ziggycardon Posted May 16, 2019 Author Share Posted May 16, 2019 Here are some photo's I've made with the microscope of Japanese star sand found in Hoshizuna beach, Okinawa, Japan (Holocene age) The most common species in the sample are Baculogypsina sphaerulata & Calcarina spengleri. 3 Interested in all things paleontology, geology, zoology, evolution, natural history and science! Professional exotic pet keeper, huge fantasy geek, explorer of the microfossil realm, member of the BVP (Belgian Association for Paleontology), Volunteer prepper at Oertijdmuseum Boxtel. View my collection topic here: The Growing Collection of Ziggycardon My animal collection at the "Members pet" topic Ziggycardon's exploration of the microfossil realm Trips to Eben Emael (Maastrichtian of Belgium) My latest fossil hunt Next project will be a dedicated prepping space. "A mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge." - Tyrion Lannister Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ynot Posted May 16, 2019 Share Posted May 16, 2019 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mediospirifer Posted May 16, 2019 Share Posted May 16, 2019 Looks like you've been having fun! I fully understand the fascination of the micro-world; I'm addicted myself. I use an older Bausch & Lomb Stereozoom microscope with a Celestron digital camera that fits into an eyepiece (LINK to camera). That works reasonably well, though I think I'll be looking for some more lenses! I like your thin sections. You might want to play with polarizing filters to see the results with them. A pair of 3D movie glasses makes a decent pair of plane-polarized filters (unless they're the red/blue variety, those aren't helpful for this). Cut the glasses apart, put one filter between the slide and your microscope eyepiece, put the other underneath the slide, and see what you can see. Rotate one slide and see how the colors change. You might get some impressively colorful results! If you want more things to look at, I'd recommend going out to wherever you collect small macrofossils, collect a bag of mud where the rocks have weathered, wash the fine particulates out and sieve the result. There are likely to be some surprises waiting to be found. Above all, keep having fun! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ziggycardon Posted May 17, 2019 Author Share Posted May 17, 2019 11 hours ago, Mediospirifer said: Looks like you've been having fun! I fully understand the fascination of the micro-world; I'm addicted myself. I use an older Bausch & Lomb Stereozoom microscope with a Celestron digital camera that fits into an eyepiece (LINK to camera). That works reasonably well, though I think I'll be looking for some more lenses! I like your thin sections. You might want to play with polarizing filters to see the results with them. A pair of 3D movie glasses makes a decent pair of plane-polarized filters (unless they're the red/blue variety, those aren't helpful for this). Cut the glasses apart, put one filter between the slide and your microscope eyepiece, put the other underneath the slide, and see what you can see. Rotate one slide and see how the colors change. You might get some impressively colorful results! If you want more things to look at, I'd recommend going out to wherever you collect small macrofossils, collect a bag of mud where the rocks have weathered, wash the fine particulates out and sieve the result. There are likely to be some surprises waiting to be found. Above all, keep having fun! Woa, thank you for the amazing tips! I was indeed planning on getting myself a professional microscope this summer, although due to unforeseen circumstance I'll probably have to push back the aqcuisition of one to early 2020. But really thank you for those tips, especially about that camera, looks real handy, I suppose it should fit on most microscopes that use a standard sized eyepiece? Interested in all things paleontology, geology, zoology, evolution, natural history and science! Professional exotic pet keeper, huge fantasy geek, explorer of the microfossil realm, member of the BVP (Belgian Association for Paleontology), Volunteer prepper at Oertijdmuseum Boxtel. View my collection topic here: The Growing Collection of Ziggycardon My animal collection at the "Members pet" topic Ziggycardon's exploration of the microfossil realm Trips to Eben Emael (Maastrichtian of Belgium) My latest fossil hunt Next project will be a dedicated prepping space. "A mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge." - Tyrion Lannister Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kosmoceras Posted May 17, 2019 Share Posted May 17, 2019 On 3/27/2019 at 7:43 PM, ziggycardon said: Nice Lower Gault Clay forams! The top image shows Lenticulina rotulata, the lower image is Epistomina spinulifera – an aragonitic foraminifera! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ziggycardon Posted May 17, 2019 Author Share Posted May 17, 2019 6 hours ago, Kosmoceras said: Nice Lower Gault Clay forams! The top image shows Lenticulina rotulata, the lower image is Epistomina spinulifera – an aragonitic foraminifera! Thank you for the ID's Interested in all things paleontology, geology, zoology, evolution, natural history and science! Professional exotic pet keeper, huge fantasy geek, explorer of the microfossil realm, member of the BVP (Belgian Association for Paleontology), Volunteer prepper at Oertijdmuseum Boxtel. View my collection topic here: The Growing Collection of Ziggycardon My animal collection at the "Members pet" topic Ziggycardon's exploration of the microfossil realm Trips to Eben Emael (Maastrichtian of Belgium) My latest fossil hunt Next project will be a dedicated prepping space. "A mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge." - Tyrion Lannister Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mediospirifer Posted May 18, 2019 Share Posted May 18, 2019 16 hours ago, ziggycardon said: Woa, thank you for the amazing tips! I was indeed planning on getting myself a professional microscope this summer, although due to unforeseen circumstance I'll probably have to push back the aqcuisition of one to early 2020. But really thank you for those tips, especially about that camera, looks real handy, I suppose it should fit on most microscopes that use a standard sized eyepiece? I would think so. The webpage says "Works with any traditional microscope with 23 mm to 30 mm diameter eyepiece tubes". I think that covers most scopes. This is the camera I used for my amber photography. Check out my Buggy Amber thread for some examples of what can be done with it, lots of images, and image stacking software. (LINK) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ziggycardon Posted May 18, 2019 Author Share Posted May 18, 2019 6 hours ago, Mediospirifer said: I would think so. The webpage says "Works with any traditional microscope with 23 mm to 30 mm diameter eyepiece tubes". I think that covers most scopes. This is the camera I used for my amber photography. Check out my Buggy Amber thread for some examples of what can be done with it, lots of images, and image stacking software. (LINK) Those are really amazing photographs. I'll definiatly get myself on of those camera's when I aqcuire a microscope, really appreciate the tip! Interested in all things paleontology, geology, zoology, evolution, natural history and science! Professional exotic pet keeper, huge fantasy geek, explorer of the microfossil realm, member of the BVP (Belgian Association for Paleontology), Volunteer prepper at Oertijdmuseum Boxtel. View my collection topic here: The Growing Collection of Ziggycardon My animal collection at the "Members pet" topic Ziggycardon's exploration of the microfossil realm Trips to Eben Emael (Maastrichtian of Belgium) My latest fossil hunt Next project will be a dedicated prepping space. "A mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge." - Tyrion Lannister Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ziggycardon Posted May 18, 2019 Author Share Posted May 18, 2019 Some more pictures of the Bexhill material: Hastings Bone beds, Weald Clay, Wealdon of Bexhill, Wealden Supergroup, Bexhill, Sussex, UK (135 million years old) Another Hybodontid tooth I've found Some Lepidotes teeth Some fish scales, could be Lepidotes too And some fish mouth parts 1 Interested in all things paleontology, geology, zoology, evolution, natural history and science! Professional exotic pet keeper, huge fantasy geek, explorer of the microfossil realm, member of the BVP (Belgian Association for Paleontology), Volunteer prepper at Oertijdmuseum Boxtel. View my collection topic here: The Growing Collection of Ziggycardon My animal collection at the "Members pet" topic Ziggycardon's exploration of the microfossil realm Trips to Eben Emael (Maastrichtian of Belgium) My latest fossil hunt Next project will be a dedicated prepping space. "A mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge." - Tyrion Lannister Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ziggycardon Posted May 18, 2019 Author Share Posted May 18, 2019 Part 2: A Bernissartia tooth A mysterious bone or even tooth fragment And some more bone fragments 2 Interested in all things paleontology, geology, zoology, evolution, natural history and science! Professional exotic pet keeper, huge fantasy geek, explorer of the microfossil realm, member of the BVP (Belgian Association for Paleontology), Volunteer prepper at Oertijdmuseum Boxtel. View my collection topic here: The Growing Collection of Ziggycardon My animal collection at the "Members pet" topic Ziggycardon's exploration of the microfossil realm Trips to Eben Emael (Maastrichtian of Belgium) My latest fossil hunt Next project will be a dedicated prepping space. "A mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge." - Tyrion Lannister Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mediospirifer Posted May 19, 2019 Share Posted May 19, 2019 8 hours ago, ziggycardon said: Those are really amazing photographs. I'll definiatly get myself on of those camera's when I aqcuire a microscope, really appreciate the tip! Heh. My images are OK, but I'm strictly an amateur with a low-budget setup. If you want to see amber photos that are really amazing, check out these! LINK. Now, there's what can be done with a professional setup, lots of skill, and lots of time! Your collection looks like a nice bunch. Love those scales! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mediospirifer Posted May 19, 2019 Share Posted May 19, 2019 Oops, wrong link (although that one has good images, too!). Here's the one I was thinking of: LINK. Enjoy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vellis Posted May 20, 2019 Share Posted May 20, 2019 On 5/18/2019 at 5:39 AM, ziggycardon said: Check out my Buggy Amber thread for some examples of what can be done with it, lots of images, and image stacking software. @ziggycardon I have been wondering about the image stacking with microscope pics. I have not tried it with a microscope, but I will now. I know exactly what you are talking about though, I have done it with a telescope and a DSLR for astrophotography. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ziggycardon Posted August 31, 2019 Author Share Posted August 31, 2019 I recently went on my first fossil hunt to a limestone quarry in Eben-Emael (Belgium) which is part of the Formation of Maastricht & Formation of Gulpen (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian age). I found some nice stuff during that hunt and beside fossils, I also took home a few kilo's of limestone matrix with no visible fossils with the intention to search for microfossils in them. After dissolving a few smaller limestone fragments and a small bag of loose sediment from the quarry, I present the first microfossils that I found. This is only a small fraction of the first microfossils froml that batch, the rest is still drying, but these were some of the most obvious finds that stood out in the bunch. Some Bryozoans Osculipora truncata or Truncatulipora filix? Bryozoan? A piece of oyster shell Not really sure what this is A Pyrgopolon sexcarinatus, one of the most common finds on site Lunulites goldfussi Lunulites sp? 7 Interested in all things paleontology, geology, zoology, evolution, natural history and science! Professional exotic pet keeper, huge fantasy geek, explorer of the microfossil realm, member of the BVP (Belgian Association for Paleontology), Volunteer prepper at Oertijdmuseum Boxtel. View my collection topic here: The Growing Collection of Ziggycardon My animal collection at the "Members pet" topic Ziggycardon's exploration of the microfossil realm Trips to Eben Emael (Maastrichtian of Belgium) My latest fossil hunt Next project will be a dedicated prepping space. "A mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge." - Tyrion Lannister Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ziggycardon Posted September 2, 2019 Author Share Posted September 2, 2019 Been disolving some more matrix from Eben-Emael today and the first batch has been properly dried so I added them to a vial. So this is what I got after my first time ever dissolving matrix for microfossils and I am quite content with the result! After a first search I found mostly urchin fragments, Bryozoans, Pyrgopolon sp., some crab fragments and, clam/oysters shell fragments. For the rest I have also been searching through my Chappel Limestone microfossil matrix (Mississipian, Blanco County, Texas) And found for the first time some conodont remains! Siphonodella sp. Spathognathodus sp? 1 Interested in all things paleontology, geology, zoology, evolution, natural history and science! Professional exotic pet keeper, huge fantasy geek, explorer of the microfossil realm, member of the BVP (Belgian Association for Paleontology), Volunteer prepper at Oertijdmuseum Boxtel. View my collection topic here: The Growing Collection of Ziggycardon My animal collection at the "Members pet" topic Ziggycardon's exploration of the microfossil realm Trips to Eben Emael (Maastrichtian of Belgium) My latest fossil hunt Next project will be a dedicated prepping space. "A mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge." - Tyrion Lannister Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mediospirifer Posted September 4, 2019 Share Posted September 4, 2019 Nice!!! Keep looking, and keep on enjoying the fine structure of micros. Your microfossil collection is off to a good start. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ziggycardon Posted September 4, 2019 Author Share Posted September 4, 2019 14 hours ago, Mediospirifer said: Nice!!! Keep looking, and keep on enjoying the fine structure of micros. Your microfossil collection is off to a good start. Thank you! I am very happy with the material that I have on hand. It's very varied in both type of finds, age & size, microfossils are just perfect distraction when you have some spare time. Interested in all things paleontology, geology, zoology, evolution, natural history and science! Professional exotic pet keeper, huge fantasy geek, explorer of the microfossil realm, member of the BVP (Belgian Association for Paleontology), Volunteer prepper at Oertijdmuseum Boxtel. View my collection topic here: The Growing Collection of Ziggycardon My animal collection at the "Members pet" topic Ziggycardon's exploration of the microfossil realm Trips to Eben Emael (Maastrichtian of Belgium) My latest fossil hunt Next project will be a dedicated prepping space. "A mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge." - Tyrion Lannister Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darktooth Posted September 4, 2019 Share Posted September 4, 2019 Pretty cool specimens! I like Trilo-butts and I cannot lie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ziggycardon Posted September 11, 2020 Author Share Posted September 11, 2020 Yesterday I finally took the time to look through some Harding Sandstone microfossil matrix which I have had for a few months now. The Harding Sandstone, Canyon City, Colorado, USA dates back to the Ordovician, Sandbian (455 mya) and it is most famous for hosting the oldest known shark-like denticles, as well the oldest formation known to have an environment rich in vertebrate fossils. A nice conodont tooth, the largest I encountered, probably Ptiloconus gracilis Another, smaller conodont tooth in the middle right (something when wrong when I cropped and scaled the image). Could be Subcordylodus rectilineatus or a fragmented Chirognathus Some armoured fish boney plates. Some more armoured fish boney plates, including a piece of Astraspis desideratus. And the 2 best findings: 1) A shark-like skin denticle 2) A conodont tooth, Chirognathus While I was at it, I also went through some Bexhill bonebed material. Hastings Bone beds, Weald Clay, Wealdon of Bexhill, Wealden Supergroup, Bexhill, Sussex, UK (Cretaceous, 135 million years old) And I found this nice little piece, which I believe might be a tooth of sorts, or at least it resembles one. Not really sure what is is. 2 Interested in all things paleontology, geology, zoology, evolution, natural history and science! Professional exotic pet keeper, huge fantasy geek, explorer of the microfossil realm, member of the BVP (Belgian Association for Paleontology), Volunteer prepper at Oertijdmuseum Boxtel. View my collection topic here: The Growing Collection of Ziggycardon My animal collection at the "Members pet" topic Ziggycardon's exploration of the microfossil realm Trips to Eben Emael (Maastrichtian of Belgium) My latest fossil hunt Next project will be a dedicated prepping space. "A mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge." - Tyrion Lannister Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThePhysicist Posted September 11, 2020 Share Posted September 11, 2020 Nice finds! That Harding sandstone matrix is some really cool stuff; it represents an important stage in vertebrate evolution. 1 Forever a student of Nature Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ziggycardon Posted September 11, 2020 Author Share Posted September 11, 2020 56 minutes ago, ThePhysicist said: Nice finds! That Harding sandstone matrix is some really cool stuff; it represents an important stage in vertebrate evolution. Thank you! And yes indeed, that's why I wanted a little sample of it in the first place. It's just amazing that you can find the oldest shark-like denticles in there, and that after 455 mya they are still roaming the oceans. I have had the sample since march and I am kinda ashamed to admit that it took me so long before I took the time to start going through it. Cause it is really cool material, my favorite microfossil material thus far. 1 Interested in all things paleontology, geology, zoology, evolution, natural history and science! Professional exotic pet keeper, huge fantasy geek, explorer of the microfossil realm, member of the BVP (Belgian Association for Paleontology), Volunteer prepper at Oertijdmuseum Boxtel. View my collection topic here: The Growing Collection of Ziggycardon My animal collection at the "Members pet" topic Ziggycardon's exploration of the microfossil realm Trips to Eben Emael (Maastrichtian of Belgium) My latest fossil hunt Next project will be a dedicated prepping space. "A mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge." - Tyrion Lannister Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ziggycardon Posted September 30, 2020 Author Share Posted September 30, 2020 Last week I recieved some new rich samples of microfossil matrix, something to keep buzy with in the coming weeks. A bag with coarse and very rich material with Fissure Fill material found in the Dolese Quarry in Richards Spur, Oklahoma, USA (Permian, Sakmarian, 295 - 290 mya). The material mainly contains Captorhinus material but other reptiles, pelycosaurs and amphibians can be present. A bag with material found in the Bull Canyon Formation, San Miguel County, New Mexico, USA (Triassic, Norian, 227 - 208 mya) The material (although very fragmented) can contain material from archosaurs, reptiles, fish, labyrintodonts and with luck early dinosaurs. And a bag with fine grained fissure fill material found in the Brooksville 2 site, Hernando County, Florida, USA (Oligocene, Arikarean, 28 mya) The materials can contain echinoid fragments, ostracods, foraminifera and bone & teeth fragments from rodents, bats, lizards, snakes & frogs. I have been going through all these materials the past days and found some cool things in each of them. I shall be posting my finds in the comings days, but today I shall start with some of the Brooksville material as it is the least rich material in the bunch. This small jar contains all the worthwile thing I found during my first sweep of the material. I found some rodent incisors, rodent or Megalagus molars, bat bones, frog bones, one or two Heloderma denticles, a gastropod, echinoid fragments & seeds A piece of rodent Incisor The image is quite blurry, but this is a tiny molar belonging to one of the many rodents or lagomorphs that can be found in this material. I'll probably go through all the molars I found to try and determinated them. Another rodent/lagomorph molar A molar which compares best with Agnotocastor sp. according to the ID cards that accompanied the material. Sea Urchin Spine The picture is very blurry (I'll try again tomorrow for better pictures), but this is a frog humerus. And while I am unsure as to what this is, I guess it could be one of the echinoid fragments that can be found in the matrix. 1 Interested in all things paleontology, geology, zoology, evolution, natural history and science! Professional exotic pet keeper, huge fantasy geek, explorer of the microfossil realm, member of the BVP (Belgian Association for Paleontology), Volunteer prepper at Oertijdmuseum Boxtel. View my collection topic here: The Growing Collection of Ziggycardon My animal collection at the "Members pet" topic Ziggycardon's exploration of the microfossil realm Trips to Eben Emael (Maastrichtian of Belgium) My latest fossil hunt Next project will be a dedicated prepping space. "A mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge." - Tyrion Lannister Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ziggycardon Posted September 30, 2020 Author Share Posted September 30, 2020 Here are some more of the Brooksville finds Better pictures of the frog bones Sea Urchin Spines A small seed A gastropod A Heloderma dermal armor plate (according to the ID cards) Rodent Molars A unknown fingerbone? 2 Interested in all things paleontology, geology, zoology, evolution, natural history and science! Professional exotic pet keeper, huge fantasy geek, explorer of the microfossil realm, member of the BVP (Belgian Association for Paleontology), Volunteer prepper at Oertijdmuseum Boxtel. View my collection topic here: The Growing Collection of Ziggycardon My animal collection at the "Members pet" topic Ziggycardon's exploration of the microfossil realm Trips to Eben Emael (Maastrichtian of Belgium) My latest fossil hunt Next project will be a dedicated prepping space. "A mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge." - Tyrion Lannister Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Dente Posted September 30, 2020 Share Posted September 30, 2020 The ones I’ve circled are urchin spines. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ziggycardon Posted September 30, 2020 Author Share Posted September 30, 2020 18 minutes ago, Al Dente said: The ones I’ve circled are urchin spines. Thank you for the correction! Interested in all things paleontology, geology, zoology, evolution, natural history and science! Professional exotic pet keeper, huge fantasy geek, explorer of the microfossil realm, member of the BVP (Belgian Association for Paleontology), Volunteer prepper at Oertijdmuseum Boxtel. View my collection topic here: The Growing Collection of Ziggycardon My animal collection at the "Members pet" topic Ziggycardon's exploration of the microfossil realm Trips to Eben Emael (Maastrichtian of Belgium) My latest fossil hunt Next project will be a dedicated prepping space. "A mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge." - Tyrion Lannister Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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