Naco Knockouts

[DPS Ammonite]

A few days ago I found a very productive fossil site in the Pennsylvanian Naco Formation in central Arizona. I went up to look at an interesting new track site in the Permian Coconino Sandstone NE of Payson that was found by a friend and is being studied by the prolific Spencer Lucas from New Mexico.  Link

 

The Naco Formation site that I just found,  has the most diversity of sponges of any Naco site to date. It also has lots of large brachiopods.

 

Photo 1 shows a 3.4881 × 10-18 light years (3.3 cm) long Composita subtilita brachiopod, the largest that I have seen.

 

 

Photo 2: impression of exterior of a brachial brachiopod valve with spines now shown as holes (probably Exhinaria semipunctata). Shell about 5 cm wide.

 

 

Photo 3: there were lots of Antiquatonia portlockiana brachiopods. This one is 5 cm across.

 

 

Photo 4: impression of the exterior of a  3 cm brachiopod brachial valve. Note molds of spines below.

 

 

Photo 5: this is the longest horn coral  that I have ever seen from the Naco. It is 18 cm long. I am guessing that it is a Caninia sp.

 

 

Photo 6: this is the largest “spiky ball sponge” that I ever have seen from the Naco.  1.7cm across. I only find them as singles in the rock or eroded out pieces that occur by the dozens in a small area. Literature hints that they might be sponges spicules. I am beginning to wonder if they are not an entire sponge or another creature altogether. I have yet to see a spicule that has crosspieces or ridges close to the center of the ball where the spikes attach. 

 

 

Photo 7: here is the pièce de résistance, a giant  10 cm Wewokella sponge that only a friend has found at another site and originally identified his as a coral. I said that his was a sponge. Wewokella have spicules with an average of 3 or 4 points unlike the Regispongia of similar appearance. Link

 

 

Detail of above sponge. Note spicule shape.

 

 

Photo 8: a 7 cm “dot sponge” of unknown affinity. They are somewhat common in the Naco.

 

 

Photo 9: a small 1.5 cm disk shaped sponge with straight radiating spines. It might be a Belemnospongia.

 

 

Photo 10: there are lots of flat chert masses that contain lots of straight sponges spines, probably from a single collapsed unidentified sponge.

 

 

[TqB]

Fantastic site, the sponges are superb and I've run out of superlatives for that Wewokella. 

[Wrangellian]

Nice specimens.

Is that a bryozpan on the 1st brachiopod?

[Monica]

So many sponges - wow!!!  Congrats!!!

[RJB]

  Quite the report I must say.   Some really good photos and very good explinations to go along.  

 

RB

[grandpa]

OK, so it's dinner time in Grandpa's house and I'm feeling quite hungry.  So when I saw the title my mind read "NACHO knockouts".  Anyway, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

 

All of the finds are just super.  I especially like the “spiky ball sponge”.  Even the color of this guy shouts "what a find!".

Congratulations on finding this site! 

What date would work best for you, for me to come visit you.  I'll open up my calendar.

 

Seriously, my friend, great job.