FossilDAWG Posted October 27, 2023 Share Posted October 27, 2023 Back in 2020 I went with a university paleontology class to a quarry in Alabama where the Mississippian Bangor Formation is exposed. Much of the formation is massive pure limestone, which is used for cement production. However at the top of the quarry there are thin limestone layers separated by shale. As this is unsuitable for cement, it is stripped off and discarded adjacent to the quarry, and we are allowed to search this. Crinoids and blastoids are common finds, and other fossils including chondrichthyans ("shark" teeth and spines) are found occasionally. On the 2020 trip I found a partial large edrioasteroid, the first the professor had seen and they had been leading trips to the quarry for many years. (BTW edrioasteroids are known from other Bangor exposures, just not this quarry). Last weekend I was trimming up some fossils with a tile saw to make space in the cabinet. The edrioasteroid was still on a fairly big slab partly wrapped in aluminum foil. The back had a centimeter or so layer of dried mud and broken down shale covering it. Before I started to cut up the slab I decided to clean off the back, in part to make cutting less messy, and also just to make sure there wasn't anything interesting on that side. In the past I have cut right through good fossils because I didn't know that they were there. As I took a toothbrush to the mud and broken down shale, a bit of black appeared. This was interesting, as about the only thing in these rocks that is black are the fish teeth. A bit more scrubbing, and a beautiful Chomatodus tooth appeared, the best I have seen personally. There is a small bit (maybe ~2 mm) missing on one end, but otherwise it's all there and perfectly exposed. The taxonomy of these fish is quite confused, and even experts are declining to put species names on specimens until the genus is properly revised, so I am labeling this specimen as Chomatodus sp. Just for fun, I will be entering this one for Fossil of the Month. The edrioasteroid (Hypsiclavus huntsvillensis): The tooth (Chomatodus sp): 23 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tidgy's Dad Posted October 27, 2023 Share Posted October 27, 2023 Both of these gorgeous specimens in one rock! Plus some pretty nice fenestellids. Wow! 1 Life's Good! Tortoise Friend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FossilDAWG Posted October 27, 2023 Author Share Posted October 27, 2023 I'm surprised you missed the brachiopod next to the tooth. I do have to get sharper photos though. Don 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tidgy's Dad Posted October 27, 2023 Share Posted October 27, 2023 Yes, and I need to get better glasses. Life's Good! Tortoise Friend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piranha Posted October 27, 2023 Share Posted October 27, 2023 Zuppa di Fossili....Congrats! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaybot Posted October 28, 2023 Share Posted October 28, 2023 Wow, very nice tooth. -Jay ''...science is eminently perfectible, and that each theory has constantly to give way to a fresh one.'' -Journey to the Center of the Earth, Jules Verne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ziggycardon Posted October 28, 2023 Share Posted October 28, 2023 What an absolute beauty! Interested in all things paleontology, geology, zoology, evolution, natural history and science! Professional exotic pet keeper, huge fantasy geek, explorer of the microfossil realm, member of the BVP (Belgian Association for Paleontology), Volunteer prepper at Oertijdmuseum Boxtel. View my collection topic here: The Growing Collection of Ziggycardon My animal collection at the "Members pet" topic Ziggycardon's exploration of the microfossil realm Trips to Eben Emael (Maastrichtian of Belgium) My latest fossil hunt Next project will be a dedicated prepping space. "A mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge." - Tyrion Lannister Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erose Posted October 28, 2023 Share Posted October 28, 2023 Cooly Cool! it's always a bonus when you find fossils already in your collection you didn't see when you took them home. I found an edrio on a brach from the Cincinnatian that. was covered in mud as well. It was years after I brought it home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nimravis Posted October 28, 2023 Share Posted October 28, 2023 Very nice, it is always great to find something special. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old bones Posted October 28, 2023 Share Posted October 28, 2023 What a gorgeous tooth! Neat surprise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danielb Posted October 28, 2023 Share Posted October 28, 2023 Thats a beauty, best finds are on accident. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Psittacosaur9 Posted October 30, 2023 Share Posted October 30, 2023 Awesome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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