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Hey everybody! I'm Korey and I'm a bit new here (and to the world of paleontology in general) so I apologize if things might be a little messy. Regardless, I'll try my best in keeping things as crisp as possible. I was hoping I could have some help identifying a few fossils on the exterior of these rocks I found. The following three fossil matrices were collected in a single trip along Cape Fear River in the Wilmington area. Each one contains numerous fossils of a variety of species embedded within a limestone matrix. Mineral composition was confirmed by a professor of paleontology (specialized in microfossils) at UNC Wilmington, meaning they likely originated from the Castle Hayne limestone deposit. I would really appreciate some help in identifying some of the fossils found in these matrices, as while a decent number are somewhat recognizable, there are some that are completely mysterious. Specifically in matrix B and C. Matrix A: Measuring roughly 61mm in length, and 40mm in width, this is a cluster of what appears to be remnants of steinkerns and their remaining impressions. I counted over 10 individual snail shells, the exact number being a bit unclear, and a single bivalve impression. The snails appear to be some form of teribridae, while the nature of the bivalve impression is unknown. The largest snail impression measured at roughly 14mm in width. Length was unfortunately not easily measured as there are seemingly no complete impressions left behind. Much of them simply stretch across the entire matrix. The bivalve impression takes up much of it's side of the matrix, measuring at a rough 38mm. Matrix B: Measures roughly 52mm in length, and 43mm in width. This matrix is host to an intact unidentified bivalve shell, what appears to be a pair of concretions, encrusting bryozoa, and an unidentified organism. The bivalve shell is roughly 25mm wide. A bryozoan colony is visible to the left of the shell's beak. You can also see the concretions top right of the shell. What species of bivalve is it? Each concretion is roughly 5mm in width. The edges of the concretions appear to be encrusted by bryozoa. (It is very hard to get good pictures of this feature, I'm sorry). The final feature of Matrix B is this unusual shape closely resembling a reverse impression of a coral cup. Measures 17mm at it's widest and 10mm at the thinnest. Seems to consist of a central undefined and weathered shape surrounded by a series of 10 striated symmetrical structures resembling the septa of a coral polyp cup. There is no other apparent evidence of similar structures within the matrix, and it seems to be entirely on it's own. Matrix C: Measuring 174mm long, and 97mm wide, this chunk of limestone has some heft to it. Contained within is the fossil of highest interest to me, what I originally thought to be petrified wood. Also present is what appears to be a eutrephoceras shell, and a single unusual ring-shaped organic artifact. This particular matrix was discovered under the water, where only a small part of it was sticking out of the submerged mud. Jutting out of the matrix is a partly exposed branch-like structure of unknown biology. This picture depicts the anterior end of it where it appears to have been broken off, revealing the interior cross section of the branch. This structure is roughly 25mm at it's widest I had originally thought it to be petrified wood, but the paleontologist I consulted disagreed, stating that petrified wood typically looks different. It is most certainly not coral either, so perhaps it is a species of branching bryozoan? Here is a side view of the branch structure, showing the deep striated appearance of it's exterior. At this point it looks almost more geological than biological, but the interior shapes tell a different story. I honestly suspect that it may have been eroded. A scant 19mm of this structure is exposed from the surrounding substrate, which I suspect might be hiding a much longer specimen. Here is another branch that appears similar to the prior one, only much smaller. Measuring a mere 5mm in width at it's widest point. Unlike the larger branch, the entire 25mm of this structure has been left exposed, revealing a very similar striated exterior. Could both of these have belonged to the same organism? This little limpet-like organism was hiding in a tiny recess, merely 4mm at it's widest. Not sure what it is, really. I appear to have forgotten to measure this one while I had my fossils out so I apologize, but this appears to be some form of coral-like structure. If you look closely you can just barely make out what appears to be a defined exterior ring nigh indistinguishable from the surrounding limestone. And finally we have what appears to be Eutrephoceras or at least some other similar mollusc. It's fairly small and measures around 18mm wide from the lip to the anterior of the whorl. Only three chambers can be seen, though there might be one or two more. I'm excited to see what everyone thinks of these fossils, and what they think they might be. It's a mystery that's been nagging at my mind for weeks now, and I have unfortunately yet to find answers. Please let me know if any more angles or pictures are needed, and I will try my best to provide.
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Hello, i have this weird stone in my collection and it looks a bit like a belemnite or baculite steinkern to me. Theres a perfect circular hole running down the middle which seems to be the siphon. Or a flint layer formed around a belemnite which now had erodet away. What is it ? Maybe one of you knows. It was found on a beach of the baltic sea.
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Hello, Could I get some help identifying these two nautiloid steinkerns? Unfortunately no precise age/locality info on them but I think they might be from the Pennsylvanian or Permian of Kansas or Texas. They are both around 8-9cm wide. 1. 2. Referring to this: http://inyo2.coffeecup.com/kansasfossils/kansasfossils.html I think #1. might be Metacoceras and #2. might be Liroceras. @Missourian I believe you are referenced in that post and you seem to be experienced in this fauna? Thanks
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Hello there! Found this walking the beaches in North Myrtle beach. I think it may be a steinkern but wanted to double check before I tossed it back to the sands. Thanks in advance!
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Our 3rd grader found this on a beach in Coos County, OR. Her first impression is that this is a snail fossil. We’re wondering 1) what is this and 2) if this is an internal mold? There’s also an impression on one side of the matrix that looks like a separate cast. But we’re really not sure… we are having a difficult time visualizing what’s going on here. When you look closely at the spiral it does appear to have shell in there. We’ve googled a ton and compared pictures of different spiral fossils, but still aren’t sure. Thanks for any info!
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From the album: Mahantango Formation
Gastropod Steinkern Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania-
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Do you think it would be possible to id these steinkerns? I would like to get a bit more specific than "gastropods". They come from Al Ain (an Emirate in the United Arab Emirates) close to Jebel Hafeet and are Eocene to Miocene in age. These two shells have little bumps as well as lines running along the outside. This shell has two rows of bumps running along the outside. This steinkern is still in its matrix, you can see the shell had short spines on the exterior. This one looks like a spondylus shell
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From the album: Cretaceous of Delaware and New Jersey
Gastropod Chesapeake and Delaware Canal-
- chesapeake and delaware canal
- gastropod
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I found this intriguing rock in Northwest Arkansas, in the Bloyd Formation I believe (carboniferous). It really looks like a steinkern to me, but I've only found limestone steinkerns before, hence my doubts. It's approx. 3" x 2"
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Clast bivalve....that is all I know about this specimen I collected. It is preserved very well. I found it in a spoil pile after they dug out a lake. It is my favorite shell fossil. If you could ID it for me, that would be super. Found in North Port, FL. 10 miles East of Venice, FL. The clast is 4inches x 4 inches x 4 inches. Other fossil material in that area ranges from Meg teeth, whale vertebrae, Equus. ID appreciated.
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I know this is a long shot, but does anyone have any idea what this bivalve steinkern may be? It was found in the Upper Ordovician (drakes formation) of Kentucky. Brachiopods are overly abundant in many of the areas that I hunt, but bivalves seem to be scarce, or I am too used to seeing brachs to pick out the bivalves. Anyway, this is the one and only bivalve that I have found, besides a few possible fragments. I know it can be near impossible to identify any steinkern, but does the shape, size, or provenance give anyone an idea as to what this may be? It just looks so lonely on my shelf; I feel like if at least needs a name. EDIT: I should note that I have looked in the literature that I have (which is limited on bivalves) and can not find anything that I am confident in to use as an ID. My internet searching has not come up with a good ID either. If I can provide better pictures or different angles don’t hesitate to ask!
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- bivalve
- drakes formation
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Does anyone know about steinkerns having pearl-like things inside? I can see how this might be possible but . . . . I don't want to hammer into any of mine until I'm sure I might fine something.
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- ark shell fossils
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This is a steinkern of a fossil clam that I had purchased, the shell itself fell apart almost immediately and this was left. I just want to confirm that the things on the surface of it are some kinds of trace burrows from worms, I am not really sure but that is what they look like to me. Thank you all.
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Thanks to you guys, I think I recognize an endocast/steinkern when I see one. But if I'm right and this is one, I can't for the life of me figure out what would have made this kind of impression. Does this form look familiar to anyone? At first I thought it looked a lot like the rim of a queen helmet shell, but there isn't an opening there to fill with anything that would form a fossil. Found on Myrtle Beach. Thanks! --Paula
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- endocast
- myrtle beach
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From the album: Daw85
Turtle head- 5 comments
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- beach
- south carolina
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Howling wind and deep ice cold water, but figured the creek bed would protect me from the wind (it did) and cold (not so much). Less hunters out. Don't usually post casts/steinkerns but this gastropod(?) has two small fossilized worm like things on it (probably need to get a better photo than the scan). All the rain has washed shells everywhere (lots of 5" to 7" scallops/ pectans everywhere; didn't see any whole ecphora, the only shells I usually pick up. Frilly oysters were everywhere as well; top half is neat). Most of the teeth I found was small or broken or both; three cow shark, one decent with root. Four(?) angelshark and several others, lots of spikes most missing their cusps, small triangular most with faint serrations, and a bunch of glossy drum teeth (photo is of the other side). Broken verts. When other stuff dries, may find something else interesting.
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I’ve got 4 fossils, or steinkerns, I’m needing help identifying, all on the same rock. Found in a creek bed in Boone County, MO. I believe it to be from the Mississippian Era. I believe those labeled one and two are Bryozoan Archimedes. Number one (the biggest of the two) measures at a little over 1/4th of an inch. Number two measures at almost exactly (slightly over) 1/4th of an inch. Number three I’m thinking is part of a stem of a Crinoid? Can anyone confirm or deny this for me? The fourth is, what I believe to be, a steinkern of a possible tooth? Like, a tooth laid there at one point, and the impression was left behind? It measures at exactly 1/2 inch. (Due to file restrictions on pix, I will upload some pix in the comments.)
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- bryozoan archimedes
- creek bed
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Is this possibly a small clam steinkern or just an ordinary concretion? Or maybe a tiny, ancient UFO? 4.5 cm wide x 3.5 cm deep x 2 cm thick. Some of the openings go in a ways, pic 2, left side goes in about a 1/4 inch, same with left opening in pic 3. Pic 2 just looks like some 1950's movie UFO.
- 5 replies
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- concretion
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These are all in the same stone. Wondering if it's 3 different preservation types of the same species. Found in Sw fl, in the sand. Trying to learn to recognize familiar players in their various forms and stages of erosion. Couldn't get the tape measure next to two of them, but they're both 2.5 inches long on the nose. The one that looks like a unicorn horn(w/ tape measure) was what caught my eye, rimmed with grass it really stood out! Its shimmery and beautiful. Is it ok to chip it out? Far from its margins, of course. 3rd pic following...
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I had a couple Hardouinia beginning to exfoliate. Perhaps sacrilege, but I peeled ‘em. While ammonite steinkerns are quite common, it is cool to get an “inside perspective” on echinoids.
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Hi all, I was wondering: would the steinkern of for example a Turritella be considered a fossil or an ichnofossil? Because in fact, the shell itself didn’t become a fossil, and what we are looking at is just sediment that filled in the shell and then solidified. But then again I’ve never heard of a steinkern being referred as an ichnofossil... So what do you guys think: really a fossil, or just a trace fossil? I am curious to see everyone’s opinion Best regards, Max
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I have no idea what these things are but I keep picking them up. I think someone thought they might be steinkerns (casts) or maybe had other suggestions (getting old, senile, maybe I forgot). Almost flat on one side, kidney-shaped where there are characteristic radial bands or striations; rounded on the other side (second picture). Almost always have the black glossy enamel of fossils. The more rounded side on this specimen is chipped and you can see the same radial banding within, but with no shiny black. Generally all are about an inch or so long. Thanks for your help?
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Cleaning brachiopod steinkern? How to preserve matrix and clean fossils?
Kim Ellis posted a topic in Questions & Answers
Hi all, I acquired this piece, did not find on site. It seems to be basalt but the outer matrix is packed with sand and shell fragments. The brachiopods (I am assuming from the research I have done) are rather large, and appear in a cluster. Some of the fragments I have observed appear to be from the devonian era. I am assuming this is a steinkern vs true fossil. But the matrix is so fragile to clean it is destroying it. I am more of a rock hound than true fossil student. I have learned from some of my earlier posts last year that if the structure has been replaced by silica than it is not a true fossil ie steinkern, I believe. The matrix includes so much sand and shell fragments that it makes me question how silification works? Some of the shells, brachiopods, became irridescent as the stone absorbed moisture. Looks more like stone when it is dry.. . One of the pics that looks like brushing its teeth, has an opal in the background that I believe is the actual metamorphic process from this exact type of matrix and brachiopod by water and silica ooze. Interestingly as I have been cleaning the opal up also, it has the same structure as the outer pieces of the shell from the brachiopod, feather like. The striations in the opal also seem to be where the brachiopod foot would be... and also the richest mineral and most beautiful layer... Any ideas of what I should do with this piece to clean it or leave it alone I would love. If you have knowledge about brachiopods and opals I would love to hear that as well!! Thanks Kim- 16 replies
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- brachiopod
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Hi all, Anyone know what species/genus this gastropod is? Never seen anything like this one before... It's from Rivière-sur-Tarn, a location in France that yields fossils from the Toarcian stage of the early Jurassic (approx 180 mya). Best regards, Max
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- bivalve
- bivalve steinkern
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Hi all, Anyone know what species/genus this bivalve steinkern is? It's from Rivière-sur-Tarn, a location in France that yields fossils from the Toarcian stage of the early Jurassic (approx 180 mya). Best regards, Max
- 11 replies
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- bivalve
- bivalve steinkern
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