Unknown Inclusions - Fossil?

[wkcarty]

Good morning! I posted this on Mindat, and they suggested I post here.

 

Can anyone help me identify the inclusions in this rock and whether they are fossils? To the best of my memory, I found it many years ago on my brother-in-law's property in the Big Sandy area of East Texas. The matrix appears to be mudstone, siltstone, or sandstone — a very soft and fine material.

When I searched online, Google directed me toward graptolite fossils, but I don't think that's what I'm looking at. I found a very similar specimen on Mindat: https://www.mindat.org/8XU-H0E, but it originated in Latvia, half a world away. It also mentions Trimerophytopsida fossils.

Thanks to anyone who can offer a suggestion!
 

[Yoda]

I don't know the local geology. Perhaps some others do. 

 

But these don't look like Graptolites. 

More likely plant material 

[Rockwood]

Plant fragments does seem most likely. I can't say that I'm certain of it though. 

[Ludwigia]

To my knowledge, the sediments of east Texas are too young to have any graptolites in them. I'm also seeing plant material here.

[TqB]

I agree it looks like plant material.

[wkcarty]

Thank you, everyone. I want to clarify: When you refer to "plant material," are you talking about fossilized plants, more recent plant material, or something in between? From reading around, I found that at least one of the geological units around Big Sandy has been extensively mined for iron over the years. Am I correct in assuming that the red coloration is due to the replacement of the plant material with iron oxides?

[Ludwigia]

Fossilized. And yes, it's very well possible that the red color is due to iron oxides, although not replaced, but rather just colored.

[Rockwood]

We call it plant material because it's not really possible to identify what part of what plant it is. It's definitely fossilized. The compressed carbon content is typically about all that actually remains in these. Most often they are darker in color.  As stated, the color red is usually caused by iron oxide. I don't know how much of what plant tissue would actually be still present here. 

[wkcarty]

21 hours ago, Ludwigia said:

Fossilized. And yes, it's very well possible that the red color is due to iron oxides, although not replaced, but rather just colored.

 

20 hours ago, Rockwood said:

We call it plant material because it's not really possible to identify what part of what plant it is. It's definitely fossilized. The compressed carbon content is typically about all that actually remains in these. Most often they are darker in color.  As stated, the color red is usually caused by iron oxide. I don't know how much of what plant tissue would actually be still present here. 

 

Thank you both. I appreciate the explanations!