izak_ Posted January 1 Share Posted January 1 (edited) Over the last month I've been staying with my partner in Queensland who lives close to some amazing fossil sites, namely the Redbank Plains Formation. This formation is well known for its Paleocene/Eocene plants, insects, fishes and turtles. It was extensively collected from during the 1900s when the area was mostly comprised of pastures and bushland. Most of the fossils were found in iron-rich mudstone nodules which weathered out of the soil and gullies, although many plants and insects were collected from a clay pit and found directly in white mudstone. Nowadays, much of the formation has been covered by housing development, making it difficult to collect from. One exposure was protected within a council reserve, but fossils in there were difficult to find as they had to naturally weather out of the formation. I didn't have high hopes for finding anything in the area but after scouring geology maps I noticed one exposure which looked promising. It was mapped as Redbank Plains Formation but easily could've just been part of the surrounding Triassic/Jurassic sandstones. After finally being able to visit, we found it to be a new exposure of the Redbank Plains Formation! It didn't yield many fossils but the geology was terrific. At the top, a sandstone horizon which I think still belongs to the Redbank Plains Formation overlies the fossil bearing black carbonaceous shale, with a white clay type horizon below. Some more interesting geology just to the right of where the previous photo was taken. Just above the white clay horizon is a thin layer of tuff, overlain by more carbonaceous shale, then overlain by a thin layer of basalt, with more carbonaceous shale above. A different part of the exposure which was very rich in nodules. Fossils in these nodules were very rare in comparison to other Redbank Plains Formation sites, with just occasional plant material or fish bits. After suffering in the 34˚ summer heat for a few hours, we left in search of a different site a few hours away which yielded nothing. But then, on our way home, we noticed another potential Redbank Plains Formation exposure. This one was much more successful in terms of fossils, and also previously unknown! A partial fish as found in situ. Note the characteristic black shale it has weathered out of. The cross section of fish bones can be seen in this weathered nodule. A leaf, perhaps a Banksia sp.? A mash of fish bone in a nodule we split. Our best find of the day, a beautiful articulated fish! In situ: After some preparation (will post photos of it finished when I complete it). Unfortunately the nodule this was in fractured in many places, a result of the drying mudstone matrix. A tiny fish before and after preparation (also not finished, waiting on a replacement tip for my airscribe). This species is Notogoneus parvus. That is all for now, will update with more photos as I prepare everything! The Queensland Museum has been made aware of this new and potentially significant site, so hopefully it can be protected. Edited January 2 by izak_ 4 21 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darktooth Posted January 1 Share Posted January 1 (edited) I haven't seen many fossils from Australia. Your report and pics are a rare treat. The fish is incredible! Thanks for sharing your story! Edited January 1 by Darktooth 1 4 I like Trilo-butts and I cannot lie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted January 1 Share Posted January 1 Great report! Putting in the work, blood, sweat, and tears is the way to wind up with new sites and great potential fossils. Congratulations. Thanks for sharing this with us, Izak. 1 2 Tim - VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER VFOTM --- APRIL - 2015 __________________________________________________ "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." John Muir ~ ~ ~ ~ ><))))( *> About Me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tidgy's Dad Posted January 1 Share Posted January 1 Lovely finds. Thank you for sharing, I also love to see Australian specimens. 1 Life's Good! Tortoise Friend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffrey P Posted January 1 Share Posted January 1 I can really appreciate your research and the resultant finds. Those complete fish and that leaf are spectacular. Big congratulations and thanks for sharing. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jared C Posted January 2 Share Posted January 2 spectacular. Really well done 1 “Not only is the universe stranger than we think, it is stranger than we can think” -Werner Heisenberg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
izak_ Posted January 2 Author Share Posted January 2 Thank you all! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yoda Posted January 2 Share Posted January 2 @izak_ Great trip report, and nice finds 👍 1 MotM August 2023 - Eclectic Collector Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aplomado Posted January 2 Share Posted January 2 Very nice... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
izak_ Posted January 5 Author Share Posted January 5 An update on the larger fish: 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor Mud Posted January 5 Share Posted January 5 Wow! I’d read about the redbank plains formation when I lived in Queensland. Like you said the well known site was built over. I wondered if there were more outcrops out there. Your detective work paid off. That fish is amazing! And great to shared the site with the museum. Fossil of the month entry? 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted January 5 Share Posted January 5 3 minutes ago, Doctor Mud said: Fossil of the month entry? Really should have been entered last month. Tim - VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER VFOTM --- APRIL - 2015 __________________________________________________ "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." John Muir ~ ~ ~ ~ ><))))( *> About Me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor Mud Posted January 5 Share Posted January 5 3 minutes ago, Fossildude19 said: Really should have been entered last month. Ah - I see the post was on 1st Jan but most of the prep must have been done in December then. The finishing touches for the final update today wouldn’t count as “substantial prep”? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted January 5 Share Posted January 5 2 minutes ago, Doctor Mud said: Ah - I see the post was on 1st Jan but most of the prep must have been done in December then. The finishing touches for the final update today wouldn’t count as “substantial prep”? Unfortunately not. I would have voted for this, as fish are my main interest, and this one is a stunner. Rare locality and great preservation. 1 Tim - VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER VFOTM --- APRIL - 2015 __________________________________________________ "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." John Muir ~ ~ ~ ~ ><))))( *> About Me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
izak_ Posted January 5 Author Share Posted January 5 12 minutes ago, Doctor Mud said: Wow! I’d read about the redbank plains formation when I lived in Queensland. Like you said the well known site was built over. I wondered if there were more outcrops out there. Your detective work paid off. That fish is amazing! And great to shared the site with the museum. Fossil of the month entry? Thank you!! The majority of the prep was done on December 31st (splitting the nodule) but the gluing, air scribing etc. happened in the days after. It wasn't ready to enter on the 31st but I agree that the following prep isn't enough to justify entry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor Mud Posted January 5 Share Posted January 5 (edited) 7 hours ago, Fossildude19 said: I would have voted for this, as fish are my main interest, and this one is a stunner. Rare locality and great preservation. Oh well - finding this wonderful fish would feel like a big win after that hard work anyway 😃 it really is a beautiful fish fossil. @izak_ do you know what the depositional setting was for the fish? Edited January 5 by Doctor Mud 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted January 5 Share Posted January 5 16 minutes ago, izak_ said: Thank you!! The majority of the prep was done on December 31st (splitting the nodule) but the gluing, air scribing etc. happened in the days after. It wasn't ready to enter on the 31st but I agree that the following prep isn't enough to justify entry. Although not complete on the 31st, you should have entered it. It was perfectly recognizable as a fish, and could have been updated with the finished pictures. Fossils do not need to be completely prepped to be entered. Thought for next time. In my opinion, you won the REAL prize, by finding and prepping the fish! Much better than an internet badge. 1 4 Tim - VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER VFOTM --- APRIL - 2015 __________________________________________________ "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." John Muir ~ ~ ~ ~ ><))))( *> About Me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
izak_ Posted January 5 Author Share Posted January 5 3 minutes ago, Doctor Mud said: Oh well - finding this wonderful wish would feel like a big win after that hard work anyway 😃 it really is a beautiful fish fossil. @izak_ do you know what the depositional setting was for the fish? Cheers, much appreciated! I might have another chance with a Triassic fish nodule I'm working on but will have to see how it turns out. I assume it would've been a freshwater setting based on the fishes and freshwater turtles present. Many of the nodules seem to contain very disarticulated fish, but fortunately this one is nicely articulated despite the decomposition it seems to have undergone! 4 minutes ago, Fossildude19 said: Although not complete on the 31st, you should have entered it. It was perfectly recognizable as a fish, and could have been updated with the finished pictures. Fossils do not need to be completely prepped to be entered. Thought for next time. In my opinion, you won the REAL prize, by finding and prepping the fish! Much better than an internet badge. Good to know for next time! Thank you for that 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t-tree Posted January 5 Share Posted January 5 What are the run of segments below the large fish ? Great finds . 1 Be happy while you're living for you're a long time dead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sixgill pete Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 Wow! That fish is amazing. 1 Bulldozers and dirt Bulldozers and dirt behind the trailer, my desert Them red clay piles are heaven on earth I get my rocks off, bulldozers and dirt Patterson Hood; Drive-By Truckers May 2016 May 2012 Aug 2013, May 2016, Apr 2020 Oct 2022 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sjfriend Posted January 27 Share Posted January 27 That fish is amazing. Thank you for the rare site information. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oilshale Posted February 19 Share Posted February 19 Great report and great fish. Where can I get cheap flight tickets to Queensland? 1 Be not ashamed of mistakes and thus make them crimes (Confucius, 551 BC - 479 BC). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Petalodus12 Posted March 6 Share Posted March 6 On 1/5/2024 at 5:25 AM, izak_ said: An update on the larger fish: This thing is amazing. Do you have an ID on it? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
izak_ Posted March 7 Author Share Posted March 7 Thank you all! 16 hours ago, Petalodus12 said: This thing is amazing. Do you have an ID on it? I think it is Phareodus queenslandicus, but the taxonomy of most of the fish from here is probably outdated. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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