fossilcrazy Posted September 14, 2011 Share Posted September 14, 2011 (edited) Some of my postings have been about rare and hard to find fossils. Paleontology is not just about the extremes; but also about the common. My humble beginings started in the early 1980's. (Everyone starts out there; but not necessarily in that time period.) I recall searching a creek bed in Hamburg, NY that I knew had fossils. I was having success finding fossil shells. At the time I didn't even know they were called Brachiopods. A chance meeting at the stream with a fellow collector, whom I didn't know yet, started a friendship. Fossil collectors are a very friendly group if you catch them in their environment. I fondly remember Glen telling me the names of fossils I had found that day and the patience Glen had with his "newbie". I would ask "now what was that shell called again", Glen replied a second time "Athyris spiriferoides". I remember asking a third time "could you tell one more time"? He spoke it with a kind patience (Athyris spiriferoides). I tried defending my lack luster mental faculties. Glen said "if you spoke Latin all the time I would have my doubts about you, but these words are totally unfamiliar to you; with time and use you will know them inside and out." I haven't seen Glen since he moved away 3 or 4 years later; but I will always remember him "taking me under his wing" and very patiently cultivating a fellow fossil collector. My only form of thank you to Glen is to pass that patience and understanding on to other budding Paleontologists. I have some very common Middle Devonian(380 MYO)fossils from my initial training grounds here in Western New York: The names are to the right of the fossil. Mediospirifer angustus Athyris spiriferoides Spirifer audalculus Spirifer consobrinus Mucrospirifer mucronatus Pseudoatrypa devoniana Rhipidomella penelope Spinatrypa spinosus Stropheodonta demissa Tropidoleptus carinatus As I was finding more shells, other pieces of blackish-brownish things were turning up; things that didn't look like shells. My first Trilobite pieces of Pygidium, Thoraxes and Cephalons were found. Here are some of my better specimens of local Trilobites: Phacops rana Trio (enlarge this one it's better) Phacops rana single Greenops boothi Dipleura dekayi New York offers more fossils like Corals, Bryzoans, Cephalopods, Bivalves and more. I've chosen to include just these two groups for you. Edited September 15, 2011 by fossilcrazy 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted September 14, 2011 Share Posted September 14, 2011 WOW! What a great assortment of spectacular examples of the region! WOW! Thanks for posting these! Love the Greenops! Regards, Tim - VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER VFOTM --- APRIL - 2015 __________________________________________________ "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." John Muir ~ ~ ~ ~ ><))))( *> About Me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piranha Posted September 15, 2011 Share Posted September 15, 2011 Everything excellent! Thanks for posting! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scylla Posted September 15, 2011 Share Posted September 15, 2011 beautiful! thanks for posting these.:bow: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspex Posted September 15, 2011 Share Posted September 15, 2011 "Latin as a second language"...I like it! "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...
pleecan Posted September 15, 2011 Share Posted September 15, 2011 Hi John: Excellent posts as usual. I do remember meeting you for the first time many years ago at the Bertie Lagerstatte.... I must have drove you crazy with the questions I kept asking as I was a clueless newbie (still am) ... everything that I found was totally new..... on that day you gave me a cd with document pertaining to fossils which I was grateful to you and for your patients... Chance meeting between you and Bill Hessin.... gave me my early start in fossil collecting.... I still drive fellow fossil hunters like Sam and Tod and Bryan and Glenn and others crazy in the field still to this day with the "what is this? " question. I consider myself a perpetual Newbie :Bananasaur: PL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ludwigia Posted September 15, 2011 Share Posted September 15, 2011 Hi John, :wub: Love the prime samples. I can really identify with what you're telling. Best wishes, Roger Greetings from the Lake of Constance. Roger http://www.steinkern.de/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shamalama Posted September 15, 2011 Share Posted September 15, 2011 Hmmm... I may need to consult with you on Spirifer type brachs and their ID's. Books are useful but nothing beats field experience and pictures. -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...
crinus Posted September 15, 2011 Share Posted September 15, 2011 VERY nice stuff. I especially like the Phacops trio. You also did a great job on the brachs. crinus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xonenine Posted September 15, 2011 Share Posted September 15, 2011 thats a great dipleura, you wouldnt have a bigger pic of that one would you? Regardless, they all wonderful specimens. "Your serpent of Egypt is bred now of your mud by the operation of your sun; so is your crocodile." Lepidus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheFossilHunter Posted September 15, 2011 Share Posted September 15, 2011 very nice story...simple and tasteful Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CousinLarry Posted September 16, 2011 Share Posted September 16, 2011 Those are the cleanest trilobites I ever saw.. Very nice!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alopias Posted September 16, 2011 Share Posted September 16, 2011 my congratulations for nice spécimens and great pictures Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hrguy54 Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 Just came across your post. Very nice specimens! Question.....I only collect those brachiopods that are complete, upper and lower shell. Do you? How much of your collection is both "sides" of the shell? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Missourian Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 As this thread was bumped to the top of the list, I now have to comment on the excellence of all the fossils. Context is critical. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now