Liliana Posted April 27, 2018 Share Posted April 27, 2018 Hello, New to this. I found this while shelling/treasure hunting at the Sebastian Inlet Bonsteel Park in Florida. we recently moved to the area and I will most definitely be spending most of my time doing this. I am fascinated by this find and would like to learn more about it. I found it about knee high in the ocean. I believe it to be a Chamelea Gallina shell. That's all I could find after hours of research. How I came across this site. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caldigger Posted April 27, 2018 Share Posted April 27, 2018 A very nice displayable piece. Beautiful! I can't help with the ID, but I'll clear a space off my shelf if you decide to dispose of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted April 27, 2018 Share Posted April 27, 2018 Welcome to the Forum. Maybe one of the shell guys will weigh in. @MikeR @Al Dente @MarcoSr Tim - VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER VFOTM --- APRIL - 2015 __________________________________________________ "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." John Muir ~ ~ ~ ~ ><))))( *> About Me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeR Posted April 27, 2018 Share Posted April 27, 2018 Interesting. I don't have the slightest idea of where or what formation it might be from. Nor age. I have collected Upper Pleistocene Fort Thompson in that area inland and Lower Pleistocene Nashua is not too far away but there should not be any deposits directly on the shore so it might be derived from rip rap? Chamelea gallina is recent European Veneridae. Yours is closer to Clementia also Veneridae. LINK 2 "A problem solved is a problem caused"--Karl Pilkington "I was dead for millions of years before I was born and it never inconvenienced me a bit." -- Mark Twain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Innocentx Posted April 27, 2018 Share Posted April 27, 2018 If it doesn't fit the area geologically, could possibly be from a ships ballast. Nice fossil. 1 "Journey through a universe ablaze with changes" Phil Ochs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeR Posted April 28, 2018 Share Posted April 28, 2018 14 hours ago, Innocentx said: If it doesn't fit the area geologically, could possibly be from a ships ballast. Nice fossil. Yep. I once worked at the Gulf Breeze Environmental Research Lab which is located on an island inside of Pensacola Bay which was formed by ballast dump from English ships in the early 1800s. Occasional construction would reveal clay pipes, buttons, etc. but I found a couple of chunks of chert with Cretaceous English Echinoids. 3 "A problem solved is a problem caused"--Karl Pilkington "I was dead for millions of years before I was born and it never inconvenienced me a bit." -- Mark Twain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max-fossils Posted April 28, 2018 Share Posted April 28, 2018 Welcome to TFF! That's a cool specimen! Unfortunately, ID is gonna be insanely hard for this one I'm afraid! First of all because it is very likely a "stray" rock, and therefore the age is completely unknown. Could be from any time, from the Pleistocene to the Cretaceous, Jurassic, or even earlier. It can also come from any place, so that means it's possible it comes from Europe or another continent. Also, the hinge area isn't visible, and the dentition can't be seen, so the shell could be of any group within the bivalves. Because of this, the furthest you could get without making wild guesses is Bivalvia indet. Best regards, and happy hunting! Max @MikeR which Clementia species are you thinking of? I'm not seeing anything really similar... Firstly, because I don't think any Clementia species have such a flattened side like this one: Secondly, because I don't see any Clementia species with (the other side) as round as this one. The Clementia species that I see all have a much straighter edge, as shown here by the red line: Then again I am just using Google Images as a reference for the Clementia images, so it is very likely that other lesser-known Clementia species are much more similar to this one here. In that case I would much appreciate it if you point them out to me 1 Max Derème "I feel an echo of the lightning each time I find a fossil. [...] That is why I am a hunter: to feel that bolt of lightning every day." - Mary Anning >< Remarkable Creatures, Tracy Chevalier Instagram: @world_of_fossils Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abyssunder Posted April 28, 2018 Share Posted April 28, 2018 Could it be Mercenaria sp. ? 1 " We are not separate and independent entities, but like links in a chain, and we could not by any means be what we are without those who went before us and showed us the way. " Thomas Mann My Library Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malone Posted April 29, 2018 Share Posted April 29, 2018 2 hours ago, abyssunder said: Could it be Mercenaria sp. ? Looks like a good match to me but I have no knowledge other than appearances. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max-fossils Posted April 29, 2018 Share Posted April 29, 2018 15 hours ago, abyssunder said: Could it be Mercenaria sp. ? It's one of the many possibilities. Max Derème "I feel an echo of the lightning each time I find a fossil. [...] That is why I am a hunter: to feel that bolt of lightning every day." - Mary Anning >< Remarkable Creatures, Tracy Chevalier Instagram: @world_of_fossils Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liliana Posted April 29, 2018 Author Share Posted April 29, 2018 I would like to thank you all so very much for your help!!! I am so impressed by all of your responses. Soaking all the info and learning from you all. I was so thrilled when I found this fossil after hours of searching and fighting the rough waves. This place is full of shells, coral and more. My ankles were taking a beating!! Thank you again for your help and I am looking forward to sharing something cool again soon!! Liliana Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazfossilator Posted April 29, 2018 Share Posted April 29, 2018 Really cool find! And welcome to the forum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max-fossils Posted April 29, 2018 Share Posted April 29, 2018 20 minutes ago, Liliana said: I am looking forward to sharing something cool again soon!! We are looking forward to this too! And by the way, Florida is one of the richest regions in the world when it comes to fossils. If you haven't yet heard of it, the Peace River is a fantastic place to hunt. So are many other creeks. Plus, many parking lots/roadsides/construction sites have sediments full of amazing fossil seashells with beautiful preservation. One thing is sure: living in Florida will definitely help to expand your fossil collection and knowledge exponentially! You can ask our many (local) experts here on TFF for any tips on where to hunt, and probably someone will also be willing to serve as a guide for you. Best regards, Max 1 Max Derème "I feel an echo of the lightning each time I find a fossil. [...] That is why I am a hunter: to feel that bolt of lightning every day." - Mary Anning >< Remarkable Creatures, Tracy Chevalier Instagram: @world_of_fossils Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liliana Posted May 1, 2018 Author Share Posted May 1, 2018 Thank you so much Max!!!! I am so looking forward to it!!! Best to you as well and chat soon!! Liliana Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liliana Posted May 1, 2018 Author Share Posted May 1, 2018 On 4/29/2018 at 11:35 AM, Jazfossilator said: Really cool find! And welcome to the forum Thank you!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tidgy's Dad Posted May 1, 2018 Share Posted May 1, 2018 Nice find, Liliana, and thanks for posting it here. A very warm welcome to TFF from Morocco. Life's Good! Tortoise Friend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max-fossils Posted May 1, 2018 Share Posted May 1, 2018 4 hours ago, Liliana said: Thank you so much Max!!!! I am so looking forward to it!!! Best to you as well and chat soon!! Liliana Thanks, and you're welcome Good luck during your hunts! Max Derème "I feel an echo of the lightning each time I find a fossil. [...] That is why I am a hunter: to feel that bolt of lightning every day." - Mary Anning >< Remarkable Creatures, Tracy Chevalier Instagram: @world_of_fossils Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liliana Posted May 3, 2018 Author Share Posted May 3, 2018 On 5/1/2018 at 11:45 AM, Tidgy's Dad said: Nice find, Liliana, and thanks for posting it here. A very warm welcome to TFF from Morocco. Thank you Tidgy's Dad!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now