preservation of those bivalves! Also the gastropods! Don Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monica Posted July 19, 2019 Share Posted July 19, 2019 I, too, love the gastropods Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darktooth Posted July 19, 2019 Share Posted July 19, 2019 As always, great finds Jeff! I like Trilo-butts and I cannot lie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Tahan Posted July 19, 2019 Share Posted July 19, 2019 This is really cool Jeff!! Love the Spinocyrtia those have to be one of my favorite brachs. Thanks for sharing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FossilNerd Posted July 20, 2019 Share Posted July 20, 2019 Very cool Jeff! Thanks for sharing. I love finds that have those little extras. Like the muscle scar. 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) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Kmiecik Posted July 20, 2019 Share Posted July 20, 2019 Nice finds. Good diversity at that location. 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...
Jeffrey P Posted July 21, 2019 Author Share Posted July 21, 2019 On 7/19/2019 at 9:39 AM, Fossildude19 said: Glad you were able to get out there, Jeff. Great finds and report. Thanks for showing us. Thanks Tim. We'll have to get back there together someday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffrey P Posted July 21, 2019 Author Share Posted July 21, 2019 On 7/19/2019 at 9:40 AM, Bguild said: Nice haul! Those Gastropods are sweet. Thanks. Bembexia are super abundant there and nice ones can be picked up off the ground. Palaeozyglopleura take a bit more searching. My best specimens of both species are from this site. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffrey P Posted July 21, 2019 Author Share Posted July 21, 2019 On 7/19/2019 at 9:42 AM, I_gotta_rock said: Vey nice! I was out there the other week and haven't begun IDs yet. This will be helpful when I do. Thanks. Love to see what you found. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffrey P Posted July 21, 2019 Author Share Posted July 21, 2019 On 7/19/2019 at 10:48 AM, Pagurus said: I'm glad you took advantage of the good weather, Jeff, and got to play in the dirt. As always, thanks for showing us your finds and sharing your knowledge of the site and the wonderful invertebrates you identified for us. I appreciate it. You're welcome Mike. Till the next time we collect together. Hopefully soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffrey P Posted July 21, 2019 Author Share Posted July 21, 2019 On 7/19/2019 at 10:57 AM, FossilDAWG said: Very nice preservation of those bivalves! Also the gastropods! Don Thanks Don. Glad to see there are others that are bivalve and gastropod fans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffrey P Posted July 21, 2019 Author Share Posted July 21, 2019 On 7/19/2019 at 12:28 PM, Monica said: I, too, love the gastropods Glad you appreciate those. This is my favorite site for those two particular species. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffrey P Posted July 21, 2019 Author Share Posted July 21, 2019 On 7/19/2019 at 4:19 PM, Darktooth said: As always, great finds Jeff! Thanks Dave. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffrey P Posted July 21, 2019 Author Share Posted July 21, 2019 On 7/19/2019 at 5:22 PM, Al Tahan said: This is really cool Jeff!! Love the Spinocyrtia those have to be one of my favorite brachs. Thanks for sharing! Thanks Al. Most of my best Spinos came from this site. They are extremely plentiful there and you find a lot of well preserved individuals just lying out in the open. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffrey P Posted July 21, 2019 Author Share Posted July 21, 2019 On 7/19/2019 at 8:38 PM, FossilNerd said: Very cool Jeff! Thanks for sharing. I love finds that have those little extras. Like the muscle scar. Thanks. Finding the interior of a Spinocyrtia shell was actually a first for me. It was very cool to add that to my already large collection of this species. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I_gotta_rock Posted July 25, 2019 Share Posted July 25, 2019 @Jeffrey P, Just posted my own finds from Hubbardsville. See if you recognize any of my mysteries? I refuse to give up my childish wonder at the world. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now