Shamalama Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 I received these three odd ball fossils from a friend in Texas. He didn't know what they were only that they came from the Pennsylvanian rocks of northern Texas. At first I thought they might be some kind of Gastropod but I can't find any shell nor evidence of a spiral. So I'm now thinking they might be a trace fossil of some sort. Maybe a shallow burrow or nest or possibly the internal mold of a rudist? Any ideas? Specimen #1 Specimen #2 Specimen #3 -Dave __________________________________________________ Geologists on the whole are inconsistent drivers. When a roadcut presents itself, they tend to lurch and weave. To them, the roadcut is a portal, a fragment of a regional story, a proscenium arch that leads their imaginations into the earth and through the surrounding terrain. - John McPheeIf I'm going to drive safely, I can't do geology. - John McPheeCheck out my Blog for more fossils I've found: http://viewsofthemahantango.blogspot.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scylla Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 I don't think it looks like a horn coral, but maybe? Concretion has to be on the list too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Indy Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 I have found examples of these in the Pennsylvanian in Kansas. For many years these were incorrectly referred to as jelly fish resting traces. Today we know they are really Bioclast-packed burrows. Here is a PDF reference (see plate 2): Click Here Barry 3 Flash from the Past (Show Us Your Fossils)MAPS Fossil Show Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimB88 Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 maybe a badly worn sponge? Or cephalopod? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimB88 Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 I have found examples of these in the Pennsylvanian in Kansas. For many years these were incorrectly referred to as jelly fish resting traces. Today we know they are really Bioclast-packed burrows. Here is a PDF reference (see plate 2): Click Here Barry that looks like it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texas-Tunnel Rat Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 It looks like a Horn Coral such as Zephymites sp. (Or however you spell it). However, It isn't I vote it is a bioclast burrow. I find in those pictures nothing that would scream characteristics of Horn Coral except for the point that are traditionally common in N.Texas sediments of the Carboniferious there are no markings that are designed or any form of connection to a larger mass and there are things on the outside which looks more like other stuff semented on the exterior which wants me to toss it into groups like conglomeration and other hodgepoges. If you can, see if you can get more info out of the kind person that got this for you. Or closer photo. Still a nice little set. Just my .02 PUBLICATIONS Dallas Paleontology Society Occasional Papers Vol. 9 2011 "Pennsylvanian Stratigraphy and Paleoecology of Outcrops in Jacksboro, Texas" Author Texas Paleontology Society Feb, 2011 "Index Fossils and You" A primer on how to utilize fossils to assist in relative age dating strata" Author Quotes "Beer, Bacon, and Bivalves!" "Say NO to illegal fossil buying / selling" "They belong in a museum." Education Associates of Science - 2011 Bachelors of Science (Geology & Biology) - 2012 est. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archimedes Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 They are placed with the Ichnogenus Conostichus I have been told they believe they are the trace fossil an animal similar to a sea anemone On some of your specimens you can see some of the ribbing pattern, typical, and on the bottom, not normally seen, is a 12 lobed pattern. I have many from areas where you find interbedded shale/mud and very thin very fine grained sand lenses 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Indy Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 Conostichus (a fossil with a confusing history) was formerly thought to be a jellyfish resting trace. It is now regarded as a burrow infilling or feeding structure of an unidentified organism. These fossils were first described by Lesquereux in 1876 as a marine algae and then by later authors as roots, stems, sponges or worms. C.C. Branson wrote a number of articles circa 1956/1962 in which he discusses numerous separate species. In a 1959 article he states "It is possible to state at this time that the genus Conostichus has but one species, C. ornatus; that some of the marine specimens may be medusoids; that some of the types are probably marine worms. Close examination of specimens in place in the rock and of the associated biota is necessary to a real understanding of these four similar types of fossil." In later articles he describes a number of new species. Joeckel, 2008 states "A trace-fossil hypothesis for the origin of the structures remains plausible...possible feeding structures---albeit problematic". 1 Flash from the Past (Show Us Your Fossils)MAPS Fossil Show Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspex Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 <great thread!> 1 "There has been an alarming increase in the number of things I know nothing about." - Ashleigh Ellwood Brilliant “Try to learn something about everything and everything about something.” - Thomas Henry Huxley >Paleontology is an evolving science. >May your wonders never cease! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thair Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 I have similar ones from the Penn in central Texas. I beleive the trace fossil idea as others mentioned. Infiled burrows. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Indy Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 Some views of a Conostichus I collected in the Pennsylvanian of Kansas. 1 Flash from the Past (Show Us Your Fossils)MAPS Fossil Show Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shamalama Posted August 10, 2011 Author Share Posted August 10, 2011 Wow, I stirred up the sediment a little around here! Thanks to everyone who replied and especially Barry, for the PDF and expert dissertaions about these ichnofossils. I will label them as Burrow infills until I find a reference with a (no pun intended) Generic and Specific name. I went back and found the old label which says they are from the Jacksboro area and possibly the Finis shale. -Dave __________________________________________________ Geologists on the whole are inconsistent drivers. When a roadcut presents itself, they tend to lurch and weave. To them, the roadcut is a portal, a fragment of a regional story, a proscenium arch that leads their imaginations into the earth and through the surrounding terrain. - John McPheeIf I'm going to drive safely, I can't do geology. - John McPheeCheck out my Blog for more fossils I've found: http://viewsofthemahantango.blogspot.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Jim Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 This is great stuff. I was shocked when I saw the initial post. We have found similar (in fact exactly like) traces from a few sites in North Alabama where the fossils are predominately trace fossils. I had pondered what they were, but finding this thread was great! The age is slightly earlier as the rocks are Mississippian in age. Again great info everyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeD Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 I have similar ones from the Penn in central Texas. I beleive the trace fossil idea as others mentioned. Infiled burrows. I thought of yours when I saw those. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archimedes Posted August 12, 2011 Share Posted August 12, 2011 That is a nice example of Conostichus Indy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fossil dude Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 That is a nice example of Conostichus Indy conostichus it is! thanks to you all!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squalicorax Posted September 2, 2011 Share Posted September 2, 2011 hmm strange looks like a denticle to me My Flickr Page of My Collection: http://www.flickr.com/photos/79424101@N00/sets Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Indy Posted September 14, 2011 Share Posted September 14, 2011 (edited) PS: Today I was paging through "Pennsylvanian Fossils of N Texas" and noticed images of this fossil on pages 46 and 47 with Conostichus identification Posting for the purpose or our archive There very well may be a similar mystery post in the future Barry Edited September 15, 2011 by Indy Flash from the Past (Show Us Your Fossils)MAPS Fossil Show Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shamalama Posted September 15, 2011 Author Share Posted September 15, 2011 Thanks Barry. I will have the look through my copy of that book again as I must have missed it! -Dave __________________________________________________ Geologists on the whole are inconsistent drivers. When a roadcut presents itself, they tend to lurch and weave. To them, the roadcut is a portal, a fragment of a regional story, a proscenium arch that leads their imaginations into the earth and through the surrounding terrain. - John McPheeIf I'm going to drive safely, I can't do geology. - John McPheeCheck out my Blog for more fossils I've found: http://viewsofthemahantango.blogspot.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobWill Posted September 15, 2011 Share Posted September 15, 2011 I guess they come in all sizes. Mine from the Jacksboro Finis is over 13cm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D Foss Hunter Posted November 18, 2011 Share Posted November 18, 2011 I have found them in the Kansas City Missouri area as well. I have questions as to the orientation of the item. Every one I have found has the 12 lobes on the top. They are never lobe side down. I have a couple different varieties of them as well. Some look like the growth pattern is from some form of draping or secretion. I have found others attached to shells, again, resting lobe side up when they were found. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shamalama Posted November 19, 2011 Author Share Posted November 19, 2011 Any pics of what you have found that we can drool over? I have seen similar formations for sale on E-bay from "larrysfossils" that are from the Bangor limestone of Mississippian age in Northern Alabama. He calls them Sea Anemone casts. -Dave __________________________________________________ Geologists on the whole are inconsistent drivers. When a roadcut presents itself, they tend to lurch and weave. To them, the roadcut is a portal, a fragment of a regional story, a proscenium arch that leads their imaginations into the earth and through the surrounding terrain. - John McPheeIf I'm going to drive safely, I can't do geology. - John McPheeCheck out my Blog for more fossils I've found: http://viewsofthemahantango.blogspot.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docpaleo Posted February 22, 2018 Share Posted February 22, 2018 On 8/10/2011 at 1:28 PM, Archimedes said: They are placed with the Ichnogenus Conostichus I have been told they believe they are the trace fossil an animal similar to a sea anemone On some of your specimens you can see some of the ribbing pattern, typical, and on the bottom, not normally seen, is a 12 lobed pattern. I have many from areas where you find interbedded shale/mud and very thin very fine grained sand lenses Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docpaleo Posted February 22, 2018 Share Posted February 22, 2018 Archimedes is correct on the ID Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westcoast Posted February 22, 2018 Share Posted February 22, 2018 Yep. Conostichus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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