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I decided to take a trip out to the Mississippi River. With the weather warming in Missouri, the trees and plants are starting to grow and bloom once more. It is quite beautiful seeing some of the flowers and trees flourish, which I wish I had snapped some photos of. The downside to that, is some of my fossil hunting spots get quickly overgrown, or sometimes get submerged underwater. This trip was to check out an exposure of Silurian aged Bainbridge Formation rock. I had not been to this site before, so I was excited to get out and explore once more. After a nice walk to my destination, I found the exposed red rocks along the river I was looking for. Almost immediately, I found what I was searching for, trilobites! Calymenids are common in the right exposures of the Bainbridge Formation, but I didn't expect to see so many. 95% of the specimens found were weathered, damaged, and missing a lot of shell. Here's a few photos I took before I got overwhelmed by the sheer amount of trilobites exposed on the rock. See how many you can find in the first picture. You may need to enlarged the photo. I counted over 10. And the search was on! The goal was to find a nice, complete specimen or two to take home, clean, and then compare to other Calymenid trilobites I've found in different exposures of Bainbridge Formation rock. I spent the warm and windy afternoon hunched over, scouring over all the exposed bedrock. After hours and counting over 100 poorly preserved specimens, I finally found a nice looking one worth taking home. It had a little bit of weathering, but looked to be all there. Many of them were exposed in this sort of flexed position. A bit of noise, and I extracted the specimen. This is a nice one I'll hopefully get a professional to clean, so I carefully packed it up and continued my search. A nice cephalopod, and a few crinoid holdfasts were also exposed atop the bedrock. They were both pretty cool to see, especially that cephalopod fossil. Like trilobites, they aren't things I get to see everyday. I didn't find anymore good trilobites exposed and I didn't want to split rock, so I shifted to flipping over and looking through the river tumbled rocks for a while. The 9th rock I had fllipped over, looks to have a ventral trilobite on it. The luckiest, and cutest find was this little .3 inch Calymenid trilobite that was washed along the riverbank. I have no clue how it hadn't been destroyed from the river, but I was quite happy to find it. Note how it's exposed in the similar flexed orientation as the last one I found. One other interesting rock on the riverbank that probably has a complete specimen within was found. It had a few pleura segments and part of the pygidium exposed, but I forgot to photograph it. I'll upload a photo of it when I get home and unpack it if I don't forget. It was great to get back out to the Mississippi River. I always enjoy nature, solitude, and fossil hunting. I avoided ticks this trip, but not the mosquitos! A good afternoon spent, I decided to pack up my belongings and head back to St. Louis for the night.
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I found this on the banks of the Mississippi River in Illinois. So I don’t know where it originated. So I can’t help with age or formation or even a general location. I posted on a couple fossil pages on Facebook and going to try here. Any help will be great. Rough size is in pictures but they are 7.93 mm wide and 6.31 mm tall roughly. If you have questions I’ll try to answer them the best I can. Thank you
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Found in Newport Minnesota along the Mississippi River buried in the river bank. Is this a fossil??? Any information would help thanks.
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I've got an interesting fossil here and I'm wondering if it is a tooth, and if so, from what animal? It was found on the banks of the Mississippi River around St. Louis, Missouri, thus I have no clue what formation it is from as it could have washed out from anywhere upstream. The folds on one end remind me of dentine folds, and it is in line with being part of the grey, straight, line fossil on the edge of the piece. Also, the foveae around the alleged dentine reminds me of cartilage. Just north of St. Louis, MO, there is a quarry on the Illinois side where an anthrodire tooth was found in Cedar Valley Limestone (limestone & sandstone) -- this is what sparked the thought of it being a tooth. The white rock is chalky & soft, but doesn't seem to react much at all when I scraped dust into vinegar. The brown material seems ferrous & sandy. The grey part is translucent when a light is pressed against it. Sorry, I am not great at rock ID yet. Centimeter ruler is in brown, the grey grid is 1 in squares with 1/4in dots. Some of the high-magnification photos are through a 10x loupe connected to a phone. Let me know what kind of photos would help with ID -- mark particular points you want addition photos from and I'll do my best to get them promptly.
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Hey guys, wasn't sure if this could possibly be a tooth of some sort? Or if it's just my imagination. Thanks for your input! Found in a creek bed near the Mississippi in Northern Missouri
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Hi I found this in a creek bed in Missouri not far from the Mississippi River. Need help identifying please. If I were to guess, it's some piece of a crinoid? It's my best find since I started this new hobby. Thanks
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Need help with identifying this bone that I found in Greenville Mississippi on the river June 11, 2023.
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The Paleontological/Present Day Chondricthyan diversity of the Mississippi River
Joseph Fossil posted a topic in Questions & Answers
The Mississippi River has (in one form or another since the shrinking of the Western Interior Seaway) been flowing for 70 Million Years. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/geological-history-mississippi-river-180975509/ This may be more of a current biological rather than paleontological question, but I'm curious about the origin of the current chondricthyan diversity in the Mississippi River? Now a fair amount of you might be confused when I say "Chondricthyan diversity in the Mississippi River", but this is truly a cool case of truth stranger than fiction. The most famous species in this case is the Bull Shark (Carcharhinus leucas), a requiem shark able to tolerate both fresh and saltwater that had been confirmed to be recorded as far up the Mississippi River as Alton Illinois in 1935. Image credit: https://www.thetelegraph.com/insider/article/Researchers-affirm-two-bull-shark-sightings-16308838.php Shell, R., & Gardner, N. (2021, July 1). Movement of the Bull Shark (carcharhinus leucas) in the upper Mississippi River Basin, North America. Marine and Fishery Sciences (MAFIS). Retrieved February 12, 2023, from https://ojs.inidep.edu.ar/index.php/mafis/article/view/181 Shell, Ryan & Gardner, Nicholas & Hrabik, Robert. (2022). Updates on putative bull shark (Carcharhinus leucas) occurrences in the upper Mississippi River Basin of North America. 36. 10.47193/mafis.3612023010101. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/362847015_Updates_on_putative_bull_shark_Carcharhinus_leucas_occurrences_in_the_upper_Mississippi_River_Basin_of_North_America But these are not the only cases of Chondricthyans found in the Mississippi River as shown by the reports and articles here: http://chnep.wateratlas.usf.edu/upload/documents/Essential_habitat_of.pdf (Specifically pg. 10) Rafinesque, C.S. (1820) Ichthyologia ohiensis, or Natural history of the fishes inhabiting the river Ohio and its tributary streams, preceded by a physical description of the Ohio and its branches. W.G. Hunt, Lexington, Kentucky, 90 pp. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.6892 Jordan, D.S. and Evermann, B.W. (1896). The fishes of North and Middle America. Bulletin of the US National Museum 47:1-1240. https://www.actionnews5.com/story/12943330/memphis-woman-photographs-stingray-in-mississippi-river/ Today, the Mississippi River is one of the most industrialized rivers in the world, with many locks and dams in places that previously allowed Chondricthyans to enter as upstream as Alton Illinois. This is a phenomena that unfortunately is still occurring both in the US and across the world today from places as far away and China and Brazil, Pakistan to Russia, and Cambodia and Australia, disrupting natural river flows that make regions more prone to sever flooding effects and causing a terrifying decline in large bodied freshwater fish that migrant frequently across a whole rivers lengths (and also contributing to the Human induced climate crisis as all the dead animals that pile up at the bottom of these dams produce high amounts of methane). This phenomenon is also something I must add we as a species needs to address urgently and decisively by switching more to more renewable power sources like solar, install fish ladders and workable passages for fish to go around the dams, or legally breach the dams safely whenever possible. But not to get off track here, I'm still curious about the paleontological date of chondricthyans from the Mississippi River. How many fossils of brackish water sharks and rays have been found in the areas of the Mississippi River, was there a historically larger or smaller amount of chondricthyans in the Mississippi during the Late Pleistocene-Early Holocene, and why isn't (at least that I know of) the chondricthyans diversity in the Mississippi River even historically been as high as places as the Amazon river in Brazil? What do you guys think? -
Hello ^.^ My name is Chime Mosser, and I'm from Iowa!! I've had an interest in science and paleontology since I was little and listened to the absolute banger TMBG album "Here Comes Science". I've had changing interests over the years, from starting off by wanting to be an astrobiologist who looked for dinosaur bones in space, to giving up on those dreams and wanting to be an astronomer (I have vertigo so no way am I passing those g force tests), to wanting to be an archeologist, and nowadays where I'm going to go for college and be a museum curator (hopefully, lol). Since I live in Iowa (as you are probably well aware it used to be part of the sea), and I've had a rock collection since I was 3 years old, I've accidentally picked up a couple of fossils that I thought were cool rocks over the years, and I'm going to be honest, I only joined this forum so I could find out which one is which. I'll be posting on the identification board soon Though, since my interest in science has come back recently, I will also stick around and look at some cool stuff. I will also infodump to you right here right now about my favorite creatures, since it is an introduction post. - Anteaters (my absolute favorite animal) - Coelocanths - Hellbender Salamanders - Echidnas - Archaeopteryx - Any weird or messed up looking beast (we would be here all day if I listed them all). I also have side interests in art, music, and fashion history/history in general. I'm not the best at introductions so I hope this was good
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We were checking out the low river levels of the Mississippi River between Lake village, AR and Greenville MS and my daughter found this rock. Curious if it is a fossil and what kind if so. Thanks!
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We were geode hunting near Mississippi river at Illinois Iowa border. Found lots of nice yet small geodes & this. It looks like a vertebrae bone? Or some kind of bone. Was at the same level of the rock bed as the geodes. I try to show measurements in pics. Its skinnier on one end than the other & "slopes" a little? Any ideas? Could it be a dinosaur bone?
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Ha! I saved this little busy specimen til I was more confident my pictures were fairly decent.
TinySpiderMonkeyNinja posted a topic in Fossil ID
This little one is packed full of pretties, mysterious, and wonder! I would love to know about all of the surprises in this one, anyone that can teach me is welcome to shout it out! Have fun with this one! Thank you so much! I am excited to finally know! -
Hello! My name is Tiny and I am a rockaholic.. Man is this community is a sight for sore eyes! I have so many things I have been holding aside until I found a place I could feel comfortable! Thanks for making some room for me!
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So I was going through my bags of pet wood I've found along the Mississippi River over the last years and combining them into one container. The bags also contain other stuff I've found. I was trying to detail this piece by getting sand out of cracks and got a bit over zealous. I have been able to repair it for the most but in damaging it it provided more of a belief this is a river tumbled bit of tooth or maybe not. Here are the photos for you all to decide.
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Hi everyone! I found this on the ground near the Root River in Minnesota which is an offshoot of the Mississippi river. Near Cushon Peak. I'd love to know if its a fossil and if so what kind. Thanks!
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My son found this in the Mississippi River in St. Paul, MN. I thought maybe it was a scapula, but I really have no idea. Anyone out there know what it is? Thanks!
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I am in New Orleans. All the fossils except the darker brown one came out of a bag of pond rocks from Home Depot. I think they came from a Mexico beach, but I can't guarantee The darker one I found on the bank of the Mississippi river a few miles upstream from New Orleans. Can Anyone tell me the different types I have here?
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Hi thanks for taking the time to look at my post. Just for verification, I'm wondering if this is a group of crinoids in one rock? I found this near the Mississippi River in a Creek bed in Northeast Missouri. Thanks
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Found this on a sandbar in Mississippi River near St. Charles Missouri, after the main channel was dredged. Appears to be a tooth but not like a canine type tooth. I was thinking shark tooth, maybe a native american trade piece. Any help would be greatly appreciated in identifying it.
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*Higher resolution and many more images linked below to Google Drive for a clear view* Fossil: Large limestone rock containing hundreds of marine fossils and with what appears to be a bone roughly 3cm in diameter. As well what appears to be the remains of other bone structures. Location: Found 10 miles from the Mississippi River near Ellsworth, Wisconsin USA (Western Wisconsin) in a low valley area that looks like an ancient river bed. Rock Measurements: Roughly 15cm x 28cm My Understanding of Geology and Paleontology: 2/10 *There are a vast amount of images so I'd uploaded them to Google Drive in high resolution here: https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=1-QkitLR3bwWFEn0Dh6OoNngsH8F5O31w I found this large limestone rock on our property near what I imagine would be an ancient riverway located at the bottom of a recharge point (aka hill). During heavy rains this area can literally turn in to a river and wash the soil down stream. This rock appears to contain all of the common marine fossils you'd find in Western Wisconsin from what I've researched. However, there's what appears to be a bone or unusual looking aquatic creature near the snail as shown. The snail was extremely well preserved before the vinegar soaking ate the shell and pigment away. A bit more about the location in which it was found; I had been landscaping the slope of the soil for about 2 years in the backyard by shovel. I had lived in this home for about 4 years and I found the soil to be unusual versus any other home I've lived in nearby. The heavy, wet clay soil contained many large green basalt rocks - I'd never seen one before this time. The bedrock is limestone but about 100 FT away the bedrock is sandstone (according to geological maps). The Mississippi river is 10 miles from this location in western Wisconsin near Minnesota. It's also in the path of the "Great Midcontinent Rift" which I find interesting. There are also many large "bluffs" and rolling hills. It's a beautiful area. Anyhow, I'd like to find out what else may be in this rock. It has been in vinegar for about 2-years and is slowly changing shape which in my imagination resembles a skull. I'd like to find a means to protect the exposed fossils while the limestone is absorbing. I had read something about fossil glue or plaster that can protect the exposed fossils while in the acetic acid. This is an educational experiment for me and I've always wanted to learn about paleontology and geology. Any help and identification would be appreciated! There are so many fossils and things to look at in this rock that I uploaded the images to a public folder on Google Drive so that others can view them in a higher resolution. My Galaxy Note 8 is not the best at focusing on close up images so please forgive my photography. If you see something interesting I'd be curious to know! Thanks! -Jack from Western Wisconsin (Google Drive images: https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=1-QkitLR3bwWFEn0Dh6OoNngsH8F5O31w)
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Maastrichtian birth of the Ancestral Mississippi River system
Oxytropidoceras posted a topic in Fossil News
Geology: Tiny zircon crystals help trace the birth of the mighty Mississippi By Dale Gnidovec, The Columbus Dispatch, Nov 11, 2018 https://www.dispatch.com/news/20181111/geology-tiny-zircon-crystals-help-trace-birth-of-mighty-mississippi Potter-McIntyre, S.L., Breeden, J.R. and Malone, D.H., 2018. A Maastrichtian birth of the Ancestral Mississippi River system: Evidence from the U-Pb detrital zircon geochronology of the McNairy Sandstone, Illinois, USA. Cretaceous Research. Volume 91, November 2018, Pages 71-79 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0195667117305414 Yours, Paul H.-
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Hello everyone,I am looking for help to figure out if this is a fossil,and what type,it was found in Northeast Missouri,near the Mississippi river,I am told it is quartz,it is mostly a clear color but has bone white nodules in places,that is about all I know of it,I am a new member so if my post is incorrect I apologize,I am happy to receive any and all information and opinion and wish to Thank everyone in advance. gmanp135
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Hello everyone and thank you for welcoming me to your group,I am here to learn.
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Sea Shell identification--Could this be a fossilized sea shell?
Joe Salande posted a topic in Fossil ID
I had a question relative to this sea shell. It was found on the bank of the Mississippi river, out of New Orleans. The curiosity of this one is where it was found. just simply on the sand on the river bank where the water level is has gone down. I'm trying to figure out if this could be a sea shell fossil. At this location of the river, it is 100% fresh water, whereas this looks like salt water sea shell. Any thoughts from yawl would be greatly appreciated. Joe Any thoughts from you guys, gals, would be greatly appreciated.- 4 replies
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