Missourian Posted December 27, 2011 Share Posted December 27, 2011 The Middle Creek Limestone is the transgressive limestone of the Swope Formation, which means it can be found below the prominent Bethany Falls Limestone in the eastern and southern parts of the Kansas City area. In this area, the normally solid bed of limestone has a shale parting in the middle. This produces many excellent brachiopods, bryozoans, crinoids, and other invertebrates. Also in the shale are lenses of limestone that are often covered with fossils. These are exquisitely detailed and are very popular among local collectors. I've included images of a few here. A fine mess of fossils. The 'twigs' are the bryozoan Rhombopora: Some more Rhombopora, along with some Derbyia brachiopods: Another, larger Derbyia. To its left is Meekella: Meekella, a brach with distinctive radial ribs, is a good marker for the Middle Creek, as it is seldom found elsewhere. A small but really nice piece: This slab has a diverse assemblage of about 20 or so genera: Most prominent are the brachiopods Meekella, Neospirifer, Composita, and Derbyia. A close-up shows some pelecypods, including Acanthopecten (right), Yoldia (left of Neospirifer), and Pteria (just below Neospirifer): Context is critical. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xonenine Posted December 27, 2011 Share Posted December 27, 2011 terrific plates, thanks for sharing them! "Your serpent of Egypt is bred now of your mud by the operation of your sun; so is your crocodile." Lepidus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Indy Posted December 27, 2011 Share Posted December 27, 2011 Excellent conversational plates illustrating the diversification of the fauna Thanks for sharing Barry Flash from the Past (Show Us Your Fossils)MAPS Fossil Show Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bullsnake Posted December 28, 2011 Share Posted December 28, 2011 Those are so cool!!! Kind of reminds me of ones I picked up in Topeka. Incidentally, I just read that KDOT closed the site to the public. Oops, guess I got away with one! Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Missourian Posted December 28, 2011 Author Share Posted December 28, 2011 Kind of reminds me of ones I picked up in Topeka. Incidentally, I just read that KDOT closed the site to the public. Oops, guess I got away with one! Sounds like the Beil Limestone. When you say 'closed', do you mean KDOT runs you off if you park on the turnpike? There is always alternate ways to reach a road cut. Context is critical. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bullsnake Posted December 28, 2011 Share Posted December 28, 2011 (edited) It's Topeka limestone, at the interchange of K-4 and US24. On the GeoKansas website is a Please Note under 'Field Trips' (Stop 4). I don't know why it's closed...I wanted to hit it again. Must be liability reasons, or, someone getting crazy with the hammer! There's a picture of the roadcut on the site. Edited December 28, 2011 by Bullsnake Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrangellian Posted December 29, 2011 Share Posted December 29, 2011 Nice preservation in those hashplates, Missourian, you have some nice hunting [oops - collecting] grounds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lloyd Posted December 29, 2011 Share Posted December 29, 2011 I love plates like these, it's always nice to see an assortment of what was there at the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shamalama Posted December 29, 2011 Share Posted December 29, 2011 Wow, really great hash plates. Congrats! -Dave __________________________________________________ Geologists on the whole are inconsistent drivers. When a roadcut presents itself, they tend to lurch and weave. To them, the roadcut is a portal, a fragment of a regional story, a proscenium arch that leads their imaginations into the earth and through the surrounding terrain. - John McPheeIf I'm going to drive safely, I can't do geology. - John McPheeCheck out my Blog for more fossils I've found: http://viewsofthemahantango.blogspot.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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