Phosphatic Concretions Of The Pennsylvanian Muncie Creek Shale

[Roz]

The only thing I can think of is that they were some kind of reinforcing structures in the plates.

Yes, something of a protective nature does make sense.

[Missourian]

I examined another mandible of the same kind shown in the post at http://www.thefossilforum.com/index.php?/topic/25758-phosphatic-concretions-of-the-pennsylvanian-muncie-creek-shale/?p=411124 and http://www.thefossilforum.com/index.php?/topic/25758-phosphatic-concretions-of-the-pennsylvanian-muncie-creek-shale/?p=425472 :

 

 

The teeth aren't as good, but much of the detail is exquisite:

 

[Missourian]

Much detail can be seen. Small teeth (?), spongy bone structure, and vessel canals (?), among other things:

 

 

Some more spongy bone:

 

 

The shiny encrustation here may be a 'snapshot' of the beginning of the phosphatization process:

 

 

The delicate structures were preserved during the earliest stages of fossilization as minerals covered the surfaces before they were destroyed by decay and bioturbation.

[fossilized6s]

Wow Missourian awesome stuff here! You've found some great pieces.

Have you found any more lately?

Do you freeze/thaw these like i do with my Mazon nods?

[Missourian]

On 10/22/2014 at 0:54 AM, fossilized6s said:

Wow Missourian awesome stuff here! You've found some great pieces.

Have you found any more lately?

Do you freeze/thaw these like i do with my Mazon nods?

 

Thanks.

 

I find a few now and then. With competition with other collectors and deterioration of sites, the pickings aren't quite like they were.

For me, it's pretty much pop with a hammer. The ones with good stuff usually split pretty readily.

[Petalodus12]

On 6/28/2013 at 11:36 AM, Roz said:

I love seeing those!

Do you know what those are called? To the right of the xxxxx's?

I may have solved some of my mystery bones because several look

just like those..

IK this is a super old thread, but these are the paths of the lateral line canals. They run all over the skull and down the side of the fish, and allow it to sense pressure changes in the water column.

[Jaybot]

I live in the KC area, and I didn't know Phosphatic nodules existed, let alone the idea that I could find these nodules in the shale layers. Finding info on fossil localities in the KC area is tough. Now I'll have to keep my eye out, and hope to find some of these nodules.