Carboniferous Plants and Trace Fossils

[Rockin' Ric]

Hello all! It's been very busy the past several months but managed to get out and do some fossil hunting several weeks ago. Found quite a few trace and plant specimens but not the spectacular "fern fossil" or "trace slab" with several different tracks on it that I envisioned finding at these sites. It's just a matter of time? With the weather and the rain we'd been getting lately it won't be long until the weeds and Kudzu take over one the sites and will be much more difficult to hunt. Until then we will gather as much as we can, when we can.  

 

Pic #1-3- 2D Calamite impressions...the first picture looks like stitching, if you look closely you will see a node.

Pic #3- has a fern rachis highlighted with coal film

Pic #4- Almost 3D Calamite cast

Pic #5- Lepidostrobus cones

Pic #6, #7 and 11- Nueropteris fern frond

Pic #8, #9- Mariopteris fern fronds

Pic #10- Lyginopteris fern frond with Nueropteris leaflet

Pic #12-15- Trace Fossils, makers unknown...probably some type of arthropod?

 

[Mark Kmiecik]

Nice finds. I love plants! Thanks for the tour.

[Wrangellian]

I always like seeing your Carboniferous stuff. Looks like you've got a few different kinds of trace there - more interesting than anything I find. Around here it's the usual mud burrows (vertical and horizontal).

[Khyssa]

Nice!

[MeargleSchmeargl]

I wouldn't know for sure, but I wouldn't be surprised If one or more of those trackways were arthropod in origin.