A Not So Gainful Trip

[Kane]

So this will be a tale of meh. Given the unseasonal warmth in Ontario that is usually blanketed in snow, we had been snow-free for a number of weeks (although winter's vengeance has returned). On the last Friday, I hopped a train and stayed at my usual fleabag motel to bother my Ordovician site.

 

The site is far east of Toronto, with both Verulam and Bobcaygeon Fms in play. Sadly, it may have been tapped out, but I made a go of it anyway. Many of the Ontario Ordovician usual suspects were encountered, such as nautiloids, brachiopods, bryozoans, ichnofossils, conularids, gastropods, and tons of trilo-parts. What I took home fills just one flat, but here we go...

[Kane]

The only viable crinoid I found. The haze is from my applying super glue in the field as the arms were going to blast off. I have not yet looked at the literature to determine genus or species, but this material is not kind to anything complete. A small win.

[Kane]

Not sure if this Pleurocystites squamosa will be complete, but I do know the anterior tentacular bits are. Body plates are iffy. Also pictured is what I suspect to be a loose Carabocrinus

[Kane]

In terms of trilobites, I encountered most of them... in pieces and fragments. My goal is always complete or near-complete specimens unless the fragments come from very rare species (as in the Hibbertia I found at this location in November). These were the "finds" of the trip. There was one Ceraurus  that did not survice extraction, but these cheirurids did albeit incomplete and set on Chondrites layers. A complete prone Flexicalymene senaria sits on a very thin flake, but should prep out all right. The matrix-free Ceraurus plattinensis can be reattached to a plate with another potentially near complete trilo friend, and I do have the complete right genal in a bit of foil. Finding two slabs of doubles was a nice uptick to the trip, but hardly worth the expense. That said, collecting fossils in Ontario in February is generally unheard of. I can cross this location off my list, which is actually helpful. My next trip is set for mid-April in the Ottawa area after I do some work in Brockville. 

[Kato]

That looks like a great collecting day to me!

[FossilDAWG]

The first crinoid looks like either a Cupulocrinus or a Dendrocrinus.

I also like the Carabocrinus, and the Pleurocystites has potential.  Not bad for a February collecting trip, better than most .

 

Don

[FossilNerd]

I was wondering how the quick trip went… Well now I know! Not the windfall you wanted, but coming home with something worth keeping is better than nothing.
 

I’m just amazed you didn’t have to dig through 2 feet of snow to find the ground! 

 

 

[Jeffrey P]

Looks like a very productive trip to me. Congrats on your finds and great photos. That first crinoid crown is quite impressive and some of those trilobites as well. Good going and thanks for sharing your adventures.

[Sjfriend]

I would have been ecstatic with those. But then again I've never (and probably never will) get to hunt there.

 

The crinoid and the trilobites are cool!

[sixgill pete]

The important thing is you got out to fossil in February! 

[Kane]

Doing just some light prep on the finds today. On the plate with the Pleurocystites, I bumped into this, which is a rare trilobite, Kawina trentonensis, a cheirurid which is only known by isolated cranidia. Not fully prepared yet, but it compares favourably well to Hessin's example in his book, South Central Ontario Fossils: A Guide to the Ancient Marine Life of the Region. It may be tiny and seemingly insignificant on account of just being a cranidium, but no other more complete examples are known. 

 

[Mochaccino]

Nice finds. The first crinoid is a Cupulocrinus. Some prep on the calyx would be needed to determine species but if the calyx plates are bulbous/ridged and there is a sharp angle between the stem and basal plates as I suspect, it will be a C. jewetti, which is the rarer species.

Edited February 20 by Mochaccino

[jpc]

Great finds... love that crinoid.  Always a treat to get out in Feb.  We have had a very non-wintery winter here as well.  Planning to go find some teeth this weekend.  Highs around 50 F (=11deg C).  

[Darktooth]

Good to see a trip report from you Kane. I would have been happy to find any of the goodies that you found. Atleast you got out doing what you love. Being able to get out and find things during the winter months is a blessing.

[Andúril Flame of the West]

I must second the opinions of the others and say that you indeed had some great finds. If this was not a gainful trip then I am not sure what to think of even my “successful” trips…

 

The crinoid is great as are the Ceraurus!

[trilobites_are_awesome]

@Kane Looks like an amazing trip!

That Ceraurus With Hypostome is so cool!

[Kane]

And another little surprise while my abrader was magically working for a little bit (it has since gone back to being useless). I picked this piece up because it had a few tiny tubercular bumps. I'm on the fence if this is a fragment of Bufoceraurus or starfish. 

 

[FossilDAWG]

I don't think I'm seeing a starfish.

 

Don

[Tidgy's Dad]

I agree with the others in that I would have been ecstatic with those finds.

The brachiopods alone would have made my year.