aprylshowers Posted July 29, 2019 Share Posted July 29, 2019 Hey! I need help identifying this... fossil? A friend of a friend found it while roof bolting in a coal mines in Southern Illinois. I am stumped and google has come up with nothing helpful. I'm hoping that someone here can help me figure out what this is. This is the only photo I have of it but will ask if he can get a few more with better lighting and stuff. He says it feels like bone but isn't sure. Would appreciate any help you can give! Thanks 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reese the Rockhound Posted July 29, 2019 Share Posted July 29, 2019 Those look somewhat like brachiopods, but I doubt they would end up in a coal swamp. It's possible that they are seed pods of some sort. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaleoNoel Posted July 29, 2019 Share Posted July 29, 2019 It looks like a group of crinoid stems to me but I'm not sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caldigger Posted July 29, 2019 Share Posted July 29, 2019 Perhaps a dentition from Orodus sp. ( shellfish eating - Carboniferous Period ) shark. 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Kmiecik Posted July 29, 2019 Share Posted July 29, 2019 Not crinoids. Not seed pods. They do look similar to Orodus teeth. 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...
Coco Posted July 29, 2019 Share Posted July 29, 2019 Hi, I agree with shark teeth, but with this alignment it looks like a jaw part. If that turns out to be it would be an incredible and rare fossil ! Coco 1 ---------------------- OUTIL POUR MESURER VOS FOSSILES : ici Ma bibliothèque PDF 1 (Poissons et sélaciens récents & fossiles) : ici Ma bibliothèque PDF 2 (Animaux vivants - sans poissons ni sélaciens) : ici Mâchoires sélaciennes récentes : ici Hétérodontiques et sélaciens : ici Oeufs sélaciens récents : ici Otolithes de poissons récents ! ici Un Greg... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TqB Posted July 29, 2019 Share Posted July 29, 2019 I agree with "shark" dentition - a stunning find! @Archie 1 Tarquin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor Mud Posted July 29, 2019 Share Posted July 29, 2019 Amazing find! Looking forward to seeing more pictures. even though this is from a coal mine this has the appearance of a shale, so possible to be marine. Associated shark teeth are very rare. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TqB Posted July 29, 2019 Share Posted July 29, 2019 44 minutes ago, Doctor Mud said: even though this is from a coal mine this has the appearance of a shale, so possible to be marine. Associated shark teeth are very rare. I agree, shale roof beds in coal mines are often marine and a good place to look for fish. Coal Measures cyclothem from here: https://www.huddersfieldgeology.org.uk/local-geology/environments-of-deposition/ 4 Tarquin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted July 29, 2019 Share Posted July 29, 2019 This could be a scientifically important find. Contacting a local museum might be a good idea. 4 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...
RJB Posted July 29, 2019 Share Posted July 29, 2019 Never seen anything like this before. Very very interesting! RB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elasmohunter Posted July 29, 2019 Share Posted July 29, 2019 @aprylshowers, I am utterly stunned at this find. It's absolutely incredible, and incredibly beautiful. This is a section of a chondrichthyan jaw, and it is therefore very probably scientifically important. Like the others, I would guess that it's Orodus sp. The taxonomy in this genus is rather frustrating due to missing type species and a lot of taxonomic revision, so it can be difficult to differentiate to species. Teeth from several other genera may resemble this species, however, so it's not a certain ID. For your viewing pleasure, I have attached to the bottom of this post a picture of a chondrichthyan jaw from St. John & Worthen's 1875 publication. This particular jaw is assigned to the genus Agassizodus, but I'm not sure whether this genus is still considered valid today or not. If you are interested in giving this specimen the scientific scrutiny it deserves, I would be happy to assist you or recommend someone to do so. I'm a graduate student in paleoichthyology, and I have access to the necessary resources to do so. Thank you for sharing this on the forum! It's a great way to start the week. 15 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caldigger Posted July 29, 2019 Share Posted July 29, 2019 If I were you, I would definately jump on this chance to have the piece scientifically studied. As you can see these things dont get found very often at all and the scientific community would benefit greatly if it was forwarded for study. Please consider having your friend do this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdp Posted July 29, 2019 Share Posted July 29, 2019 2 hours ago, Elasmohunter said: @aprylshowers, I am utterly stunned at this find. It's absolutely incredible, and incredibly beautiful. This is a section of a chondrichthyan jaw, and it is therefore very probably scientifically important. Like the others, I would guess that it's Orodus sp. The taxonomy in this genus is rather frustrating due to missing type species and a lot of taxonomic revision, so it can be difficult to differentiate to species. Teeth from several other genera may resemble this species, however, so it's not a certain ID. For your viewing pleasure, I have attached to the bottom of this post a picture of a chondrichthyan jaw from St. John & Worthen's 1875 publication. This particular jaw is assigned to the genus Agassizodus, but I'm not sure whether this genus is still considered valid today or not. If you are interested in giving this specimen the scientific scrutiny it deserves, I would be happy to assist you or recommend someone to do so. I'm a graduate student in paleoichthyology, and I have access to the necessary resources to do so. Thank you for sharing this on the forum! It's a great way to start the week. Yep. This is a eugeneodont holocephalan (chimaera) for certain. Orodus has more bulbous teeth and the tooth rows are organized a little differently. I'll concur that this should end up in a research collection. The FMNH is the obvious place. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erose Posted July 29, 2019 Share Posted July 29, 2019 Agreed. This is a significant find. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sberebit Posted July 29, 2019 Share Posted July 29, 2019 11 hours ago, PaleoNoel said: It looks like a group of crinoid stems to me but I'm not sure. I was with you, but I believe we have been outvoted Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carl Posted July 29, 2019 Share Posted July 29, 2019 WOW! A rocking good find!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalmayshun Posted July 29, 2019 Share Posted July 29, 2019 Another example of rarity and the amateur community.... why the fossil forum is so important. Absolute congratulations. WOW 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Kmiecik Posted July 29, 2019 Share Posted July 29, 2019 It does look different than the Orodus examples I have found online; it may be a new species. If so, they are sometimes named after the person who finds it -- hint, hint! It would be prudent to get it to a museum or university where it can be studied and described. 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...
Peat Burns Posted July 29, 2019 Share Posted July 29, 2019 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coco Posted July 29, 2019 Share Posted July 29, 2019 FOTM ! Coco ---------------------- OUTIL POUR MESURER VOS FOSSILES : ici Ma bibliothèque PDF 1 (Poissons et sélaciens récents & fossiles) : ici Ma bibliothèque PDF 2 (Animaux vivants - sans poissons ni sélaciens) : ici Mâchoires sélaciennes récentes : ici Hétérodontiques et sélaciens : ici Oeufs sélaciens récents : ici Otolithes de poissons récents ! ici Un Greg... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Kmiecik Posted July 30, 2019 Share Posted July 30, 2019 23 hours ago, Coco said: FOTM ! Coco The forum member who posted it must get the friend of her friend who found it to join the forum for that to happen. @aprylshowers are you there? This is a scientifically significant find. 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...
aprylshowers Posted July 30, 2019 Author Share Posted July 30, 2019 Thank you so much for all your responses! I will definitely suggest to him to join! Very exciting! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coco Posted July 30, 2019 Share Posted July 30, 2019 Hi, 2 hours ago, Mark Kmiecik said: The forum member who posted it must get the friend of her friend who found it to join the forum for that to happen. @aprylshowers are you there? This is a scientifically significant find. Right ! Coco ---------------------- OUTIL POUR MESURER VOS FOSSILES : ici Ma bibliothèque PDF 1 (Poissons et sélaciens récents & fossiles) : ici Ma bibliothèque PDF 2 (Animaux vivants - sans poissons ni sélaciens) : ici Mâchoires sélaciennes récentes : ici Hétérodontiques et sélaciens : ici Oeufs sélaciens récents : ici Otolithes de poissons récents ! ici Un Greg... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Kmiecik Posted July 30, 2019 Share Posted July 30, 2019 1 minute ago, Coco said: Hi, Right ! Coco Probably would qualify for fossil of the year! 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...
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