Zandmotor hunt: a bountiful of bivalves

[Max-fossils]

21) A worn but impressive specimen of Mytilus antiquoruum! At least that's what I think it is... It's a Pliocene species, which is why I have my doubts, so I'll have to look into it. Still a cool find  

[Max-fossils]

22) This one has got me stumped... I'll try and ID it, but if anyone recognizes it let me know!

[Max-fossils]

23) A complete, although damaged, Mactra stultorum plistoneerlandica specimen. 

[Max-fossils]

25) The very common Macoma balthica. This one is also an ordinary specimen, so I don't know why I picked it up, but oh well... 

[Max-fossils]

26) Also kinda common, Spisula subtruncata.

[Max-fossils]

27) The most common species on the Zandmotor, Spisula solida. However, what is not so common is to find one that doesn't have the typical grey colors, but instead the brown that is typical of the Zeeland beaches! Cool!

[Max-fossils]

28) This one is boring: a small hinge fragment of the Pholas dactylus (who will figure out the silly little joke?)

[Max-fossils]

29) And another boring specimen of Pholas dactylus. I wasn't sure of its fossil occurence on the Zandmotor beforehand, so finding these two is a good sign. 

[Max-fossils]

30) A pretty big piece of Mactra glauca! The hinge is very well defined here, which isn't too common for this species. 

[Max-fossils]

31) A pretty nice incomplete specimen of Lutraria sp. 

[Max-fossils]

32) And a small incomplete Mya truncata piece

[Max-fossils]

33) A cool specimen of the Zirfaea crispata. I love how it still has that rod-thing (no clue what it's called) attached, it usually isn't there in fossil specimens anymore. Oh, and this one is actually a very boring shell too... *yawn*

[Max-fossils]

Finally some gastropods!

34) An incomplete Nucella lapillus.

[Max-fossils]

35) An incomplete Littorina littorea. Fossil gastropods are quite uncommon on the Zandmotor though, so something like these does make me a little happy. Not as much as the next couple  though  

[Max-fossils]

36) An absolutely perfect and gorgeous Nassarius reticulatus! My best one so far. 

[Max-fossils]

37) And, finally, a wonderful Propebela turricula! Love this one very much. 

[ricardo]

Max, nice hunt  

[Max-fossils]

Whoa! I think we're finally done! That's a lot of species! I think we have around 35 different ones? Somewhere around there... I'll have to still work on ID word and classifying the finds properly over the next couple weeks. 

 

Anyways, I'm ecstatic to announce that the winter months are finally over here in the NL, and that fossil-hunting is officially back in game (for me haha)  

In fact... I'll be going to the Banjaard this weekend for more fossil hunting! It doesn't end does it?  

 

Hopefully you enjoyed this topic (well done to have scrolled through all those pics!), and it gave you a good idea of how rich the Eem Formation and the Zandmotor is for its fossil mollusks. 

Let me know which species you like best! 

 

Oh, also, (I know it's not in the right forum, but I don't want to make a whole new topic), the first person to accurately explain my very lame joke gets a little something in the mailbox  

 

Thanks for reading!

 

Max

[Max-fossils]

55 minutes ago, Gizmo said:

Great pics and info, thanks for posting! 

Thanks, I'm glad you like it! Make sure you don't miss out on the actual finds  

[Max-fossils]

5 minutes ago, ricardo said:

Max, nice hunt  

Thanks Ricardo!  

[Tidgy's Dad]

Lovely finds, you certainly had a very good day! 

Pholas is a genus of bivalve that burrows or bores into soft substrates, soft rocks and even wood.

So it is boring. 

And your photos, both of the location and the fossils are excellent.

Nassarius may be my favourite. 

[Plantguy]

Hey Max, quite the collection there! Congrats. I think I'm gonna pick the Anomia as my favorite...

 

Regards, Chris 

[goatinformationist]

Foot in the hole.

[Natalie81]

Nice report Max! 

[belemniten]

Nice finds Max  Thanks for posting! Did you found any bones