fullofqs Posted October 25, 2010 Share Posted October 25, 2010 (edited) I was looking at various fossil websites to familiarize myself with fossils that may be found and saw some photos of dissected shark coprolites encased in some sort of nodule. I have been unable to find a description that explains what the nodules are made of or were originally made of. Some of these photos can be seen on this site: www.fossilsdirect.co.uk. They surely are pretty considering what they are! Note: It may be a few days before I can get back to this topic, so thank you in advance for any and all explanations you provide!!! Edited October 25, 2010 by fullofqs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspex Posted October 25, 2010 Share Posted October 25, 2010 Nodules like that form around organic remains when conditions are right for the chemicals in the remains to lithify the surrounding sediment. "There has been an alarming increase in the number of things I know nothing about." - Ashleigh Ellwood Brilliant “Try to learn something about everything and everything about something.” - Thomas Henry Huxley >Paleontology is an evolving science. >May your wonders never cease! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geodigger Posted October 25, 2010 Share Posted October 25, 2010 Attached is a picture of a couple of beautifully preserved shark coprolites I collected from the Upper Cretaceous of British Columbia, Canada. These ones were found in mudstone and came out nicely from the matrix. I have also seen them in calcareous concretions (nodules) but they almost always "blow" apart when you crack them open with a hammer. They seem to be composed of some sort of chalky phosphatic material. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Dactyll Posted October 25, 2010 Share Posted October 25, 2010 Geodigger.... Fair point, its probably why they are left encased within the nodule and a cross section polished.... I had a look on the website they are polished up to almost 'coprolite Jewellery' ... Cheers Steve... And Welcome if your a New Member... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Dactyll Posted October 26, 2010 Share Posted October 26, 2010 fullofqs.... They say a picture tells a 1000 words.... I knew I had one knocking about somewhere and you can see the coprolite in the middle of the rock... The rock is what is called the nodule.... Things like this I keep 'one for the record' from any particular exposure I'm collecting...What you have seen is an end section through one of these polished.... Cheers Steve... And Welcome if your a New Member... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave pom Allen Posted October 27, 2010 Share Posted October 27, 2010 Heres one i came across a couple of weeks ago Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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