Castle Rock Posted June 19, 2020 Share Posted June 19, 2020 About a week ago, I was visiting relatives in Western Kansas and was taken to a very small exposure of Upper Niobrara chalk on the family farm. I have been hunting in the area for many years and I had never paid any attention to this particular location. I did not see much material that was worth picking up, BUT then..the unusual texture of this particular "stone" caught my eye. Because the exposure consisted of a few feet of the Upper chalk covered by a thin veneer of sand and gravel (Ogallala?) and then the top soil, I am not at all certain of the geologic age of this specimen. The relative absence of wear does not suggest that it was transported with the sand & gravel, BUT I have NEVER heard of any fossil sponges (or coral for that matter) from the Smoky Hill Chalk. I would VERY much appreciate your suggestions as to the age & identity of this find. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xiphactinus Posted June 19, 2020 Share Posted June 19, 2020 That looks like the rudist clam Durania 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Castle Rock Posted June 19, 2020 Author Share Posted June 19, 2020 @Xipahctinus Well, that would certainly make more sense to me. I might have made the same conclusion, however there is no defined aperture on the top. I might say that I have only found one small fragment of Durania before and, once again, the upper surface has a clearly defined opening. Certainly a unique find in my experience! Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xiphactinus Posted June 19, 2020 Share Posted June 19, 2020 That’s weird looking for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Castle Rock Posted June 20, 2020 Author Share Posted June 20, 2020 I have some additional photos of the one Durania fragment that I collected a few years ago. The surface texture has clear similarities to the more recent find. I would be inclined to agree that the newest specimen is, in fact, Durania. I can only explain the different appearance of the top as the result of post burial deformation. As I stated in an earlier note, it certainly remains a most unique specimen! Any thoughts/feedback is welcomed! Dave 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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