G-towndigger Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 Found this on a gravelbar, anybody know what the imprint is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspex Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 It's an ammonite; the pattern you see are the "sutures", tracing the septa between the chambers. Complex sutures are one of the things that distinguish ammonites from nautiloids. "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...
JohnJ Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 Do some searches for a Mortoniceras sp. ammonite. The human mind has the ability to believe anything is true. - JJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Bowen Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 Just so you know, not all ammonites, especially here in Texas where many are just casts, have that nice a pattern visible. Yours has exceptional sutures visible! Very nice find! Dave Bowen Collin County, Texas. Paleontology: The next best thing to time travel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G-towndigger Posted February 28, 2011 Author Share Posted February 28, 2011 Thanks, a little research and bam. Thanks everybody. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fossiladdict Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 (edited) Yes very hard to find ones with sutures. I've kept a few brokes that have very detailed sutures like that as well. Edited March 1, 2011 by fossiladdict Fossils are simply one of the coolest things on earth--discovering them is just marvelous! Makes you all giddy inside! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobWill Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 (edited) It's the slight differences in suture patterns that are used to tell ammonites apart that otherwise seem to look the same. The mantel at the rear of the animal that produces the septum is too large to fit inside the shell without being folded into the complex shape that leaves this line. It marks the place where it attaches to the outer shell as Auspex said. This is also one way we know that these are internal molds because this would not show on the outside of the shell. If you find an ammonite that ends at a septum you'll see that the folds at the margins of the chamber wall tend to straighten out toward the center until there's only a slight curve left. Edited March 1, 2011 by BobWill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Dactyll Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 Definately sutures... an amazing pattern...Nature the artist... Cheers Steve... And Welcome if your a New Member... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now