Astro Posted February 10, 2020 Share Posted February 10, 2020 My 6 year old son found a strange large rock with a mid section of discoloration. The top of the rock seemed like limestone and the bottom something else. We split it open and he found this. The rocks were probably imported to support the local stream bed in Emmitsburg, MD. They look like worms, or roots in a rock. Any ideas? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
connorp Posted February 10, 2020 Share Posted February 10, 2020 Possibly some kind of trace fossil. Clearer pictures, including ones that show the relief of the objects in question, would be helpful. You say they're Cambrian aged in your tags. Why do you think that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thecosmilia Trichitoma Posted February 10, 2020 Share Posted February 10, 2020 They could be trace fossils such as Thalassinoides burrows. 1 It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt -Mark Twain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Astro Posted February 10, 2020 Author Share Posted February 10, 2020 Thanks. I will look up what trace fossils are and also Thalassinoides. I did not know what to put in tag, so I put what I could find on the internet of anything closely resembling. Native rocks in Emmitsburg I'm told are triassic red shale. This was clearly not native to the stream. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DPS Ammonite Posted February 10, 2020 Share Posted February 10, 2020 32 minutes ago, Thecosmilia Trichitoma said: Thalassinoides burrows Thalassinoides burrows are sometimes associated with shrimp like creatures are not common in the Cambrian. More likely they are fillings of cracks formed in mud on the land surface. 1 My goal is to leave no stone or fossil unturned. See my Arizona Paleontology Guide link The best single resource for Arizona paleontology anywhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrangellian Posted February 10, 2020 Share Posted February 10, 2020 My thinking as well, DPS, whatever the rock's age. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockwood Posted February 10, 2020 Share Posted February 10, 2020 4 hours ago, DPS Ammonite said: More likely they are fillings of cracks formed in mud on the land surface. Another possibility for this look that is slightly less well developed (less connected into a single pattern) would be syneresis cracks. They form when salt water sediments are inundated with fresh water. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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