shorty Posted December 8, 2009 Share Posted December 8, 2009 These were all found on the same hillside - Mazon Creek area of Illinois. I think they're Lingula. 2 of them gave little internal molds (or casts?) that still look like smashed shells filled with sand. Several of the concretions have more than one shell in them, but on different sides or at different angles. The good thing is these concretions are small & oddly shaped so other people pass them up (lucky for me!) Question - What's the best way to take care of the little molds/casts so they don't break apart? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glacialerratic Posted December 8, 2009 Share Posted December 8, 2009 Nice haul! I looks to me like a lot of those are bivalves, probably Posidonia fracta. Bivalves are much more common at Mazon than brachs. The 3rd from the left, in the bottom row, does look like Lingula, though. According to Shabica, in "The Fossil Fauna of Mazon Creek," Lingula "is represented in modern seas and in the fossil record of the Cambrian." That's one long time to be around! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shamalama Posted December 8, 2009 Share Posted December 8, 2009 Nice finds, the crushed looking shells may be just that, shells that were crushed by the weight of sediment and then filled in. -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...
Terry Dactyll Posted December 8, 2009 Share Posted December 8, 2009 Shorty.... well done, nice finds.....you would of thought the nodule forming around the shell would of prevented crushing, as the shell is the nucleus for the formation of the nodule....... Cheers Steve... And Welcome if your a New Member... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glacialerratic Posted December 9, 2009 Share Posted December 9, 2009 Here's some more scans from Shabica's Guide to Mazon Creek Fauna. In the entry on brachiopods, Shabica writes, "Only two genera of brachiopods have been reported from there, their percentage of the composition of Essex biota being given as 0.1 percent." So, not impossible, but very rare. You have a better 'chance' at finding a Tully Monster, at 0.4% of biota. 1. Entry in the brachiopod chpt. 2. Bivalves 3. Key to Bivavles 4. Bivalves + key Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glacialerratic Posted December 9, 2009 Share Posted December 9, 2009 One more bivalve... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glacialerratic Posted December 9, 2009 Share Posted December 9, 2009 and a couple for fun... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grampa dino Posted December 9, 2009 Share Posted December 9, 2009 This is a small bag of Brachiopods a friend brought back from Hay River N.W.T. I should do something with them, like even clean them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shorty Posted December 9, 2009 Author Share Posted December 9, 2009 Very cool! That's a nice friend to bring you bags of fossils! You know, if those little guys are feeling neglected, just sitting in a bag waiting to be cleaned and loved - I'd be happy to take care of them for you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shorty Posted December 9, 2009 Author Share Posted December 9, 2009 Tim, Thanks for the info on bivalves & brachiopods. I'll check them again tonight & try to make sure I've got it right. In the entry on brachiopods, Shabica writes, "Only two genera of brachiopods have been reported from there, their percentage of the composition of Essex biota being given as 0.1 percent."So, not impossible, but very rare. You have a better 'chance' at finding a Tully Monster, at 0.4% of biota. But for the record, so far I've found 2 tullies & a handful of tully parts, so maybe ... Kim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glacialerratic Posted December 9, 2009 Share Posted December 9, 2009 Two Tullys? Nice! I'd love to see some photos. Yes, statistically speaking, you're on the right track! How many nodules have you split? BTW -- that island you were hunting on -- Bug Island? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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