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Graptolite from Texas Pennsylvanian


James Ryan

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8 hours ago, westcoast said:

Yes, they are not common but i have come across references to Pennsylvanian dendritic graptolites but have not pursued in detail

I am interested in learning more about these since I focus on the Pennsylvanian sub-period. Every reference I can find shows them living only into the Mississippian.  It would be great if anyone knows more about these. James' specimen could hardly be considered dendritic anyway so I think we can eliminate that possibility.

 

edit: I just noticed John's comment and will try another search. I wonder if the ones from Kansas City were verified to not be dendrites of the other kind.

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2 hours ago, BobWill said:

I am interested in learning more about these since I focus on the Pennsylvanian sub-period. Every reference I can find shows them living only into the Mississippian.  It would be great if anyone knows more about these. James' specimen could hardly be considered dendritic anyway so I think we can eliminate that possibility.

 

edit: I just noticed John's comment and will try another search. I wonder if the ones from Kansas City were verified to not be dendrites of the other kind.

It looks like the Treatise is also a reference.

https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.931.4246&rep=rep1&type=pdf

825708CA-F07E-4047-BD91-7278A98ABF82.jpeg

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How do y’all recommend I go about cleaning for better photos. Magnetic test came back negative, I suppose that was as in-depth as I went, but would rule out farm equipment..... the way it blended in with it’s natural surroundings and strata was far too natural for me to assume it is metal. I am open to doing whatever tests y’all recommend.

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If it is lead, magnets wouldn't work. Lead isn't magnetic, but it is heavy. Try scoring a small area with the tip of a knife. If it's lead or another soft metal, the knife will cut into it a bit.

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A streak test might help

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Ok, with the magnet you have ruled out pure iron, nickel and cobalt as well as some other elements and alloys. But not even all kinds of steel are magnetic.

If you cannot scratch it it is not lead (nor pure copper, tin,  aluminum or gold).

Another thing to try (without damaging it) is measuring its density. Easiest way to estimate the volume is putting it into a full glass of water, best with a grommet, carefully und measuring how much water flows out. Then divide the samples weight by the volume (or weight of the water, density 1g/cm³) and you know your samples density. Many common metals are about twice as dense (around 6-8g/cm³) as your average stone and fossils(2-4g/cm³), that would explain it feeling heavy. of course there are exceptions like aluminum, but you ruled those out already. If it is really heavy (12-20 g/cm³) it gets interesting...gold, platinum, uranium ;)

Sorry I do only know the metric values.

Best regards,

J

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8 hours ago, BobWill said:

I am interested in learning more about these since I focus on the Pennsylvanian sub-period. Every reference I can find shows them living only into the Mississippian.  It would be great if anyone knows more about these. James' specimen could hardly be considered dendritic anyway so I think we can eliminate that possibility.

 

edit: I just noticed John's comment and will try another search. I wonder if the ones from Kansas City were verified to not be dendrites of the other kind.

My mistake, the reference I had seen was from the lower Namurian, hence top of Mississipian.

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