Perfect Castaway Posted March 25, 2013 Share Posted March 25, 2013 Well I finally got a chance to visit Bob Carroll's famous Blackcat Mountain quarry. It was cold and rainy but we made the best of it. Lots of Devonian rocks, and lots of fossils. Cold and drizzly, but worth it. I couldn't stay very long, but here's most of my haul. Looks like a Kettneraspis.... this will be the first trilobite that I take to my little prep lab. Another Kettneraspis? I think this is a very small, semi-enrolled Kainops. I found a few of these. Anyone have any idea what this cross section could be of? I'll find out for sure when I take the air scribe to it. It was great trip. It fulfilled a long-time dream to hunt some Oklahoma trilobites and I left with hours and hours of trilobites to prep. I hope I get another chance to go and spend a little more time there (I had to leave somewhat earlier than I would have liked). I've heard Bob is losing the lease to the quarry so hopefully this is not the first and last time I'll have a chance to hunt there, but if it is I think I made the most of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piranha Posted March 25, 2013 Share Posted March 25, 2013 ...I found a few of these. Anyone have any idea what this cross section could be of? I'll find out for sure when I take the air scribe to it. Judging the size and features it looks like it might be Huntoniatonia. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piranha Posted March 25, 2013 Share Posted March 25, 2013 The cross-section is a transverse fracture that displays a sharp pleural termination characteristic of Huntoniatonia. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Missourian Posted March 25, 2013 Share Posted March 25, 2013 (edited) That first Kettneraspis looks good already. Edited March 25, 2013 by Missourian Context is critical. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perfect Castaway Posted March 25, 2013 Author Share Posted March 25, 2013 The cross-section is a transverse fracture that displays a sharp pleural termination characteristic of Huntoniatonia. cross-section features.jpg I have a few of these that I kept in the hopes that they were Huntoniatonia. That's good news! Thanks for the help.. can't wait to get these to the prep lab. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perfect Castaway Posted March 25, 2013 Author Share Posted March 25, 2013 (edited) That first Kettneraspis looks good already. Yeah, aside from a few Huntonia pygidia, it was the only thing I found that was just sitting there on top of the rock. It just needs a thin layer of matrix removed with the abrasive blaster and, notwithstanding a few spines missing, it will be a great piece. Edited March 25, 2013 by Perfect Castaway Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikecable Posted March 25, 2013 Share Posted March 25, 2013 This was a wonderful trip--but all the DPS trips are. Gary and I attended the second half of this adventure as well--the Gore quarry for blastoids and other fossils. I can now say I've hunted fossils in the snow. We didn't get back home until about 8 pm yesterday, but I'll try to post some more pictures of the trip this evening. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perfect Castaway Posted March 25, 2013 Author Share Posted March 25, 2013 This was a wonderful trip--but all the DPS trips are. Gary and I attended the second half of this adventure as well--the Gore quarry for blastoids and other fossils. I can now say I've hunted fossils in the snow. We didn't get back home until about 8 pm yesterday, but I'll try to post some more pictures of the trip this evening. I wanted to go to the Gore trip too but I couldn't do two days back to back.I hope everyone had a great time, despite the cold... can't believe there was snow in Gore... is that typical of the location, or is it because of this crazy spring we're having? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikecable Posted March 25, 2013 Share Posted March 25, 2013 I wanted to go to the Gore trip too but I couldn't do two days back to back.I hope everyone had a great time, despite the cold... can't believe there was snow in Gore... is that typical of the location, or is it because of this crazy spring we're having?I assume Gore would get more snow than Abilene. I don't know how typical it is for this time of year. The snow wasn't the problem. The wind cut right through you. I deliberately found a wall in the quarry that was sheltered from the wind, and tha had a talus/scree slope at the bottom composed of shale and glauconite. I'm still a bit unsteady on my feet after surgery, so I did the quarry crawl up and across the slope for about 30 meters, and then back again. I found a couple of nice, small blastoids, quite a few brachiopods, crinoid bits, some interesting bryozoans, and a nice small hash plate. We had a six hour drive home, so we left a little after 11 am. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fossiladdict Posted March 25, 2013 Share Posted March 25, 2013 (edited) Glad you guys had fun, and it was great to meet all of you whom I had not met before. Good luck in determining your cross section of the trilobite...maybe you will have a large enough portion of it to display! While I was "babysitting" everyone, I still managed to pick up quite a few rolled phacops, several kettneraspis, a decent huntoniatonia head, an enrolled huntoniatonia, and a few other neat fossils. Below is one that I found- can you tell what it is and what part? If you are an expert at trilobites, please let those who are not try to figure it out first. Lyla Edit: I also was incorrect when I told someone that no crinoid "flowers" were found there- see: http://blackcatmountain.com/echinoderms_299.html Edited March 25, 2013 by fossiladdict Fossils are simply one of the coolest things on earth--discovering them is just marvelous! Makes you all giddy inside! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikecable Posted March 25, 2013 Share Posted March 25, 2013 Glad you guys had fun, and it was great to meet all of you whom I had not met before. Good luck in determining your cross section of the trilobite...maybe you will have a large enough portion of it to display! While I was "babysitting" everyone, I still managed to pick up quite a few rolled phacops, several kettneraspis, a decent huntoniatonia head, an enrolled huntoniatonia, and a few other neat fossils. Below is one that I found- can you tell what it is and what part? If you are an expert at trilobites, please let those who are not try to figure it out first. IMG_3430-1.jpg Lyla It's an early ancestor of PacMan. Lyla was a wonderful guide. I can't thank her enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikecable Posted March 25, 2013 Share Posted March 25, 2013 One of Gary's finds and his first attempt at prepping a bug. Only about half of the critter was exposed. ID? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fossiladdict Posted March 25, 2013 Share Posted March 25, 2013 PacMan ancestor huh? Here is one of the reference sheets: http://blackcatmountain.com/echinoderms_299.html I have several referral sheets that I received from Bob that I also use as well as the poster. Fossils are simply one of the coolest things on earth--discovering them is just marvelous! Makes you all giddy inside! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpc Posted March 25, 2013 Share Posted March 25, 2013 So, what's the tale on Bob maybe losing the lease? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fossiladdict Posted March 25, 2013 Share Posted March 25, 2013 So, what's the tale on Bob maybe losing the lease? I sent you a PM Fossils are simply one of the coolest things on earth--discovering them is just marvelous! Makes you all giddy inside! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwestbrook Posted March 25, 2013 Share Posted March 25, 2013 (edited) I sent you a PM Man, I hope not. Such a neat place and a great guy. Would be sad to lose that kind of resource not to mention Bob's livelihood. Edited March 25, 2013 by gwestbrook Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perfect Castaway Posted March 25, 2013 Author Share Posted March 25, 2013 I took the air blaster to the Kettneraspis but only went over it lightly so far. I'm afraid that the aluminum oxide might be a little too aggressive for the delicate trilobite and I thought I might be losing some detail. I might give it another go with some baking soda. Anyway, it's not a perfect specimen, but I like it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikecable Posted March 25, 2013 Share Posted March 25, 2013 I took the air blaster to the Kettneraspis but only went over it lightly so far. I'm afraid that the aluminum oxide might be a little too aggressive for the delicate trilobite and I thought I might be losing some detail. I might give it another go with some baking soda. Anyway, it's not a perfect specimen, but I like it. Nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Missourian Posted March 25, 2013 Share Posted March 25, 2013 I took the air blaster to the Kettneraspis but only went over it lightly so far. I'm afraid that the aluminum oxide might be a little too aggressive for the delicate trilobite and I thought I might be losing some detail. I might give it another go with some baking soda. Anyway, it's not a perfect specimen, but I like it. Beautiful! Context is critical. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikecable Posted March 25, 2013 Share Posted March 25, 2013 (edited) Ok--I'm having fits with my internet, and can't find my new camera, but here's an attempt to show my bugs. Please tell me what I might have. I don't have X-Ray vision like fossiladdict (Lyla). Be brutal. Is this a head with eyes showing, and the rest of the bug to the left in the matrix? Partially enrolled, with the rest in the rock? Largely there if I excavate towards the top? Slightly different angle on the same bug. Looks to me like this one could be there as well, but I just had back surgery, have a hard time squatting, and don't know squat. The attached thumbnails have a few different view and at least two different bugs. Any comments are welcome. Which one should be my practice bug? I don't have air abrasion equipment. Any prep will be done with picks, brushes, maybe a dremel. Edited March 25, 2013 by mikecable Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perfect Castaway Posted March 25, 2013 Author Share Posted March 25, 2013 Ok--I'm having fits with my internet, and can't find my new camera, but here's an attempt to show my bugs. Please tell me what I might have. I don't have X-Ray vision like fossiladdict (Lyla). Be brutal. DSCF4302 - Edited.JPG Is this a head with eyes showing, and the rest of the bug to the left in the matrix? DSCF4304 - Edited.JPG Partially enrolled, with the rest in the rock? DSCF4305 - Edited.JPG Largely there if I excavate towards the top? DSCF4306 - Edited.JPG Slightly different angle on the same bug. DSCF4308 - Edited.JPG Looks to me like this one could be there as well, but I just had back surgery, have a hard time squatting, and don't know squat. The attached thumbnails have a few different view and at least two different bugs. Any comments are welcome. Which one should be my practice bug? I don't have air abrasion equipment. Any prep will be done with picks, brushes, maybe a dremel. The first one looks like a Paciphacops, or maybe a Kainops. Second one I'd say yes, it is likely enrolled with the rest in the rock. #3 and #4 Huntoniatonia tail. Same for #5. This is an upside-down Kettneraspis... very cool. I'd practice on the huntonia pygidia, personally. They're cool, but the other stuff has more potential. This is entirely my very unprofessional opinion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fossiladdict Posted March 26, 2013 Share Posted March 26, 2013 Agreed and that Kettnerapsis will be very cool if you can turn him upright and clean him from the bottom...the only thing is if you do, how is he going to stay on any matrix? Be very careful in cleaning that one for sure! Fossils are simply one of the coolest things on earth--discovering them is just marvelous! Makes you all giddy inside! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikecable Posted March 26, 2013 Share Posted March 26, 2013 All I can say is I'm glad I'm not totally hallucinating. And that would be thanks to you and your field lessons, Lyla. I still can't thank you enough. I thought the same thing about what you tell me is a Kettnerapsis--very cool and almost impossible to prep. I'll have to think long and hard on that one. Castaway--I will start on the huntonia pygidia--as good of a way to practice as any. I've actually got a few small plates that are mostly brachs--I'll probably start with them just to learn the matrix and my limited tools. Thanks y'all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fossiladdict Posted March 26, 2013 Share Posted March 26, 2013 It would almost be worth it to glue him to another rock and then clean it. Although it will obviously not be on the original matrix, but it would be right side up. Can you see any of the spines exposed on the sides? Here is one upright so you can compare and kind of see what you are facing...of course, it might be cool to see what an upside down trilo looks like too. Fossils are simply one of the coolest things on earth--discovering them is just marvelous! Makes you all giddy inside! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobWill Posted March 26, 2013 Share Posted March 26, 2013 It would almost be worth it to glue him to another rock and then clean it. Although it will obviously not be on the original matrix, but it would be right side up. Can you see any of the spines exposed on the sides? Here is one upright so you can compare and kind of see what you are facing...of course, it might be cool to see what an upside down trilo looks like too. I have a vague memory of a thread where Crinoid Queen flipped one onto a plaster (or something) fake matrix in order to prep from the bottom. Maybe she can help with some tips. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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