Nimravis Posted October 27, 2019 Share Posted October 27, 2019 It was a beautiful 53 degree day today and I decided to take a 155 mile round trip to Oregon, Illinois. The purpose of the trip was to collect a road cut that exposes the Middle Ordovician, Platteville Group / Miffin member fossils. @connorp was nice enough to give me the location to this 1/2 mile collection site in Ogle County. I had fun checking out this area, but it will probably be my own time visiting this site and not for any particular reason. There is plenty places to park along the road, but this area can be tricky for people who are not sure-footed and children, as the scree on the hillside can move easily, there is also a deep drainage hole located towards the middle of the collecting area and some of the cliff face is unstable. SCREE- Drainage Hole- Unstable Walls- Here are some other pictures of the area. Fossils to follow in next post- 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nimravis Posted October 27, 2019 Author Share Posted October 27, 2019 This first piece I cannot figure out what it is, it is probably something simple, but I can't put my finger on it. This was the first thing that I found. @Peat Burns ? There were a number of straight cephalopods, most were just molds, but a couple were not. There were also a lot of gastropod molds to be found. Hash plates were also present- I believe some of these had Ostracods. More to Follow- 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nimravis Posted October 27, 2019 Author Share Posted October 27, 2019 Bi-Valves were also found at this site- My favorite hash plate was a big, heavy piece that has a lot going on with it, I took close up pics of the piece in the field and some more when I got home. Some more of this piece- What a great piece of seafloor. That's it for this post- hope you enjoyed it. 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
connorp Posted October 27, 2019 Share Posted October 27, 2019 Looks like a fun time! Are those Archimedes or crinoid stems on the big hash plate? I haven't been able to check this site out yet, but I probably will over Thanksgiving. Thanks for the trip report. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nimravis Posted October 27, 2019 Author Share Posted October 27, 2019 32 minutes ago, connorp said: Looks like a fun time! Are those Archimedes or crinoid stems on the big hash plate? Crinoid stems- Thanks again and yes check it out, you might find more things if the vegetation starts dying. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deutscheben Posted October 28, 2019 Share Posted October 28, 2019 Interesting! That last one really is fascinating, is that a trilobite pygidium? There is just so much diversity preserved on that plate. The cephalopods you found are nice too. Thanks for the report! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deutscheben Posted October 28, 2019 Share Posted October 28, 2019 I also wanted to add, I used to go to Boy Scout camp near Oregon, and I remember bluffs in the camp. I wasn't interested in paleontology then, so I don't remember ever noticing fossils, though, unfortunately! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
connorp Posted October 28, 2019 Share Posted October 28, 2019 12 minutes ago, deutscheben said: I also wanted to add, I used to go to Boy Scout camp near Oregon, and I remember bluffs in the camp. I wasn't interested in paleontology then, so I don't remember ever noticing fossils, though, unfortunately! From what I’ve read there’s a lot of road and river cuts along IL 2 running from Dixon to Rockford, and in several surrounding areas. I’ve found quite a few but in a lot of cases there is no where to pull off to park. The one posted here is certainly the biggest I’ve found, with plenty of parking space. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peat Burns Posted October 28, 2019 Share Posted October 28, 2019 3 hours ago, Nimravis said: This first piece I cannot figure out what it is, it is probably something simple, but I can't put my finger on it. This was the first thing that I found. @Peat Burns ? Not a clue, Ralph. At least not from the photos. My first thought was crinoid. But then maybe it could be an orthoconic nautiloid with siphuncle exposed. Is it coiled? Hopefully someone else will chime in. Perhaps @minnbuckeye. I think he collects a lot of the Platteville? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nimravis Posted October 28, 2019 Author Share Posted October 28, 2019 38 minutes ago, deutscheben said: Interesting! That last one really is fascinating, is that a trilobite pygidium? I don’t think that it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nimravis Posted October 28, 2019 Author Share Posted October 28, 2019 Just now, Peat Burns said: Not a clue, Ralph. At least not from the photos. My first thought was crinoid. But then maybe it could be an orthoconic nautiloid with siphuncle exposed. Is it coiled? Hopefully someone else will chime in. Perhaps @minnbuckeye. I think he collects a lot of the Platteville? I was thinking Crinoid when I first say it, but then changed my mind and no it is not coiled. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nimravis Posted October 28, 2019 Author Share Posted October 28, 2019 22 minutes ago, connorp said: From what I’ve read there’s a lot of road and river cuts along IL 2 running from Dixon to Rockford, and in several surrounding areas. I’ve found quite a few but in a lot of cases there is no where to pull off to park. The one posted here is certainly the biggest I’ve found, with plenty of parking space. I have never checked, maybe Google maps street view will show areas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deutscheben Posted October 28, 2019 Share Posted October 28, 2019 Quote Some more of this piece- What a great piece of seafloor. That's it for this post- hope you enjoyed it. I realized I was a little unclear- I was referencing the bottom most piece, to the right of the cube, in this shot of your last hash plate- that really looks like trilobite to me. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grandpa Posted October 28, 2019 Share Posted October 28, 2019 I'm interested in the apparent bite indentions in the "derbia-like" brachs. Any idea what was "eating on" these brachs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nimravis Posted October 28, 2019 Author Share Posted October 28, 2019 1 hour ago, grandpa said: I'm interested in the apparent bite indentions in the "derbia-like" brachs. Any idea what was "eating on" these brachs? No clue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tidgy's Dad Posted October 28, 2019 Share Posted October 28, 2019 Nice report and photos. The first item is very interesting. Not a clue what it is, though. Love the ostracods and especially the hash plate. 1 Life's Good! Tortoise Friend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJB Posted October 28, 2019 Share Posted October 28, 2019 Im not really into the Ordovician stuff but the hash plate is really cool. The unknown thing is a miniature beat up ole tire? RB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sixgill pete Posted October 28, 2019 Share Posted October 28, 2019 Looks like a great trip Ralph. Beautiful place too. Bulldozers and dirt Bulldozers and dirt behind the trailer, my desert Them red clay piles are heaven on earth I get my rocks off, bulldozers and dirt Patterson Hood; Drive-By Truckers May 2016 May 2012 Aug 2013, May 2016, Apr 2020 Oct 2022 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nimravis Posted October 28, 2019 Author Share Posted October 28, 2019 2 hours ago, RJB said: Im not really into the Ordovician stuff but the hash plate is really cool. The unknown thing is a miniature beat up ole tire? RB I do love that hash plate, it looks like it has been sitting outside for a very long time. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nimravis Posted October 28, 2019 Author Share Posted October 28, 2019 1 hour ago, sixgill pete said: Looks like a great trip Ralph. Beautiful place too. Thanks Don it was very pretty and the hawks were out making all kinds of noise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nala Posted October 28, 2019 Share Posted October 28, 2019 STunning hash plates! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Praefectus Posted October 28, 2019 Share Posted October 28, 2019 Pretty fossils. That seafloor piece is great. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Kmiecik Posted October 28, 2019 Share Posted October 28, 2019 The first specimen is quite intriguing. I've been looking at it and coming up blank. By the way, thanks for the trip report. It is appreciated, as always. 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...
FossilNerd Posted October 28, 2019 Share Posted October 28, 2019 Great report! I see why you like the hash plate so much. It’s a beauty! I hope you came away with all your tools this time. 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...
Al Tahan Posted October 28, 2019 Share Posted October 28, 2019 Those crinoids are .....killer find 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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