Brachiopod Platystrophia

Various sizes of the Platystrophia brachiopod from the Ordovician Period. The ruler scale is in centimeters. They are good size fossils ranging from 3-4 cm in width. These specimens were found east of Louisville, Kentucky in the Grant Lake Formation. Quite a nice looking creature to be the official fossil of Kentucky.

This is an articulate brachiopod in the order Impunctate, superfamily Orthacea.

It is possible the species is Platystrophia ponderosa but don't hold me to that identification, Hoss (or is it Little Joe). See more examples of this type of brachiopod at the Dry Dredgers of Cincinnati, Ohio webpage.

Ordovician Cephalopods

Pictures of a variety of Ordovician Period cephalopod molds. Most of these fossils were found east of Louisville, Kentucky in the Grant Lake Formation.

This first picture is of an unknown cephalopod found in Carroll County, Kentucky in the Kope Formation.









These last two images are of cephalopods that have argonite shells. They were found in the Kope Formation in Carroll County, Kentucky. The bryozoan coating seems to helped preserve details of the shells over time.

Ordovician Bryozoans

The bryozoan fossil pictured were found in the Kope Formation east of Louisville, Kentucky. They are from the Ordovician Period and members of the suborders of Halloporina.

Brachiopod Rafinesquina

The Ordovician Period brachiopod found near Louisville, Kentucky. These specimens were found in the Grant Lake Formation. It is called Rafinesquina and is probably named after the French biologist: Constantine Rafinesque. Interesting fact is that while he died in Philadelphia, his body was later transferred back to Lexington, Kentucky. He is buried at Transylvania University there where he taught in the early 1800s.

These specimens were cleaned a few days ago using air abrasive cleaning techniques.

Cornulites on Brachiopods

Cornulite fossils on Ordovician Period brachiopods. These brachiopods were found in eastern Louisville, Kentucky at road cuts. Green arrows are used in some pictures to help point out the worm tubes.

Chocolate Fossil

A little off the beaten path today. I present a chocolate brachiopod. Okay, it is not brachiopod or fossil but a Guylian Belgian Chocolate seashell.



I like how each seashell is double sided.


Not long after this picture was taken this chocolate mollusk became extinct. It was yummy!

This next picture is maybe a chocolate clam.


Here is a spiral snail with some shell ornamentation.


I included a fossil of an Ordovician Period snail called Loxoplocus from the Drake Formation in Kentucky.

This next candy piece might be some sort of shrimp.


Here is a picture of the box of candy. Eleven different sea shells chocolates shapes are represented in the box (contains 22 in all) and I took pictures of just a few. A family friend from Austria gave me these chocolates as a thank you for changing the oil in their car.

According to the company website, this product is their best seller. I found the taste unique and the chocolate pieces have a multi-color appearance. Two types of chocolates appeared to be used, one darker than the other. The center of the candy piece is roasted hazelnut praliné which is coated a special chocolate blend. Their website goes into much more detail about the chocolate and its ingredients.


One last note about a special project that Guylian does. It is called Project Seahorse which the company donates money to for each box of sea shell candy sold. They are trying to help conserve seahorses in the world as their habitat is being threatened.

Cambrian Trilobite

This trilobite is found in the Wheeler Formation of Antelope Spring, Utah.

It is probably an Agnostid ("double-headed") and is from the Cambrian Period.

Thanks to Herb for the fossil.

Texigryphea Oyster Fossil

This oyster fossil is called Texigryphea sp. It is from Tarrant County, Texas. The fossil existed in the Cretaceous Period.

Thanks to Herb for the fossil.

Serpula Worm Tube Fossils

This Cretaceous Period fossil is called Serpula sp. They are worm/annelid tubes. This specimen was found in Tarrant County, Texas.

Thanks to Herb for the fossil.

Exogyra Oyster Fossil

This oyster fossil is called Exogyra sp. It is from Tarrant County, Texas and existed in the Cretaceous Period.

Thanks to Herb for the fossil.