Rockin' Ric Posted October 29, 2012 Share Posted October 29, 2012 Hello Ya'll, I found these...I think are concretions in a shale shard pile that has produced many resting trace fossils. Could they contain the organisms that made the resting traces? If so, what is the best way to prep these if one doesn't have the proper tools to do it? Pictured are what the top and bottom of these objects look like and are approximately 1-1/2" thick. WELCOME TO ALL THE NEW MEMBERS! If history repeats itself, I'm SO getting a dinosaur. ~unknown www.rockinric81.wixsite.com/fossils Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspex Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 You could try the freeze/thaw method. Put the concretion in a shallow plastic pan, cover it with water, and stick it in the freezer; repeat until it pops (usually along the plane of the fossil, if any), or until you get tired of doing it. "There has been an alarming increase in the number of things I know nothing about." - Ashleigh Ellwood Brilliant “Try to learn something about everything and everything about something.” - Thomas Henry Huxley >Paleontology is an evolving science. >May your wonders never cease! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Indy Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 (edited) It sure looks like a trace fossil to me ... More specifically Conostichus ... formerly thought to be a jellyfish resting trace Other fossils and discussion on a previous post ... CLICK HERE I posted images of one collected in Kansas (Reply #11) Conostichus: a fossil with a confusing history Conostichus was formerly thought to be a jellyfish resting trace. It is now regarded as a burrow infilling or feeding structure of an unidentified organism. These fossils were first described by Lesquereux in 1876 as a marine algae and then by later authors as roots, stems, sponges or worms. C.C. Branson wrote a number of articles circa 1956/1962 in which he discusses numerous separate species. In a 1959 article he states "It is possible to state at this time that the genus Conostichus has but one species, C. ornatus; that some of the marine specimens may be medusoids; that some of the types are probably marine worms. Close examination of specimens in place in the rock and of the associated biota is necessary to a real understanding of these four similar types of fossil." In later articles he describes a number of new species. Joeckel, 2008 states "A trace-fossil hypothesis for the origin of the structures remains plausible---possible feeding structures---albeit problematic". Edited October 30, 2012 by Indy Flash from the Past (Show Us Your Fossils)MAPS Fossil Show Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockin' Ric Posted October 30, 2012 Author Share Posted October 30, 2012 It sure looks like a trace fossil to me ... More specifically Conostichus ... formerly thought to be a jellyfish resting trace Other fossils and discussion on a previous post ... CLICK HERE I posted images of one collected in Kansas (Reply #11) Conostichus: a fossil with a confusing history Conostichus was formerly thought to be a jellyfish resting trace. It is now regarded as a burrow infilling or feeding structure of an unidentified organism. These fossils were first described by Lesquereux in 1876 as a marine algae and then by later authors as roots, stems, sponges or worms. C.C. Branson wrote a number of articles circa 1956/1962 in which he discusses numerous separate species. In a 1959 article he states "It is possible to state at this time that the genus Conostichus has but one species, C. ornatus; that some of the marine specimens may be medusoids; that some of the types are probably marine worms. Close examination of specimens in place in the rock and of the associated biota is necessary to a real understanding of these four similar types of fossil." In later articles he describes a number of new species. Joeckel, 2008 states "A trace-fossil hypothesis for the origin of the structures remains plausible---possible feeding structures---albeit problematic". Thanks Indy for the thread review! I learn something new from all you guys! Also thanks Chaz for the suggestion on prep! WELCOME TO ALL THE NEW MEMBERS! If history repeats itself, I'm SO getting a dinosaur. ~unknown www.rockinric81.wixsite.com/fossils Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plax Posted November 1, 2012 Share Posted November 1, 2012 I think I see the spiraling of a gastropod steinkern here? Too obvious an answer I suppose.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Indy Posted November 1, 2012 Share Posted November 1, 2012 Rockin' Ric ... You have the specimens in hand and looked at the images and read the discussion on the other post. Do you believe your specimens to be Conostichus ? Flash from the Past (Show Us Your Fossils)MAPS Fossil Show Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockin' Ric Posted November 1, 2012 Author Share Posted November 1, 2012 Rockin' Ric ... You have the specimens in hand and looked at the images and read the discussion on the other post. Do you believe your specimens to be Conostichus ? Hello Indy, they definitely look like Conostichus! Planning on shooting some more profile pics of these things. Top and bottom shots don't do it justice and neither describing it in inches. The pictures from the link you posted look very similar to what I have. Thanks for posting that link! WELCOME TO ALL THE NEW MEMBERS! If history repeats itself, I'm SO getting a dinosaur. ~unknown www.rockinric81.wixsite.com/fossils Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Indy Posted November 1, 2012 Share Posted November 1, 2012 Bet ya a buck what you found is Conostichus. A couple more posts on our forum Click Here and Click Here Here's a link to an Indiana Geological Survey page: Click Here Flash from the Past (Show Us Your Fossils)MAPS Fossil Show Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pleecan Posted November 1, 2012 Share Posted November 1, 2012 They look like bryozoans from the ordovician... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockin' Ric Posted November 1, 2012 Author Share Posted November 1, 2012 I want to add that these specimens come from the Pottsville Formation / Carboniferous Period. Upper / Lower not sure? I always forget to post the geologic formations and time period when I post finds, sorry bout that guys! WELCOME TO ALL THE NEW MEMBERS! If history repeats itself, I'm SO getting a dinosaur. ~unknown www.rockinric81.wixsite.com/fossils Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockin' Ric Posted November 2, 2012 Author Share Posted November 2, 2012 Here are profile shots of the two specimens mention above. WELCOME TO ALL THE NEW MEMBERS! If history repeats itself, I'm SO getting a dinosaur. ~unknown www.rockinric81.wixsite.com/fossils Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Indy Posted November 2, 2012 Share Posted November 2, 2012 Looks a lot like the Conostichus Missourian found in the Pennsylvanian in Kansas. LINK They are Bioclast-packed burrows and are found in many sizes and no two are identical Flash from the Past (Show Us Your Fossils)MAPS Fossil Show Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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