NateFollmer Posted May 20, 2020 Share Posted May 20, 2020 First off, sorry for taking a “field photo”. I took a photo of this and then we left it back at the pit (it’s pure chaos trying to keep 3 kids in order lol). We found a good bit of these darker things near the top of a shale pit in Mifflin Co (I think we’re still in Mifflin, if not it’s the southern tip of Centre). That one on the left by itself is around 2 1/2 inches long (~63mm). I tried to do some research and I think there was also some burrows in the shale in that area, but I’m a total noob so maybe I’m just seeing what I want to see (I’ll get photos of them next time we go out). Hopefully that’s enough info to get started. Let me know if I can add anything else or get more photos when we go back! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darktooth Posted May 20, 2020 Share Posted May 20, 2020 Actually, we encourage field photos, so you did good. Unfortunately I am not sure what the dark objects are. Could be some sort of mineral form. Maybe someone else will have a better idea. 2 I like Trilo-butts and I cannot lie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeschWhat Posted May 21, 2020 Share Posted May 21, 2020 Welcome to the forum! Lori www.areallycrappystory.com/fossils www.facebook.com/fossilpoo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grandpa Posted May 21, 2020 Share Posted May 21, 2020 Not sure what you found, but I too wanted to extend a welcome to TFF from Austin, Tx. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NateFollmer Posted May 21, 2020 Author Share Posted May 21, 2020 Thanks all! Regardless of what it is, it was enough to get the boys excited! That’s enough for me! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharkdoctor Posted May 21, 2020 Share Posted May 21, 2020 Welcome from Virginia! Site and trip photos are awesome and a great part of any trip post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FossilNerd Posted May 21, 2020 Share Posted May 21, 2020 I'm leaning towards geological, but even so, I'm not sure what. @Shamalama is from Pennsylvania. I wonder if he has ever seen something like this? 2 The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it. -Neil deGrasse Tyson Everyone you will ever meet knows something you don't. -Bill Nye (The Science Guy) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NateFollmer Posted May 21, 2020 Author Share Posted May 21, 2020 15 minutes ago, FossilNerd said: I'm leaning towards geological, but even so, I'm not sure what. @Shamalama is from Pennsylvania. I wonder if he has ever seen something like this? My kids thought it was fossilized bear poop. Let’s go with that lol 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TOM BUCKLEY Posted May 21, 2020 Share Posted May 21, 2020 Burrows? Ophiomorpha? Tom AVOCATIONAL PALEONTOLOGIST STROKE SURVIVOR CANCER SURVIVOR CURMUDGEON "THERE IS A VERY FINE LINE BETWEEN AVOCATIONAL PALEONTOLOGY AND MENTAL ILLNESS" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeschWhat Posted May 22, 2020 Share Posted May 22, 2020 23 hours ago, NateFollmer said: My kids thought it was fossilized bear poop. Let’s go with that lol Okay, I like your kids already. Fossil poop is my favorite! 1 Lori www.areallycrappystory.com/fossils www.facebook.com/fossilpoo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westcoast Posted May 22, 2020 Share Posted May 22, 2020 They look like mineral-stained concretions.but I do think you should post an image of bear poop for comparison. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeschWhat Posted May 22, 2020 Share Posted May 22, 2020 15 hours ago, westcoast said: They look like mineral-stained concretions.but I do think you should post an image of bear poop for comparison. I have my own photo of a pile I found up in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, but I can't find it. Dang! Oh well. https://bear.org/scat-droppings/ 1 Lori www.areallycrappystory.com/fossils www.facebook.com/fossilpoo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sTamprockcoin Posted May 24, 2020 Share Posted May 24, 2020 I'd lean toward mud clasts. Though burrows are not out of the realm of possibility. If you want a heads up on a cool little spots to take kids to in center Centre County or in Blair County. Let me know. “Beautiful is what we see. More beautiful is what we understand. Most beautiful is what we do not comprehend.” N. Steno Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ash Posted May 24, 2020 Share Posted May 24, 2020 It looks cool no matter what it is - make a nice decoration. 1 "Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe" - Saint Augustine"Those who can not see past their own nose deserve our pity more than anything else." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NateFollmer Posted May 25, 2020 Author Share Posted May 25, 2020 Thanks all! @sTamprockcoin that would be awesome. I recently moved to Hollidaysburg, so I’m a little lost on this side of the state. Most of my treks in the woods were on the eastern side (Centre Co was about as far west as I’ve really explored). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shamalama Posted May 26, 2020 Share Posted May 26, 2020 On 5/20/2020 at 10:15 PM, FossilNerd said: I'm leaning towards geological, but even so, I'm not sure what. @Shamalama is from Pennsylvania. I wonder if he has ever seen something like this? On 5/22/2020 at 2:53 AM, westcoast said: They look like mineral-stained concretions.but I do think you should post an image of bear poop for comparison. Odd looking structures but I have seen similar before in the Mahantango and Trimmer Rock formations. Concretions of some sort that have been stained with a mineral I believe. Interesting to see that many near each other. Dave 2 -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...
Plax Posted May 26, 2020 Share Posted May 26, 2020 18 minutes ago, Shamalama said: Odd looking structures but I have seen similar before in the Mahantango and Trimmer Rock formations. Concretions of some sort that have been stained with a mineral I believe. Interesting to see that many near each other. Dave I'm agreeing. In addition to that I'd say if they are much harder than the enclosing shale I'd pop a few open. The best Greenops I've ever collected from the Mahantango were in purple concretions. They were also in the surrounding shale but not as complete and definitely crumbly. We also got a few crinoid calyces from the purple concretions. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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