Doug Von Gausig Posted December 11, 2020 Share Posted December 11, 2020 These tiny fossils I suspect of being Receptaculites, but I'm not at all sure. The patch is about 12x12mm, about the size of a dime. It's on Martin formation dolomite from the Devonian, Verde Valley, Arizona. Other fossils on the same rock include Rugose and Tabulate corals and unidentified Brachiopods. Note the lichens growing in and on the sample. Any ideas? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minnbuckeye Posted December 11, 2020 Share Posted December 11, 2020 Not a recepticulite. They have a geometric (fractile?) to their surface appearance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpc Posted December 11, 2020 Share Posted December 11, 2020 These look like living lichen. Not a fossil. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DPS Ammonite Posted December 11, 2020 Share Posted December 11, 2020 The Martin Fm. (Devonian) is the wrong age for Receptaculites which is common in the Ordovician. Receptaculites has a double spiral pattern. 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...
westcoast Posted December 11, 2020 Share Posted December 11, 2020 Modern lichen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LabRatKing Posted December 11, 2020 Share Posted December 11, 2020 This is lichen likely in the genus Ericetorum. It has some abrasion damage and is in its desiccated "resting" phase. Much of it however, is dead, and the interesting formations it leaves behind are a combination of the erosion by the lichen and weathering. The yellow stuff is colloquially called "Sunfire" or "Starburst" lichen and can be any number of species. If you have this specimen at home, mist it lightly with distilled water every night for a few weeks and leave it on a warm, indirect light windowsill. You will get a spectacular "chia garden" from it. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Von Gausig Posted December 13, 2020 Author Share Posted December 13, 2020 On 12/11/2020 at 1:22 PM, LabRatKing said: This is lichen likely in the genus Ericetorum. It has some abrasion damage and is in its desiccated "resting" phase. Much of it however, is dead, and the interesting formations it leaves behind are a combination of the erosion by the lichen and weathering. The yellow stuff is colloquially called "Sunfire" or "Starburst" lichen and can be any number of species. If you have this specimen at home, mist it lightly with distilled water every night for a few weeks and leave it on a warm, indirect light windowsill. You will get a spectacular "chia garden" from it. Thanks! I'm going to try the "Chia Pet" technique! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LabRatKing Posted December 13, 2020 Share Posted December 13, 2020 1 hour ago, Doug Von Gausig said: Thanks! I'm going to try the "Chia Pet" technique! It takes a very long time! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Von Gausig Posted December 16, 2020 Author Share Posted December 16, 2020 On 12/13/2020 at 1:40 PM, LabRatKing said: It takes a very long time! The field of lichen has already greened up! Interesting. I'd love to know how old this little patch is. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LabRatKing Posted December 16, 2020 Share Posted December 16, 2020 4 hours ago, Doug Von Gausig said: The field of lichen has already greened up! Interesting. I'd love to know how old this little patch is. Likely very, very old. Since you are gardening it, a few tips: let it dry out between waterings now that you have it growing. Many non vascular plants get additional nutrients from the dust in the air that settles on them, so from time to time, let it get some dust from outdoors! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Von Gausig Posted December 17, 2020 Author Share Posted December 17, 2020 19 hours ago, LabRatKing said: Likely very, very old. Since you are gardening it, a few tips: let it dry out between waterings now that you have it growing. Many non vascular plants get additional nutrients from the dust in the air that settles on them, so from time to time, let it get some dust from outdoors! Here are two images showing the lichen as I found it and after two days of water. Remarkably responsive! Also, as I've read more, and as you said, this guy could be very, very (very!) old -- possibly in the thousands of years. Some references question whether there is a limit to their age! Seems lichens subscribe to Dunbar's (from "Catch 22") theory that to live longer, you need to make time pass slowly by embracing boredom and discomfort. 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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