mikeymig Posted November 10, 2012 Share Posted November 10, 2012 I went out collecting on Friday the 9th. to find corals for display and collections and came across this monster. Im thankful that I have a crazy and very tuff friend who carried this specimen back to his truck for me. I had a little over 100lbs. of corals in my backpack and he hoisted this coral up on his shoulder and we hiked 1/4 mile resting 3-4 times along the way. The gully we found the corals in is about 80' deep and the wet leaves, loose shale, and dead trees on the steep slope up didnt help any. I must have told him 5 times to leave it and we would come back some other day to get it. But nooo he had to bring it back. This is by far the largest specimen of this species I have ever seen and collected. Thanks, Mikey Many times I've wondered how much there is to know. led zeppelin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrangellian Posted November 10, 2012 Share Posted November 10, 2012 Wow! I've done that, but I don't think I could any more.. nice to have such a friend... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
masonboro37 Posted November 10, 2012 Share Posted November 10, 2012 Wow! Awesome find! Process of identification "mistakes create wisdom". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bone2stone Posted November 11, 2012 Share Posted November 11, 2012 I see a real nice dinner comming his way....... Jess B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarleysGh0st Posted November 11, 2012 Share Posted November 11, 2012 Awesome! The Paleobiology Database says that Synaptophyllum is a horn coral, but it doesn't look anything like the horn corals I've seen! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bev Posted November 11, 2012 Share Posted November 11, 2012 Great Find! Incredible! Thank you for sharing! The more I learn, I realize the less I know. BluffCountryFossils.NET Fossil Adventure Blog Go to my Gallery for images of Fossil Jewelry, Sculpture & Crafts Pinned Posts: Beginner's Guide to Fossil Hunting * Geologic Formation Maps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
traveltip1 Posted November 11, 2012 Share Posted November 11, 2012 Nice specimen and herculean effort! I feel your friend's pain, having had a very similar experience wrestling a 65 pound coral head up and out of the Ordovician of southeastern Indiana. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Missourian Posted November 11, 2012 Share Posted November 11, 2012 Nice piece. It looks like it was worth the trouble. Context is critical. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glacialerratic Posted November 11, 2012 Share Posted November 11, 2012 Amazing! Do you plan on any prep? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bullsnake Posted November 11, 2012 Share Posted November 11, 2012 (edited) Awesome! The Paleobiology Database says that Synaptophyllum is a horn coral, but it doesn't look anything like the horn corals I've seen! I was curious about this, also. I thought it looked strikingly similar to cladochonus (tabulate coral) that I've found, so I started looking for a relationship. All I could find on synaptophyllum was a blurb that it is a rugose coral. I'm not doubting your expertise, just looking to be educated Very, very cool find, btw! Thanks Edited November 11, 2012 by Bullsnake Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeymig Posted November 12, 2012 Author Share Posted November 12, 2012 Amazing! Do you plan on any prep? Not really. If I were to soak this boulder in a weak acid the colony would be to fragile to handle once the matrix is removed. Almost every square inch of this 14" x12" x 6" specimen is coral and they are thin, hollow tubes that are weakly connected. I wish I could expose more and maybe someday I will try. Mikey Many times I've wondered how much there is to know. led zeppelin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeymig Posted November 12, 2012 Author Share Posted November 12, 2012 I was curious about this, also. I thought it looked strikingly similar to cladochonus (tabulate coral) that I've found, so I started looking for a relationship. All I could find on synaptophyllum was a blurb that it is a rugose coral. I'm not doubting your expertise, just looking to be educated Very, very cool find, btw! Thanks I'm by no means a coral expert. As far as the ID of this colony, it's a name I grew up with and I always thought it was a Tabulate. With that said this is how I categorize the Devonian corals I find - Horn or Rugose (Heliophyllum), Honeycomb or Tabulate (Favosites), Pipe corals (Synaptophyllum), and Chain corals (Halysites). I just started to take corals seriously and build a collection so of course I am also learning as I go. Mikey Many times I've wondered how much there is to know. led zeppelin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeymig Posted November 13, 2012 Author Share Posted November 13, 2012 Heres a photo of the Crinoid I found when coral collecting the other day. It sets up nicely and nothing has been done to it other then a light wash to remove some dirt. mikey Many times I've wondered how much there is to know. led zeppelin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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