SteveK Posted July 7, 2019 Share Posted July 7, 2019 Novice to identifying fossils, if there's a lower rung on the knowledge scale it would probably be more applicable. Found this about 30cm deep in north central West Virginia about 12 miles south of Cumberland MD. Our yard is about 10cm of topsoil and at least a meter of hard packed shale (that's as far down as I've had the pleasure of digging for my projects). I've found other similar items but this one split to show the interior which caught my interest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ynot Posted July 8, 2019 Share Posted July 8, 2019 Welcome to TFF! Looks like a piece of a concretion, not a fossil. Darwin said: " Man sprang from monkeys." Will Rogers said: " Some of them didn't spring far enough." My Fossil collection - My Mineral collection My favorite thread on TFF. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Kmiecik Posted July 8, 2019 Share Posted July 8, 2019 Not any fossil to see, but I do see what looks like a crack. I would be tempted to give it a few taps with a hammer to split it open. Mark. Fossil hunting is easy -- they don't run away when you shoot at them! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockwood Posted July 8, 2019 Share Posted July 8, 2019 I think the odds of it being a fossil are actually pretty good. Identifying it as such could prove to be problematic though. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plantguy Posted July 8, 2019 Share Posted July 8, 2019 (edited) Yep welcome to the forum! Thats another interesting unknown. I'm torn...does look concretionary but it seems to have some interesting internal structures that make me wonder about an organic origin. Can you wet the surface with water and take another photo of these areas I've highlighted...sometimes that shows more detail..looking to see what those grainy looking areas are....I'd like to see a shot of the exterior/an overall shape as well if thats possible. Looking for patterns on the outside as well. I have these two examples of plant material and maybe there is some similarities...maybe I'm seeing things in your sample where they arent...the others can attest I see things alot that arent always there... Thanks for making me wonder...Cool sample... Regards, Chris Edited July 8, 2019 by Plantguy added photo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plax Posted July 8, 2019 Share Posted July 8, 2019 5 hours ago, Rockwood said: I think the odds of it being a fossil are actually pretty good. Identifying it as such could prove to be problematic though. I'm with Rockwood. Doesn't look like a concretion to me unless you consider the rock a concretion surrounding the unidentifiable fossil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveK Posted July 8, 2019 Author Share Posted July 8, 2019 Plantguy, Hope these are helpful. The two shots of the interior and 4 exterior. Plus one of something else I found in the same area if it helps, possibly identify a period in time (img_1907)? Something else, these were only about a foot deep in my yard but I do not know what the original contour of the land was before the lot was prepared and the house built. May have been originally deeper than 30 cm. Looking at the surrounding hillside, may have been 3m of of soil (rock!) removed to prep the lot. Appreciate your interest and sharing your knowledge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Kmiecik Posted July 8, 2019 Share Posted July 8, 2019 On 7/8/2019 at 5:34 PM, SteveK said: When you do this, put a piece of tissue or thin sheet of packing foam in between the halves so they don't abrade each other. That's what I do with my Mazon Creek concretions and it prevents damage during handling and transportation. Mark. Fossil hunting is easy -- they don't run away when you shoot at them! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveK Posted July 8, 2019 Author Share Posted July 8, 2019 Thanks Mark. I've got others similar that came apart, but none split in half like this one. Will do that with all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plantguy Posted July 9, 2019 Share Posted July 9, 2019 Hey Steve, thanks for the additional photos! Quite the nice brachiopods-fantastic colors! I'm not seeing anything plant like in the new photos that I was wondering about so I think we are back to a simple concretion as Tony said. A drop or two of vinegar on an inconspicuous spot and having it bubble/fizz could tell us if it is calcareous or not...rinse off afterwards so as not to stain it. The better lighting/photos seem to highlight some mineralization that has taken place that I was trying to turn into a plant texture. The fact that you now showed us the brachs with a similar coloration from the same general area still makes me wonder if there is still some fossil origin for your unknown. Someone may be able tell you more looking at in hand or under a scope. Neat samples! Continued hunting success.... Regards, Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plantguy Posted July 23, 2019 Share Posted July 23, 2019 A quick followup...got some feedback to share from an expert contact in West Virginia after a review of some of the photo closeups....... I believe there is (or was) a fossil in the center of the nodule in the photos. I think I see indications of the central portion of a spirally coiled, spherical shell. I believe that this is a mold of a large gastropod . . . or, a slight possibility that this was a coiled cephalopod. However, I don’t see any indications of partitions between chambers so gastropod has a better chance of being correct. The brachiopod is unusual in that it has been preserved opened up with both valves preserved. Brachiopods usually close up tight at death and are found that way as fossils. The brachiopod is a spiriferid. Can’t be more specific about genus and species because there are a zillion spiriferids that have similar looking valves – I’d suggest that it is either Devonian or Mississippian in age. Regards, Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveK Posted July 23, 2019 Author Share Posted July 23, 2019 Chris, Would you like a first hand look at both of them? I'll send them to you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plantguy Posted July 25, 2019 Share Posted July 25, 2019 On 7/23/2019 at 6:24 PM, SteveK said: Chris, Would you like a first hand look at both of them? I'll send them to you. Hey Steve, I sent you a pm msg. Regards, Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reese the Rockhound Posted July 31, 2019 Share Posted July 31, 2019 I have seen lots of Hematite concretions, and I doubt that's what this is. Its possible that this is a Trigonocarpus fruit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveK Posted August 2, 2019 Author Share Posted August 2, 2019 Reese, That fits in with some other things I found in the same area. Look like rather large seeds. I'll post a few photos as soon as I get a chance. 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