Backyard Trip

[Missourian]

On 1/24/2014 at 9:02 PM, Wrangellian said:

I'm not sure those are stiltlike though - what I'm seeing is they are almost at right angles to the trunk so they coudl just as easily be horizontal surface roots.‎

 

Maybe not, but the possibility of stilts came to mind when I saw the horizontal extensions at two different levels. Here's how I visualize it:

 

 

I also had recalled this specific illustration in a publication, which shows the general idea if not multiple tiered roots:

 

[Wrangellian]

Maybe not, but the possibility of stilts came to mind when I saw the horizontal extensions at two different levels.

2 different levels - good point... but still they don't look like they're curving downward as in the reconstructions. Maybe something I have overlooked can account for this, I don't know.

[Missourian]

FWIW, I marked root attachments and possible points of attachment, as well as at least three roots that are still present:

 

 

Also, the stump itself is a mold in the limestone.

 

It's also possible that this is part of the (inverted) tree crown, but I'd expect the trunk to taper instead of flare out.

[PennyT.]

This time travel is fascinating. Someday I hope you will turn it into a book or at least a guide. Thank you.

[Missourian]

On 1/25/2014 at 2:14 PM, PennyT. said:

This time travel is fascinating. Someday I hope you will turn it into a book or at least a guide. Thank you.

 

Thanks Penny.

[Missourian]

A nice afternoon in January calls for another excursion. Today, near the new section of bike path, I walked up a small side creek to check for possible outcrops or anything that catches my interest. Paths through the woods and along the creek made for a pleasant hike:

 

 

The creek cobbles indicated that the goods may be found nearby:

 

 

This metaconglomerate, on the other hand, came a really long way:

 

 

This most likely is some Precambrian Sioux Quartzite transported by glaciers from Minnesota or South Dakota. The Precambrian Baraboo Quartzite from Wisconsin is another possibility.

 

Soon enough, I came across some shale and limestone:

 

 

Judging by the appearance, I figured this is lower Farley Limestone. One way to be sure is to break off a piece and check for ooids. Check:

 

 

One of these days, I hope some cephalopods and trilobites turn up in this stuff as they occasionally do in the Winterset and Westerville oolites.

[Missourian]

Turkey tail fungus. I hadn't seen these this colorful:

 

 

Ouch:

 

[squalicorax]

Very nice conglomerate. I have seen similar ones in the baraboo range here in WI

[Missourian]

South of the Martha Thomson Sanctuary ( http://www.thefossilforum.com/index.php?/topic/25424-backyard-trip/?p=473710 ) is the Walnut Woods Conservation area. At the site, some mountain biking volunteers maintain a network of trails through the forest. A couple weeks ago, I visited the area for the first time. When I walked some of the trails, I noticed some outcrops of chert:

 

 

This likely is Winterset Limestone, but the Westerville Limestone is also a possibility.

 

A few days ago, I worked my way down to Rush Creek, which also flows through this area. Along the way, I encountered this outcrop of limestone:

 

 

This is either the Winterset or the Bethany Falls Limestone. The bedding seemed to be too 'tight' to be Wintereset. It had the massive appearance of the Bethany Falls, but it didn't seem quite right. I'd have to walk around the area some more before I could be sure.

 

The rock here looks more like planks of wood:

 

 

Laminae and lichens:

 

 

For some reason, someone built a shelter against the outcrop:

 

 

This outcrop is probably an old cut bank of Rush Creek. As I was hoping to find some of the lower beds in the strata column, I was disappointed that the creek wasn't cutting into the bedrock here.

[Missourian]

I worked my way upstream. The narrowing of the strip of land between the creek channel and bluff possibly indicated a cut bank ahead. Before that, I spotted some bedrock below. As I made my way down, I had to deal with a nasty thicket of thorns. Why don't I notice the stuff until I'm right in the middle of it? Anyway, I got close to the bedrock:

 

 

This is more similar to the concrete-appearing limestone of the upper Bethany Falls.

 

Bits of rock could be seen along the slope up ahead. Again, the creek didn't quite cut into the bedrock. There were just scattered boulders along the side of the channel. Higher up, the beds of the middle Winterset could be seen:

 

 

I continued my hike upstream but didn't spot anything else before I reached a property line. Along the way back to the parking lot, the Missouri River valley could be seen to the south:

 

 

Goose convention:

 

[Missourian]

As it turns out, a decent outcrop of Spring Hill Limestone in the 'backyard' happens to have some sponges with excellent detail. I've mentioned them in passing in the 'backyard trip' thread here: http://www.thefossilforum.com/index.php?/topic/25424-backyard-trip/page-10#entry325318 and here: http://www.thefossilforum.com/index.php?/topic/25424-backyard-trip/?p=332957 , as well as in my Pennsylvanian sponge thread here: http://www.thefossilforum.com/index.php?/topic/25240-pennsylvanian-sponges-from-kansas-missouri/?p=476421 .

 

In spring 2012, I found a sponge locked in a piece of limestone:

 

 

I assume it is Heliospongia, or a heliospongiid of some kind, due to the rows of spicules.

 

A couple months later, I found a chunk of limestone with some ghostly rings:

 

Because I couldn't make out any detail, I asssumed the rings were lined burrows of some kind. Recently, I took a closer look at the rings, the smallest one (arrowed), seemed to have structure:

 

Under the microscope, it displays the spicular network of a sponge:

 

I have no idea which sponge it could be. The mesh is too fine and irregular to be Heliospongia.

 

Now I'm wondering if the other, larger rings could be sponges as well. I still can't make out any detail.... yet:

[Missourian]

These sponges were found in the middle beds of the Spring Hill:

 

 

Intriguingly, the beds at the bottom have lenses of chert. This chert very well could have come from countless silica sponge spicules that once littered the sea floor. I'm hoping I can extract some silicified spicules or even some sponges with acid from the surrounding limestone. If only I can get some free time without cold or snow everywhere....

[Missourian]

It was (briefly) warm outside, so I enjoyed some time at the Maple Woods Natural Area. The preserve is known for its ephemeral spring wildflowers, so I thought it was late enough in the season to spot a few here and there. As I followed the trail, I spotted an exposure of Spring Hill Limestone atop the ridge line:

 

 

Crinoid and bryozoan debris indicates this is the lower part of the unit:

 

 

Other fossils can be found, including brachiopods (Echinaria):

 

 

And pelecypods (Pteronites):

 

[Missourian]

Snail shells littered the slope:

 

 

Life from two eras represented:

 

 

I did spot some wildflowers. Dutchman's breeches were everywhere:

 

[Missourian]

We spent a nice afternoon walking the bike path along Line Creek. There are some 'strata' exposed where an old road crosses the creek:

 

 

The beds are unfossiliferous. They overlie the Paola Limestone:

 

 

Some stratigraphic context:

 

 

And now some wildflowers, which are really coming out in force....

 

Ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea):

 

 

Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis):

 

 

Blue lilies. No idea which species:

 

[Missourian]

I often include photos of wildflowers here as an aside, but I came across some in Hobby Hill Park that are likely geologically relevant:

 

Tiny bluet (Houstonia pusilla):

 

 

Parlin's pussytoes (Antennaria parlinii):

 

 

This is the first time I've seen either species in the area. These plants are indicators of acidic soils, which are produced by silica-rich rocks such as quartz sandstone, as well as chert and various igneous and metamorphic types. It just so happens these are growing in soil that overlies the Tonganoxie Sandstone, which is exposed a bit in the same field:

 

 

Plus, there likely aren’t any limestone units further up the slope that could neutralize the soil pH.

 

This plant-rock association can potentially be useful for those searching for outcrops as well as for wildflowers. In this case, the flowers could have been indicators that the spotty sandstone may potentially be outcropping somewhere nearby.

[squalicorax]

Poison ivy loves Limey soils. Great post.

[Missourian]

On 5/3/2014 at 4:08 PM, squalicorax said:

Poison ivy loves Limey soils. Great post.

 

Thanks. Yeah, that explains why so much of the stuff grows around here.

[Missourian]

Continuing in Hobby Hill Park….

Just down the hill from the sandstone bits, I returned to some tilted strata in a creek that I visited a couple years ago ( http://www.thefossilforum.com/index.php?/topic/25424-backyard-trip/page-12#entry338804 ).



The angle of the dip is striking when compared with the level water. More of the limestone is exposed in a cut bank just downstream:



These exposed beds are most likely a portion of the Spring Hill Limestone. It's also possible they could be the overlying Stoner.

Most interesting of all is a substantial spring that flows from the bank nearby:

 

This is the most impressive spring I’ve seen in the entire Kansas City region. The discharge forms a creek in its own right. The continuous flowing water has carved out a pit-like depression in the slope. The spring opening itself is a gaping fissure in the top of some limestone. The several feet of shale above indicate that this is the Stoner Limestone:

 

It is very likely the spring resulted from the structural disturbance that caused the tilted beds in the immediate vicinity. Just to the west, the same fold is well exposed along the highway (described here: http://www.thefossilforum.com/index.php?/topic/25424-backyard-trip/page-8#entry317607 ):

 

 

There are reports of a fault in the area, but so far, I haven't seen any evidence of one in outcrops. There apparently is a substantial cave that surfaces further up on the hill on the other side of the park. This cave is thought to be due to the effects of the fault. It is almost certainly associated with the spring. Unfortunately, the location of the entrance is hidden behind backyard fences, assuming it still exists.

[Missourian]

Long ago, someone found and made use of the spring:



They also apparently buried their trash nearby, which has since been found by someone else :

 

Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica):

 

 

These plants seemed out of place. Although they are native to the area, I've never seen them before. These bluebells, along with some Vinca minor ground cover in the woods, may be evidence that a house (with a garden) once stood at or near this location. The spring pipes and trash pile seem to be as well.

[Missourian]

I returned to the Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary ( http://www.thefossilforum.com/index.php?/topic/25424-backyard-trip/?p=473710 ) to explore some more of the trails. I was searching for wildflowers, but any outcrops that turned up would be a bonus. I already found a couple good exposures of the Winterset Limestone along the main creek. Judging by the specimens displayed at the visitor center, these beds do contain some fine Cordaites leaves. I haven't found any, but collecting is not allowed in the sanctuary anyway.

 

Higher up in the hills, several exposures of Westerville Limestone can be seen along some of the trails:

 

 

The best are along what was probably an old road bed. I'm not sure if this was a proper road or some kind of access to an old rail line that ran parallel to it. Anyway, I had to crawl through the honeysuckle to get a decent look:

 

 

This has some light brown chert concretions near the top that are diagnostic of the Westerville in the area:



In another spot, some styolites can be seen in the Westerville:

 

Styolites form as the weight of overlying strata force the limestone to dissolve along a surface. It probably started along a bedding plane. As the solutioning progressed, variations in the fabric of the limestone caused pronounced irregularities in the surface area. When seen in cross section, these appear as zig-zag structures in the rock (from Wikipedia):

 

 

When the limestone is broken along these surfaces, they often display the palisade-like pattern seen above.

 

Ok, now for some fossils :

 

 

These were found in a large boulder placed along the trail. This most likely is Westerville.

[Missourian]

Now for some wildflowers....

 

Wild columbine (Aquilegia canadensis). I'd been hoping to spot some of these:

 

 

Dwarf larkspur (Delphinium tricorne):

 

 

Although the larkspur bloom in the spring, their appearance makes me think of Halloween.

 

And in case you're wondering what honeysuckle looks like:

 

 

This stuff grows everywhere.

[PFOOLEY]

That is a beautiful columbine! I have never seen one that color.

[Missourian]

On 5/27/2014 at 9:14 AM, PFOOLEY said:

That is a beautiful columbine! I have never seen one that color.

 

Thanks. That's the first time I've seen them anywhere. Here's another one:

 

[Plantguy]

Cool stratigraphy posts and fantastic plants!!! Regards, Chris