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Maastrichtian fieldtrip in Belgium


Manticocerasman

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Today @Natalie81 and I went on a field trip with our geology club to the quarry of Eben-Emael In Belgium. 

We were over 50 participants today an I had the oportunity to meet aan other TFF member @ziggycardon

 

This location is not far from the stratotype in Maastricht in the Netherlands and a multitude of fossils can be found in the marls and chalks.

We had a slow start, but after searching through scree piles I found a small and a big sea urchin, and later on a few belemnites.

Natalie hadn't got much luck at the start of the prospection, but she did eventually find the find of the day: a fragment of a turtle shell ( Allopleuron hofmanni ) with a few verts in association.

 

We did have a great day and Ziggycardon had also his bag full of fossils and a great first fossil fieldtrip.

 

 

the quarry:

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Maastrichtian marl ( formation of Emael )

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Ziggy in action :)

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Natalie's turtle fragment:

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Home with the finds:

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A quick cleanup of the big sea urchin:

Hemipneustes stratoradiatus

 

IMG_6236.thumb.JPG.a3f0d2fb51b7fa6d04a3babe5a94c7a4.JPG

 

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growing old is mandatory but growing up is optional.

 

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What an awesome pieces. That urchin is beautiful. Looking forward to seeing that turtle prepped.

Now it hurts even more that I had to miss this one:envy:

How was the weather? As bad as they predicted? On the pictures it seems like the typical Belgian weather.

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3 minutes ago, gigantoraptor said:

What an awesome pieces. That urchin is beautiful. Looking forward to seeing that turtle prepped.

Now it hurts even more that I had to miss this one:envy:

How was the weather? As bad as they predicted? On the pictures it seems like the typical Belgian weather.

Thx, to bad you had to miss this one :(

the weather was decent, no rain and cloudy. 

 

Are you coming to the next fieldtrip in September to Lompret?

growing old is mandatory but growing up is optional.

 

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It was absolutely an amazing trip and a great first start to fossil hunting! 
Thank you for showing me and my girlfriend around and giving me tips as well as some of your amazing finds, I am really happy with them! :D 
After we returned home we started prepping out some of the pieces, I will post some pictures of them here tomorrow.
 

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Interested in all things paleontology, geology, zoology, evolution, natural history and science!
Professional exotic pet keeper, huge fantasy geek, explorer of the microfossil realm, member of the BVP (Belgian Association for Paleontology), Volunteer prepper at Oertijdmuseum Boxtel.  

View my collection topic here:

The Growing Collection of Ziggycardon
My animal collection at the "Members pet" topic

Ziggycardon's exploration of the microfossil realm

Trips to Eben Emael (Maastrichtian of Belgium)

My latest fossil hunt

 

Next project will be a dedicated prepping space.

 

"A mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge." - Tyrion Lannister

 

5d68d9f3c550a_153657011360380104(21).jpg.bda3d3b7ae7b8321dd0620a0c61cc459.jpg5d68da1b497f5_153657011360380104(20).jpg.8610ffc65ccaa5d057e7b52b65989cd0.jpg5d68da353dd03_153657011360380104(24).jpg.ae73afaefa6ab34e7af5f6131aed96ff.jpgsolnhofen.jpg.76dd03ba7eb39946850662021b7d8dd4.jpg166802558255587143.jpg.c38d91e9e45f17addf29c40166b797a2.jpg5d68da49ad887_153657011360380104(25).jpg.dfff987039b3c99f41e44da51f71ae91.jpg

 

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Looks like a great time with friends and great finds! I love the sea urchin! Glad to see @ziggycardon finally got those new tools dirty! ;) 

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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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update on the turtle:

 

we found an other piece of bone nearby, it fitson the rest of the fossil :)

we got it out of the matrix and glued it back in place, it looks a lot better now :)

 

next step will be the verts 

 

IMG_6241.thumb.JPG.e7e5f68189c432fc1df585aa2417cbeb.JPGIMG_6243.thumb.JPG.77ed24f92faf71f6cecc049baba4482c.JPGIMG_6248.thumb.JPG.e96d604ca115441b7cf72fb5cc82f3ea.JPGIMG_6250.thumb.JPG.f825f54c1e0dd287a457164c947b9c29.JPG

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growing old is mandatory but growing up is optional.

 

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Wonderful finds, Kevin and Natalie!!!  That urchin is beautiful, and that turtle bone looks awesome so far!  Congrats!

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Thanks for the report and pics! Congratulations on your finds!

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I like Trilo-butts and I cannot lie.

 

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7 hours ago, Manticocerasman said:

update on the turtle:

 

we found an other piece of bone nearby, it fitson the rest of the fossil :)

we got it out of the matrix and glued it back in place, it looks a lot better now :)

 

next step will be the verts 

 

IMG_6241.thumb.JPG.e7e5f68189c432fc1df585aa2417cbeb.JPGIMG_6243.thumb.JPG.77ed24f92faf71f6cecc049baba4482c.JPGIMG_6248.thumb.JPG.e96d604ca115441b7cf72fb5cc82f3ea.JPGIMG_6250.thumb.JPG.f825f54c1e0dd287a457164c947b9c29.JPG

The bone is starting to look very good! That was definiatly the find of the day! :D 

 

Here are some of the photo's I made during the trip.

5d5989547fce1_156614603126631162(21).jpg.db6dab5cab9cfdcd7f4e79c3a5ddaa5c.jpg5d598952698f5_156614603126631162(20).jpg.fb9ccc346193d37537f06879f935c929.jpg

 

My favorite find from the trip, a shark tooth, possibly Cretalamna according to some fellow hunters :) 

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The loot we brought back from our first trip (most of it, some of in was already laying indoors) which was quite a lot. 

5d5989568850e_156614603126631162(22).jpg.7fcdf19187994b6944acfadedd6db285.jpg

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5d59895aa7bbd_156614603126631162(24).jpg.e066a63b49385343a8905e00c03ed3e3.jpg

 

The trip ended at 13u30 and since I live only 20 minutes away from the quarry, I was home quite early and me & my girlfriend started sorting, cleaning and prepping some of the pieces.

5d59895c9ec21_156614603126631162(25).jpg.d1fcd7a7cd754c1e8335d3192a56c0e2.jpg

5d59895e9fd9e_156614603126631162(26).jpg.c560dc1a37d0f010714f5ce68d81e732.jpg

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Interested in all things paleontology, geology, zoology, evolution, natural history and science!
Professional exotic pet keeper, huge fantasy geek, explorer of the microfossil realm, member of the BVP (Belgian Association for Paleontology), Volunteer prepper at Oertijdmuseum Boxtel.  

View my collection topic here:

The Growing Collection of Ziggycardon
My animal collection at the "Members pet" topic

Ziggycardon's exploration of the microfossil realm

Trips to Eben Emael (Maastrichtian of Belgium)

My latest fossil hunt

 

Next project will be a dedicated prepping space.

 

"A mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge." - Tyrion Lannister

 

5d68d9f3c550a_153657011360380104(21).jpg.bda3d3b7ae7b8321dd0620a0c61cc459.jpg5d68da1b497f5_153657011360380104(20).jpg.8610ffc65ccaa5d057e7b52b65989cd0.jpg5d68da353dd03_153657011360380104(24).jpg.ae73afaefa6ab34e7af5f6131aed96ff.jpgsolnhofen.jpg.76dd03ba7eb39946850662021b7d8dd4.jpg166802558255587143.jpg.c38d91e9e45f17addf29c40166b797a2.jpg5d68da49ad887_153657011360380104(25).jpg.dfff987039b3c99f41e44da51f71ae91.jpg

 

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Here are most of the finds after cleaning and prepping.

5d598ca0bd062_156614603126631162(27).jpg.e71616ea5f7daa4c8368c2075a5d76fc.jpg

 

Here are some of the finds.

 

A very nice Brachiopod, possibly Trigonosemus pectiniformis

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5d598bbe3d3cb_156614603126631162(1).jpg.277d9eaaafef0e35e7f4318123f4b90d.jpg

 

The first fossil I found on the trip (which is the first ever fossil I found), some kind of oyster I think

5d598bbfee1ae_156614603126631162(2).jpg.b990acbf92e31850ce02d2d987ca18e2.jpg

5d598bc4dddda_156614603126631162(4).jpg.54979214939ee36eb96375d84be465c8.jpg

 

multiple Scaphopoda fossils

5d598bc297fae_156614603126631162(3).jpg.f20c812435ee698dfbdf67aa3dee8bf7.jpg

 

Some more oysters, Acutostrea?

5d598bc793a32_156614603126631162(5).jpg.527bfb792de1f5030c552648dfb7ab89.jpg

5d598bcdd07b5_156614603126631162(10).jpg.ab2a00f1af6b4cf128dabd667753f6dc.jpg

 

Another oyster

5d598bcbe2082_156614603126631162(7).jpg.2e3f2c72673f8ec0eea13c2bc75e4499.jpg

 

And this huge beauty that was given to me by one of the excursion leaders! 
A species of oyster, although I have unfortunately forgotten the name of the species.

5d598bc9c9a4c_156614603126631162(6).jpg.f890c1ff7645461717e32c01f8823925.jpg

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Interested in all things paleontology, geology, zoology, evolution, natural history and science!
Professional exotic pet keeper, huge fantasy geek, explorer of the microfossil realm, member of the BVP (Belgian Association for Paleontology), Volunteer prepper at Oertijdmuseum Boxtel.  

View my collection topic here:

The Growing Collection of Ziggycardon
My animal collection at the "Members pet" topic

Ziggycardon's exploration of the microfossil realm

Trips to Eben Emael (Maastrichtian of Belgium)

My latest fossil hunt

 

Next project will be a dedicated prepping space.

 

"A mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge." - Tyrion Lannister

 

5d68d9f3c550a_153657011360380104(21).jpg.bda3d3b7ae7b8321dd0620a0c61cc459.jpg5d68da1b497f5_153657011360380104(20).jpg.8610ffc65ccaa5d057e7b52b65989cd0.jpg5d68da353dd03_153657011360380104(24).jpg.ae73afaefa6ab34e7af5f6131aed96ff.jpgsolnhofen.jpg.76dd03ba7eb39946850662021b7d8dd4.jpg166802558255587143.jpg.c38d91e9e45f17addf29c40166b797a2.jpg5d68da49ad887_153657011360380104(25).jpg.dfff987039b3c99f41e44da51f71ae91.jpg

 

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Another very pretty oyster

5d59937672bb6_156614603126631162(13).jpg.37c2f876efaf1ebc0e0b000cd12aba6f.jpg

 

Some very nice oysters that were gifted to my by @Natalie81

5d5993812b49b_156614603126631162(17).jpg.c02f91dbcd812156c3dab8fc89d02fd4.jpg

 

Neithea regularis

5d5993741bb69_156614603126631162(12).jpg.da12d038de9557c7bc66d3c5d1ad0b5f.jpg

 

One of my favorite pieces of the trip, a very pretty crab claw which was gifted to me by @Manticocerasman

It was quite concealed at first but turned out extremely pretty after prep.

5d59936b8d1e3_156614603126631162(8).jpg.e9262c4074627d3f28286a70b9eaff98.jpg

 

More crab claws we found

5d59936eb2b84_156614603126631162(9).jpg.f6ea734330e608826b7bb98a20687375.jpg

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A nice flintstone pipe

5d599370c7d98_156614603126631162(11).jpg.7a99cf3eb70d097bbf899efa76596b74.jpg

 

Two belemnites which were also gifted to me by @Manticocerasman as I unfortunately didn't find any belemnites during the trip.

5d5993798235a_156614603126631162(14).jpg.e054f7760bc1f161d3b99ecfe3fecacf.jpg

 

A very nice Hemipneustes striatoradiatus which I also got from @Manticocerasman

5d5994429cf91_156614603126631162(29).jpg.da0e414093f0eccc171e43234894a5f3.jpg

 

And another urchin, the one I am currently prepping out, although some pieces are quite fragile. So I am reinforcing it with some paraloid to keep the cracks together. 
I might not remove it entirely from the rock as it might be a bit to fragile. 

5d599444378f7_156614603126631162(30).jpg.10d78e050722e8cc4145a01be40e1cfa.jpg

 

And last but not least, my favorite find, my shark tooth which probably belongs to Cretalamna

5d5993841aba9_156614603126631162(18).jpg.bd535fcd9003fac11bb29e2d93aa58a1.jpg

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Interested in all things paleontology, geology, zoology, evolution, natural history and science!
Professional exotic pet keeper, huge fantasy geek, explorer of the microfossil realm, member of the BVP (Belgian Association for Paleontology), Volunteer prepper at Oertijdmuseum Boxtel.  

View my collection topic here:

The Growing Collection of Ziggycardon
My animal collection at the "Members pet" topic

Ziggycardon's exploration of the microfossil realm

Trips to Eben Emael (Maastrichtian of Belgium)

My latest fossil hunt

 

Next project will be a dedicated prepping space.

 

"A mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge." - Tyrion Lannister

 

5d68d9f3c550a_153657011360380104(21).jpg.bda3d3b7ae7b8321dd0620a0c61cc459.jpg5d68da1b497f5_153657011360380104(20).jpg.8610ffc65ccaa5d057e7b52b65989cd0.jpg5d68da353dd03_153657011360380104(24).jpg.ae73afaefa6ab34e7af5f6131aed96ff.jpgsolnhofen.jpg.76dd03ba7eb39946850662021b7d8dd4.jpg166802558255587143.jpg.c38d91e9e45f17addf29c40166b797a2.jpg5d68da49ad887_153657011360380104(25).jpg.dfff987039b3c99f41e44da51f71ae91.jpg

 

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Hey Ziggy,

 

The determination of the brachiopod is correct. The bivalves in pictures 3,4,6,7 and 8 are Acutostrea uncinella. 

The big bivalve is a Pteria approximata. 

I also see a Mesostylus faujasi in the first pic (lobster).

Very nice finds om your first trip. If you have finds that you couldn't id i will be happy to assist if i can.

 

Regards,

Arno

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59 minutes ago, ziggycardon said:

 

5d5993841aba9_156614603126631162(18).jpg.bd535fcd9003fac11bb29e2d93aa58a1.jpg

Not a cretalamna but a serratolamna 

Nice color by the way.

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30 minutes ago, Indagator said:

Hey Ziggy,

 

The determination of the brachiopod is correct. The bivalves in pictures 3,4,6,7 and 8 are Acutostrea uncinella. 

The big bivalve is a Pteria approximata. 

I also see a Mesostylus faujasi in the first pic (lobster).

Very nice finds om your first trip. If you have finds that you couldn't id i will be happy to assist if i can.

 

Regards,

Arno

Thank you for the ID on the bivalves, had a hard time finding matches for them in the databases. :) 
And thank you for the help, I am currently still sorting, so if anything pops up that I don't know I'll PM you with some photo's :) 

29 minutes ago, Indagator said:

Not a cretalamna but a serratolamna 

Nice color by the way.

Thank you for the correction! :) 

 

Interested in all things paleontology, geology, zoology, evolution, natural history and science!
Professional exotic pet keeper, huge fantasy geek, explorer of the microfossil realm, member of the BVP (Belgian Association for Paleontology), Volunteer prepper at Oertijdmuseum Boxtel.  

View my collection topic here:

The Growing Collection of Ziggycardon
My animal collection at the "Members pet" topic

Ziggycardon's exploration of the microfossil realm

Trips to Eben Emael (Maastrichtian of Belgium)

My latest fossil hunt

 

Next project will be a dedicated prepping space.

 

"A mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge." - Tyrion Lannister

 

5d68d9f3c550a_153657011360380104(21).jpg.bda3d3b7ae7b8321dd0620a0c61cc459.jpg5d68da1b497f5_153657011360380104(20).jpg.8610ffc65ccaa5d057e7b52b65989cd0.jpg5d68da353dd03_153657011360380104(24).jpg.ae73afaefa6ab34e7af5f6131aed96ff.jpgsolnhofen.jpg.76dd03ba7eb39946850662021b7d8dd4.jpg166802558255587143.jpg.c38d91e9e45f17addf29c40166b797a2.jpg5d68da49ad887_153657011360380104(25).jpg.dfff987039b3c99f41e44da51f71ae91.jpg

 

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Something new did pop up. 
It was one of the first stone we picked up and we weren't really sure whether it was something but we decided the bring it along.
And after some research and some prepping it turns out to be the trace fossil Lepidenteron lewesiensis.

 

As found

156615805477561070.jpg.4eb267f3238249358871260c7f59bfb3.jpg

 

After cleaning some limestone

5d59af70278ee_156615805477561070(1).jpg.d4aac9deea164ef88d66548989b6884d.jpg

5d59af71a081d_156615805477561070(2).jpg.9f32183eb68fedd027282b42ed8c7bb7.jpg

5d59af7393f09_156615805477561070(3).jpg.2fc3eac8a8b645a2881c029cbfa2feaf.jpg

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Interested in all things paleontology, geology, zoology, evolution, natural history and science!
Professional exotic pet keeper, huge fantasy geek, explorer of the microfossil realm, member of the BVP (Belgian Association for Paleontology), Volunteer prepper at Oertijdmuseum Boxtel.  

View my collection topic here:

The Growing Collection of Ziggycardon
My animal collection at the "Members pet" topic

Ziggycardon's exploration of the microfossil realm

Trips to Eben Emael (Maastrichtian of Belgium)

My latest fossil hunt

 

Next project will be a dedicated prepping space.

 

"A mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge." - Tyrion Lannister

 

5d68d9f3c550a_153657011360380104(21).jpg.bda3d3b7ae7b8321dd0620a0c61cc459.jpg5d68da1b497f5_153657011360380104(20).jpg.8610ffc65ccaa5d057e7b52b65989cd0.jpg5d68da353dd03_153657011360380104(24).jpg.ae73afaefa6ab34e7af5f6131aed96ff.jpgsolnhofen.jpg.76dd03ba7eb39946850662021b7d8dd4.jpg166802558255587143.jpg.c38d91e9e45f17addf29c40166b797a2.jpg5d68da49ad887_153657011360380104(25).jpg.dfff987039b3c99f41e44da51f71ae91.jpg

 

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update on the turtle :

 

the verts are starting to apear :)

 

IMG_6270.thumb.JPG.da5d58358100ddc968ceb5dc62c18394.JPGIMG_6269.JPG.06972e30979dd8d5d0ee85c27ca3e1de.JPG

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growing old is mandatory but growing up is optional.

 

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2 minutes ago, belemniten said:

This is a great find @Manticocerasman and @Natalie81! Congrats!

THx Sebastian :) the credits go to Natalie who found the turtle parts 

growing old is mandatory but growing up is optional.

 

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2 minutes ago, Manticocerasman said:

THx Sebastian :) the credits go to Natalie who found the turtle parts 

Are they very rare there? 

Many greetings from Germany ! Have a great time with many fossils :)

Regards Sebastian

Belo.gif

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5 minutes ago, belemniten said:

Are they very rare there? 

yes :P , finding some isolated unidentified bone fragments is already uncommon, but something like this is very rare it is a part of an Allopleuron hofmanni last peripherale of the shield with 3 verts in association.

 

 

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growing old is mandatory but growing up is optional.

 

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That turtle is wonderful! :default_faint:

 

And, Ziggy, I love all of your bivalves - they're gorgeous! :wub:

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