Echies and Ammonites of Texas (Georgetown Formation)

[JamieLynn]

I made a "concentrated" study of the Georgetown formation -about an hour north of me (I usually hunt in the Glen Rose and Walnut of Texas) so it was fun to hit up four spots to see what different species I could find. I was happy to gather a good variety of specimens, including a couple of "best" specimens of common Texas finds - a lovely BIG Neithia scallop with both the top and bottom valve intact, a nice Ostrea carinata and lots of well preserved turritells, including the tiniest I've ever found. But the fun stuff is the Echinoids and the Ammonites!  For the Echinoids: I FINALLY found a Salenia Mexicana (that didn't crumble in my hands like the LAST one I found) even if it is a bit water worn. I'm still happy with it. Plus an excellently preserved Heteraster obliquatus and a nice Phymosoma which is still encased in a bit of matrix, but that's okay. But my find of the day was the Tetragramma taffi (i'm pretty sure on that ID, let me know if I"m wrong!) Even thought it's quite squished and has a lot of matrix, it's still my first one, so I"m stoked!! 

 

The "other" fossils:

 

A pyrite shell, not great, but cool because it's pyrite 

 

The Echinoids! 

Phymosoma

 

Salenia mexicana: 

 

Tetragramma taffi 

 

a nice Heteraster: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[JamieLynn]

And then the Ammonites!  Found a nice variety of ammonites - some whole small ones, and some nice BIG chunks. It's always a treat to find ammonites in any form for me, I take all of them home! 

 

99% positive the first four are Mortoniceras...quite common in Texas as far as ammonites go: 

My first find was this little one:

Then a slightly bigger one

: 

 

Then an even bigger one: 

 

But I sure wish I had ALL of this BIG one! 

 

I found one chunk of Oxytropidoceras. Would have loved to found more. They are my favorite.

 

And lastly, I was happy to stumble upon a mostly complete if very water worn Engonocieras: 

 

So all in all...a good hunt in the Georgetown Formation of Texas! 

 

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Nice finds indeed. 

You had a good say out.

[facehugger]

Great stuff. Makes me wanna check some road cuts this weekend...

[JamieLynn]

32 minutes ago, Tidgy's Dad said:

Nice finds indeed. 

You had a good say out.

 

I did indeed! And it was beautiful too! Finding fossils is great, but just being outdoors is the best part. Naah...finding the fossils is the best part. hahahah Who am I kidding. 

[Darktooth]

Nice finds! Congratulations on a good hunt!

[JohnJ]

Jamie, it looks like you scored from two or three different formations.  Your echinoids and the last two ammonites are from the Walnut and Comanche Peak formations. 

 

Looks like a fun hunt!

[JamieLynn]

ooohhh....huh. well, whatcha know about that. Thanks! 

[FossilNerd]

Nice finds! Love the echinoids! 

[Monica]

Nice finds!  And congrats on scoring your first Tetragramma taffi