Austin Chalk Hunt 2/4/12 ***several Finds***

[surfergirlatx]

Howdy from Texas TFF!

Here is a report of my finds from my hunt this weekend at the Austin Chalk, Central Texas.

I am going to attempt to ID my finds so please feel free to correct me if I am wrong.

I am going to say the matrix where the fossils are found is Marl, I only feel this because the matrix when wet turns to mud and even when its dry its still so very soft. Not hard at ALL!

Sciponoceras gracile ??

#1. Looks like a rock, until I split it open...

#2. Inside of the rock

#3. Close up

***There will be several posts on this thread showing my recent Austin Chalk finds***

Please be sure to go all the way thru this post, as it may appear its all clams, but here are several other finds included.

Many, many thanks for your time! Hope you enjoy this little journey as much as I did!

Kim

Edited February 25, 2012 by surfergirlatx

[surfergirlatx]

What I believe to be :

Inoceramus (Cremnoceramus) deformis dobrogensis (Szasz) (Giant clam), Cretaceous Period. This large and ruggedly built bivalve once lived in the area of breaking waves in an ancient sea in central Texas which accounts for it's extra thick shell. Keith Minor identified the fossil and provided additional information: These clams co-occur throughout the world in the late Early Coniacian Stage, age ~ 87 mya. Walaszczyk & Cobban, 2000. Refer to: http://www.springcre...org/Fossils.htm

#4. Its approx. 2 feet long

#5.

One more LARGE shell fragment found near this LARGE clam

Edited February 6, 2012 by surfergirlatx

[surfergirlatx]

More Inoceramus (Cremnoceramus)???

Another fun one....looks like a rock, until I broke it open....

#6. Looks like a rock

#7. Inside of rock

More Inoceramus (Cremnoceramus)???

#8. Front #9. Back

#10.

#11.

[surfergirlatx]

Sorry, but yes even more Inoceramus (Cremnoceramus)???

#12.

#13.

#14.

#15.

#16.

[surfergirlatx]

Seriously sorry but....yep...more Inoceramus (Cremnoceramus)???

#17.

#18

[surfergirlatx]

ok...lets shift focus to another fossil from Austin Chalk..also found 2/4/12

The above photos are of encrusting oysters on an inoceramid, probably Inoceramus (Platyceramus) platinus (Logan)or fossil bivalve.. These encrusting oysters are called Pseudoperna congesta??? This guess is a total shot in the dark...but I am trying

#19. Encrusting oysters?

#20. Back side

#21. Side View...strange markings

#22. Alternate Side View

[surfergirlatx]

This one I am unsure of .....the shell has some type of banding perhaps?

This one I have no idea of an ID? But the shell is perfectly intact.

#23. Matrix with shell broken off

#24.

#25. Clearly you can see the banding?

#26. Held in hand to show thinkness of shell

[surfergirlatx]

encrusting oysters???

#28.

Here is a fragment of an oyster found also at the same site

#29.

Edited February 6, 2012 by surfergirlatx

[surfergirlatx]

Ok on this post...I am kinda clueless....The colors tell me that its some type of fossil? Perhaps fauna? A leaf? Hummm? I am stumpted on this one?

#30.

#31.

Any thoughts? I know this is not the ID section of the forum, but due to finding all these fossils at the same site, I felt I should include it here.

[surfergirlatx]

This bivalve I like....but again....at a loss for an ID

#32.

[surfergirlatx]

Sorry this one might be boaring....shell stuck on a matrix

#33. Top

#34. Side view to see thickness of shell

[surfergirlatx]

Strange "thing" in matrix??? Sorry to get all technical on you all (Kidding)

#35.

#36.

I WOULD REALLY REALLY LIKE TO HEAR ANY THOUGHTS AS TO WHAT THIS MAY BE???

Edited February 6, 2012 by surfergirlatx

[Boneman007]

I have seen a complete protosphyraena skull and a complete teleost fish come out of the Austin Chalk! Keep hunting it and you will be showing us something spectacular soon!!

Until then, very nice Clams and oyster spates (spelling?).

[surfergirlatx]

Odds and Ends....sorry didnt know where else to group these "others"

#37. My tote full of broken marl pieces

#38.

#39. More iron deposits

#40. Obviously a fossil imprint

[surfergirlatx]

Thank you all for your time going thru my LONG fossil hunt....

Here is my last find from the weekend.

Possible ammonite or snail...to risk sounding totally stupid....sorrry

#41.

#42.

#43

#44.

[surfergirlatx]

I have seen a complete protosphyraena skull and a complete teleost fish come out of the Austin Chalk! Keep hunting it and you will be showing us something spectacular soon!!

Until then, very nice Clams and oyster spates (spelling?).

Well Boneman007...you have now sparked my interest...not that I dont already LOVE fossil hunting.....but very interested to look now for a protosphyraena skull....how very exciting. Thanks for the tip!!! Obviously...I will keep you "posted"!

[Bullsnake]

Cool stuff there. Sorry I'm no help with any id's, though. I'm curious about that 'thing', also. Are you going to prep it out?

[Indy]

Hi Kim...

Thanks for posting the fossils you found

HUGE Clam

Since I live in the Carboniferous, I only can speculate about some of the fossils.

Will follow the thread for comments by those who live in the Cretaceous

[Boneman007]

The last find looks like a nautiloid. (I can't make out any sutures, but Im pretty sure its still a nautiloid).

And believe it or not, the individual that found the swordfish skull and the teleost fish was the 12 year old son of a good friend.

And for you DFW folks. It was smack dab right in the middle of a West Plano housing complex. Personally, up to that point, I would have NEVER thought to look there. The Telost fish is pictured in one of Mark McKenzie's books for the Dallas Paleo Society.

[Indy]

And believe it or not, the individual that found the swordfish skull and the teleost fish was the 12 year old

son of a good friend.

And for you DFW folks. It was smack dab right in the middle of a West Plano housing complex. Personally,

up to that point, I would have NEVER thought to look there. The Telost fish is pictured in one of Mark McKenzie's

books for the Dallas Paleo Society.

Reminds me of a post on another thread

"Dad...is this anything?" :fainting-smiley:

[surfergirlatx]

Cool stuff there. Sorry I'm no help with any id's, though. I'm curious about that 'thing', also. Are you going to prep it out?

Thanks Bullsnake! Regarding prep.....I am a toothbrush and water prep kinda girl

[surfergirlatx]

Hi Kim...

Thanks for posting the fossils you found

HUGE Clam

Since I live in the Carboniferous, I only can speculate about some of the fossils.

Will follow the thread for comments by those who live in the Cretaceous

When I noticed that HUGE clam half way out of the dirt, I thought....certainly that couldnt be a clam...not that big...but it does appear to be a clam....it could have swallowed me whole when it was alive!!!

[surfergirlatx]

The last find looks like a nautiloid. (I can't make out any sutures, but Im pretty sure its still a nautiloid).

And believe it or not, the individual that found the swordfish skull and the teleost fish was the 12 year old son of a good friend.

And for you DFW folks. It was smack dab right in the middle of a West Plano housing complex. Personally, up to that point, I would have NEVER thought to look there. The Telost fish is pictured in one of Mark McKenzie's books for the Dallas Paleo Society.

Amazing, not only that a 12 year old made such a wonderful find, but in Plano in a housing complex!!!! Amazing! Thanks for sharing that! Great story! Thats what I love most about fossil hunting, its a great hobby for ALL ages!!!!

Kim

[Indy]

I brought up a question on another of your posts regarding the matrix at this locality. Austin Chalk...Per Wiki: The Austin Chalk consists of recrystalized, fossiliferous, interbedded chalks and marls.

Being familiar with marls...this indicated to me the matrix would be soft...If soaked in water over night it would become soft...at least the outer layer. However, a member replied that the Austin Chalk around Dallas is harder than nails

I know your not interested in preparation beyond tooth brush and water and that's OK...However, I was just wondering about the Austin Chalk at this locality. Does it seem to be noticeably softer when wet?

[jpc]

Hi surfergirlatx...

Here is what I can tell you... and I do live in the Cretaceous, both on land and in the mid-continental sea. The thing in photo 21, and any other pieces with similar cross-section.... parallel lines running perpendicular to the length of the fossil are likley pieces of Inoceramid clams. A large common clam from the Late Cretaceous. I htink the nautiloid is an amonite.. it looks too skinny in the end-on view to be a naut. But then I live in the Wyoming part of the sea, not the TX part.