Mushroom Or Toadstool?

[DaisyM]

I found this in the gravel on my garden path. I've found a few fossils in the gravel, it but never one like this. Could it be a fossil of a mushroom? It is definitely made of stone and not just a dried up toadstool!

[lissa318]

What other fossils have you found there? A little more info on your area may help! Probably not a mushroom or toadstool but can see why you'd think that. Maybe a sponge or something? I am no expert and sure someone else will know! Welcome to the forum BTW!

[DaisyM]

I live in Sheffield, but the gravel is just 20mm gravel from a builder's yard. I've attached a photo of the gravel (never thought I'd be taking photos of it!) and a photo of one of the other fossils I've found in it. The 'mushroom fossil' looks as though the top has been eaten by slugs!

[araucaria1959]

The fifth picture shows probably Liogryphaea arcuata from the lower jurassic.

However, the fourth picture shows a mix of different stones, some of them are flint, possibly of maastrichtian/danian age.

If so, the pictures 1 and 3 may show sponges (as already suggested) encased by flint.

araucaria1959

[Kosmoceras]

Yes it is a fossil, but it is not a mushroom. It is a sponge in flint from the Cretaceous era.

Regards,

[DaisyM]

Thank you for all the help. It really does look look like a mushroom that has had it's top eaten by slugs! I can even see what looks like gills underneath; and what must be the sponge, I thought was the stype of the mushroom. Anyway - it's a nice addition to my collection of interesting stones and fossils.