Is this a Conulariid Pearl? (Missouri)

[Samurai]

Location: Missouri

Period: Pennsylvanian

Formation: Iola Limestone (Muncie Creek Shale Member?) 

 

Hello once again and I have come up with an interesting find. I recently came across my 7th Conulariid while fossil hunting and decided it was time to do a deep dive on Google. I came across some information that Conulariids can have pearls, which If I hadn't seen it I wouldn't have believed it. I decided to look at that specific specimen more closely and to my surprise I may have found one of these Conu-Pearls.

 

Here is an image from the paper:

Babcock, L.E. (1990). Conulariid Pearls. pp. 68-71 IN: Evolutionary Paleobiology of Behavior and Coevolution. Elsevier Scientific Publishing, 725 pp.

 

My Specimen:

 

I have long suspected that my Conularrids were a part of the Genus Paraconularia but never nailed down the species. If anyone can confirm please let me know. The paper mentions that these pearls are made out of Calcium Phosphate and my specimen's possible "pearl(s)" are consistent with the color, shine, and appearance of the Chitin-Calcium-Phosphate shells of brachiopods I have found around the area and other localities. I think the pearl's color is distinct enough from the Conulariids exoskeleton, but I may be wrong. 

 

 

 

As these pearls form in layers, I assume the fragment on the image's left side to be the pearl's outer ring that somehow detached from the actual main pearl (on the right side).

 

Ultimately I would like to hear other people's opinions as I don't want to be a "Conu-Liar". 

 

 

Also here is the size of the Conulariid along with another, albeit Crushed specimen.  

 

I, unfortunately, do not have the rest of my Conulariids on me as I was back in the area for spring break and left my main collection at my apartment. I will be able to look at the rest of the Conulariids next week, and under a lower-power microscope instead of a hand lens. 

 

 

Edit: I forgot to add an image of the "Pearl" on its side.

 

Edited March 11 by Samurai