Runner64 Posted March 14, 2021 Share Posted March 14, 2021 I'll update this thread with my Mazon Collection over the next few weeks. With some good weather out yesterday, I managed to get my first fossil hunt in for the season and will post a report in this topic. I will be moving this upcoming summer which will put me even further from Mazon Creek so I have purchased a few pieces to fill in the genus/species I haven't found yet and will mention if I purchased a fossil. I still hold out hope to find some of these pieces I purchased eventually but will realistically be difficult if I only can make 1 trip a year. Fauna Tullimonstrum gregarium A weathered eye-bar I found on my first trip several years back. There is an eye spot evident under the right light. Still the only piece I have found at this point. Euphoberia armigera (Purchased) Acanthodian indet. (Purchased) Note: Under magnification the scales are present. Cyclus americanus What's a Mazon Creek thread without some Essexella asherae? I still like finding these guys despite the vast amount I have found. Here are a few of my favorites: Note: My largest piece, this is about 6-7 inches in diameter. A couple shrimp pieces. I believe Belotelson magister (Traded for the first one) Here is a cool insect wing from the order Palaeodictyoptera. (Purchased) Now I believe this piece may be a Dasyleptus sp. and if it isn't one, I would love to be corrected! Europops danae (Purchased) Mazonomya mazonensis I'll add to this thread with additional fauna and flora later and will continue to add as I go through freeze-thaw cycles. 2 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deutscheben Posted March 16, 2021 Share Posted March 16, 2021 That's a nice assortment and you have a good sampling of some of the less common animal groups! Thanks for sharing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Runner64 Posted March 16, 2021 Author Share Posted March 16, 2021 1 hour ago, deutscheben said: That's a nice assortment and you have a good sampling of some of the less common animal groups! Thanks for sharing. Thanks! I hope to get out next weekend as well...looks like it'll be 50's-60's F and sunny which would be beautiful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
connorp Posted March 16, 2021 Share Posted March 16, 2021 1 hour ago, Runner64 said: Thanks! I hope to get out next weekend as well...looks like it'll be 50's-60's F and sunny which would be beautiful. Anything beats the freak snowstorm yesterday... Nice collection! That's a really nice Euphoberia example. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Runner64 Posted March 16, 2021 Author Share Posted March 16, 2021 37 minutes ago, connorp said: Anything beats the freak snowstorm yesterday... Nice collection! That's a really nice Euphoberia example. Thanks! Yeah the snow yesterday was weird. I was planning to head back down to Mazonia yesterday as well but I had a drive back to Des Moines afterward so driving in the snow for 5 hours didn’t seem ideal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Runner64 Posted March 19, 2021 Author Share Posted March 19, 2021 (edited) Back out at Mazon today 3-19-21. I got pretty lucky today and filled a 2.5 gallon bucket. Here’s some nodules in-situ: Now this last one is very very intriguing to me as it has a very strange shape. I’m curious if this could be a tully monster? Broke on the drive home unfortunately but was able to look and see there is a fossil plane: Edited March 19, 2021 by Runner64 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Runner64 Posted March 24, 2021 Author Share Posted March 24, 2021 Went on a fossil hunt at Mazon again last Sunday. Here is a nice jellyfish I found, a bit dirty though will post pictures once clean because it has good detail: A large concretion: Haul, all jellyfish concretions picked out: 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Runner64 Posted March 25, 2021 Author Share Posted March 25, 2021 Esconites zeulus Didontogaster cordylina Astreptoscolex anasillosus Mazopherusa prinosi Coprinoscolex ellogimus Fossundecima konecnyi Paucijaculum samamithion 1 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deutscheben Posted March 25, 2021 Share Posted March 25, 2021 That’s a really nice collection of worms! The way they are preserved within the concretions is interesting too, seems like there is lots of mineralization. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Runner64 Posted March 25, 2021 Author Share Posted March 25, 2021 12 hours ago, deutscheben said: That’s a really nice collection of worms! The way they are preserved within the concretions is interesting too, seems like there is lots of mineralization. Thanks, I appreciate the kind words! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Runner64 Posted April 3, 2021 Author Share Posted April 3, 2021 Going through the fossils I’ve found so far. More than enough Essexela. I also have this fauna piece but is really worn. Might be a worm, but appears segmented and when wet, appears to have bristles around it. Thoughts? 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Saunders Posted April 3, 2021 Share Posted April 3, 2021 all are very nice. I see that there is a fossil show this year at the Illinois State Fair Grounds. I'm looking forward to attending. I found this miss identified fern at a antique mall this week and much dirt came off in the ultrasonic cleaner. wrong species from Mazon Creek. Neuropteris Fossil Fern 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Runner64 Posted April 3, 2021 Author Share Posted April 3, 2021 2 hours ago, Bob Saunders said: all are very nice. I see that there is a fossil show this year at the Illinois State Fair Grounds. I'm looking forward to attending. I found this miss identified fern at a antique mall this week and much dirt came off in the ultrasonic cleaner. wrong species from Mazon Creek. Neuropteris Fossil Fern Beautiful fern, it cleaned up well. The state fair show sounds very interesting. I won't be able to make it unfortunately, but take some photos to share! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Saunders Posted April 3, 2021 Share Posted April 3, 2021 The Illinois show is October 22-23 and expected to be a go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Runner64 Posted April 6, 2021 Author Share Posted April 6, 2021 (edited) On 4/3/2021 at 8:54 AM, Runner64 said: Soaked this piece in vinegar: I believe this may be a rough example of Achistrum, sea cucumber. Also went 2/2 on concretions containing fossils tonight: Another Essexla: Coprinoscolex or Achistrum. I have difficulties telling apart: Edited April 6, 2021 by Runner64 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Runner64 Posted April 6, 2021 Author Share Posted April 6, 2021 On 3/19/2021 at 3:04 PM, Runner64 said: Now this last one is very very intriguing to me as it has a very strange shape. I’m curious if this could be a tully monster? Broke on the drive home unfortunately but was able to look and see there is a fossil plane: Had the front end pop open on this one couple days ago. Not sure but the other half of this one is disintegrating which is disappointing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Runner64 Posted April 11, 2021 Author Share Posted April 11, 2021 Nice weather to be outside. Went to the Mazonia wildlife area. I think the rain over the past few days really helped erode away at the slopes and exposed some nice pieces to take home. 2 fossils in the field I decided to take a quick picture of. A Neuropteris leaf and a calcified jellyfish. Here is an unopened one in the field: Weird piece, definetly something on it but what it is remains a mystery to me. Guessing some type of vegetation: 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Runner64 Posted August 18, 2021 Author Share Posted August 18, 2021 Haven’t updated this thread in a while. Still need to post some of the vegetation pieces I have. Hopefully I can get to it in a couple weeks. Been busy so haven’t had much pop open in freeze-thaw cycles but here’s a few: Some type of fern: A cyperite leaf: A shrimp molt: Another shrimp molt: A colorful Annularia piece: Heres a worn worm I found open in the field. I can make out a jaw under the calcite on the right side: Lots of opened jellyfish but this one has some weird preservation: Large chunk of “wood”: Here’s another cool fern. Don’t know the species at the moment, will have to look through my flora book: Some vegetation piece: Also had a bunch of poorly preserved Calamites and ferns open but they are in such poor condition, didn’t bother posting. 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobby Rico Posted August 18, 2021 Share Posted August 18, 2021 Great collection, some great finds Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Runner64 Posted August 18, 2021 Author Share Posted August 18, 2021 3 minutes ago, Bobby Rico said: Great collection, some great finds Thanks! I just recently moved so won’t be finding many new things. But, I still hope to get back to the Chicagoland area for 1 or 2 good hunts a year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobby Rico Posted August 18, 2021 Share Posted August 18, 2021 2 minutes ago, Runner64 said: Thanks! I just recently moved so won’t be finding many new things. But, I still hope to get back to the Chicagoland area for 1 or 2 good hunts a year. I hope you do, it has some really interesting and varied material. i have a small collection myself of gifted and purchased specimens. Cheers Bobby Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yoda Posted August 18, 2021 Share Posted August 18, 2021 Fantastic finds I would love to collect there some day 1 MotM August 2023 - Eclectic Collector Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Runner64 Posted December 31, 2021 Author Share Posted December 31, 2021 Haven’t updated this thread in a long time. Here’s some new ones! Astreptocolex: Various Essexela: I think this one is an Essexela? I believe this one is a coprolite: Didontogaster: Various Ferns: 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Runner64 Posted December 31, 2021 Author Share Posted December 31, 2021 I believe an Astreptocolex?: I believe a Sea cucumber? Coprinoscollex: Didontogaster: Some type of shell. Maybe Aviculopecten?: Various ferns: Calamites: Lepidodendron bark: Cyperite leaf?: 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deutscheben Posted December 31, 2021 Share Posted December 31, 2021 Very nice variety, thanks for sharing! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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