Missourian Posted July 1, 2012 Share Posted July 1, 2012 (edited) Our small group of forumers (Bullsnake, Grokfish, Kehbe and Missourian) returned to the quarry described in the thread at http://www.thefossil...an-quarry-trip/ . It turns out the hash beds in the lower Wea contain quite a few tiny shark teeth when fresh. The only thing required is a good eye: Unfortunately, my good eye was elsewhere that day. I did find this rather nice Lophophyllidium coral: These thin beds are filled with tiny, white ammovertellid forams. Because they are so thoroughly scattered throughout the rock, it's hard to find a good, concentrated sample for my collection. This one will have to do: The Wea lies above the Block Limestone, which is the sugary appearing bed in the center between the lens cap and the gray and black bands: Below the Block is the Fontana Shale. The upper foot or so is a mass of algae-covered shells within a muddy matrix. Chunks of the stuff fall apart in one's hands. Here are just a few of the shells: The shells include myalinids, Aviculopecten, gastropods, Derbyia and crinoid fragments. A few shells close up show encrusting bryozoan: These coverings are intergrowths of algae (mostly Girvanella) and tiny ammovertellid-like forams (which give the pieces a 'whiskery' appearance). Below the Fontana is the Winterset Limestone. All thirty feet or so of the unit is exposed here: The upper Winterset can be very productive fossil-wise, but not so much here. The beds are still interesting. These seem to be a silicified mix of limestone and clastics: The quarrymen left behind this little hoodoo: Edited July 1, 2012 by Missourian Context is critical. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Missourian Posted July 1, 2012 Author Share Posted July 1, 2012 (edited) Below the Winterset is the Stark Shale (black, platy stuff up to the limestone) and the Galesburg Shale. The rusty band in the Galesburg may be a paleosol: The whole reason for the excavation is to remove some poorly engineered artificial caves. Here they are in the process of dismantlement: A ledge of Stark Shale is exposed in a 'skylight': The Winterset above the point of collapse is severely deformed: Topsy turvy Winterset: You can almost feel the ground shake. And lastly, a figure-8 in the mud: I guess the critter couldn't make up its mind. After we were done at the quarry, most of us drove over to a road cut featuring some Middle Creek Limestone. I found a few brachs, bryozoans, and crinoids (including a calyx): We didn't have much time to collect before Barney Fife came along in his golf cart and threatened us with arrest if we didn't leave (instead of just nicely asking us to leave, as the road side wasn't posted in any way). Edited July 1, 2012 by Missourian Context is critical. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bullsnake Posted July 1, 2012 Share Posted July 1, 2012 And lastly, a figure-8 in the mud: I guess the critter couldn't make up its mind. That stuff could have been like the La Brea tar pits to some poor creature. I wish I could remember what kehbe said about that mud. It cracked me up! Something like, 'too thin to plow, too thick to drink.' Looks like about everything I collected is a carbon copy of what you have. I picked up 2 or 3 of those horn corals, also. This is 2 pics of the same one, though: A pygidium (,25 in. across): And an unidentified (.75 in. long) Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KansasFossilHunter Posted July 1, 2012 Share Posted July 1, 2012 Sweet, looks like you guys had fun! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grokfish Posted July 1, 2012 Share Posted July 1, 2012 That unidentified looks familiar...I've found about 3 of those surfboards!!! The following are finds over the course of 3 visits to the quarry, including our group hunt. I don't remember which find was found on which hunt, so I am throwing them all in this thread Sorry for the cruddy photos...my iphone has the best zoom (in relative terms). Trilo pygidium found in winterset limestone Another tiny guy from the winterset My first cephalon, found in the amazing lower wea shale Cool coiled gastropod from the wea Piece of cephalopod found in the wea Looks like a horn, but I think this is a straight cephalopod from the wea Petrified wood? More coming in a moment... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grokfish Posted July 1, 2012 Share Posted July 1, 2012 Bring on jaws The following teeth were found in the lower wea shale...which is my favorite limestone member to date! Janassa (sp)? Crusher-type shark tooth? ???? Various cladodus teeth and the Pièce de résistance Found this one on the second trip out to the wea...I was determined to find a 'big' tooth. Well, I found one, unfortunately when I found it, I thought all I had were the side 'spurs'. It wasn't until I got home that I turned it around to see I had half of a nice tooth! I pulled it cleanly out of a rock...but when I went back a week later, the quarry had did their thing and that rock was no longer there I found some other teeth and trilos...but I am having an awful time photographing them. I am hoping that the quarry clears out some more wea shale to expose some fresh lower wea/upper block!!! I think if we get in early, we might beat ole' 'Bob' to the gems!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Missourian Posted July 1, 2012 Author Share Posted July 1, 2012 I wish I could remember what kehbe said about that mud. It cracked me up! Something like, 'too thin to plow, too thick to drink.' That's exactly what he said. Context is critical. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Missourian Posted July 1, 2012 Author Share Posted July 1, 2012 (edited) Bring on jaws The following teeth were found in the lower wea shale...which is my favorite limestone member to date! Janassa (sp)? Crusher-type shark tooth? ???? Various cladodus teeth and the Pièce de résistance Found this one on the second trip out to the wea...I was determined to find a 'big' tooth. Well, I found one, unfortunately when I found it, I thought all I had were the side 'spurs'. It wasn't until I got home that I turned it around to see I had half of a nice tooth! I pulled it cleanly out of a rock...but when I went back a week later, the quarry had did their thing and that rock was no longer there I found some other teeth and trilos...but I am having an awful time photographing them. I am hoping that the quarry clears out some more wea shale to expose some fresh lower wea/upper block!!! I think if we get in early, we might beat ole' 'Bob' to the gems!!!! It's amazing how many teeth you found that day. The five-pointer is really nice. Edited July 1, 2012 by Missourian Context is critical. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grokfish Posted July 1, 2012 Share Posted July 1, 2012 That's exactly what he said. I can hear him say that ;P Sorry I had to bolt before seeing you guys off...seems to happen every time. we need to plan another trip...I think that little shelf is picked over, I might talk with the foreman to see when the quarry will clear out some more block limestone (thus some more wea). I also have had some good luck at that area where the winterset is collapsed...found a couple shark tooth frags (they fell apart as I tried to get them out.)and a few trilos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shamalama Posted July 1, 2012 Share Posted July 1, 2012 Great pics and stratigraphy lesson. thanks! -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...
nala Posted July 1, 2012 Share Posted July 1, 2012 Very nice site pictures and finds,thanks to share! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommabetts Posted July 4, 2012 Share Posted July 4, 2012 Nice finds and pictures of the area, thank you for sharing ya'lls adventures with us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herb Posted July 5, 2012 Share Posted July 5, 2012 Great teeth! What is covering all the brachs? does it come off? "Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence"_ Carl Sagen No trees were killed in this posting......however, many innocent electrons were diverted from where they originally intended to go. " I think, therefore I collect fossils." _ Me "When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth."__S. Holmes "can't we all just get along?" Jack Nicholson from Mars Attacks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scylla Posted July 20, 2012 Share Posted July 20, 2012 Could that unknown be a belemnite? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bullsnake Posted July 20, 2012 Share Posted July 20, 2012 Could that unknown be a belemnite? Hmmmm, that would be cool! Did you look at the one in the other thread, too? http://www.thefossilforum.com/index.php/topic/30737-to-the-quarry-and-beyond/ Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scylla Posted July 20, 2012 Share Posted July 20, 2012 Hmmmm, that would be cool! Did you look at the one in the other thread, too? http://www.thefossil...rry-and-beyond/ The crease running the length of that one makes me think it is some sort of bivalve. Are they the same? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendenfinder Posted July 20, 2012 Share Posted July 20, 2012 Love the Lophophyllidium coral keep up the good work! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bullsnake Posted July 21, 2012 Share Posted July 21, 2012 The crease running the length of that one makes me think it is some sort of bivalve. Are they the same? It's beyond me what it (they) might be. I see what you mean about the crease, though. The thing broke on me while I was posing it for pics, but not along the crease. FWIW, I also dropped some vinegar on the broken piece, but the only bubbling appeared to be from the residual matrix on the bottom of it. So, here are some closeups if they are of any help: The broken piece if it's any help: Thanks! Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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