Louisville Fossils and Beyond

Visit Falls of the Ohio State Park

2012-02-13T13:25:00.000-05:00

Recently, I visited the interpretive center at the Falls of the Ohio State Park in Clarksville, Indiana located across the Ohio River from Louisville, Kentucky. They have two temporary fossil displays that have nice specimens to observe. The first image is of an enrolled Flexicalymene meeki trilobite from the Ordovican found in Hamilton County, Ohio.

This next image is of the Eocene fish fossil Knightea sp. found in the famous locality of Green River Formation (Kemmerer, Wyoming).

Followed by an imprint of snail in a stromatoporoid of the Jeffersonville Limestone (Middle Devonian) Oldham County, Kentucky.

Above are images of Baculites cephalopod fossils of Upper Cretaceous of South Dakota.

Pelecypod fossil embedded in an ironstone nodule of the Upper Pennsylvanian Period found in Grundy County, Illinois.

Calamites plant fossil found in the Pennsylvanian Period layers of Vigo County, Indiana. Plant is similar to the modern horsetail rush (Equisetum hyemele).

Creatures Frozen in Stone

2012-02-11T05:30:00.000-05:00

Decided to try and create some promotional images for the blog. Here is one attempt based on the skull of a Dracorex hogwartsia. The pictures were taken by me and shown in this older posting: http://louisvillefossils.blogspot.com/2009/11/dracorex-hogwartsia.html

The real fossil plus professional artwork featuring it can be found in Indianapolis at the Children's Museum of Indianapolis.

Adobe Illustrator was used to create image. Did not seem to work, so pursuing other designs now.

Lophophyllidium proliferum Horn Coral

2012-02-10T05:30:00.000-05:00

Lophophyllidium proliferum horn coral fossil found in the Kewitz Shale (Stanton Formation) of Cass County, Nebraska. Fossil dates to the Pennsylvanian period. Thanks to Mark for the fossil.

Neochonetes granulifer Brachiopod

2012-02-09T05:30:00.000-05:00

Neochonetes granulifer brachiopod fossil found in the Kewitz Shale (Stanton Formation) of Cass County, Nebraska. Fossil dates to the Pennsylvanian period. Thanks to Mark for the fossil.

Antiquatonia protlockianus Brachiopod

2012-02-08T05:30:00.000-05:00

Antiquatonia protlockianus brachiopod fossil found in the Kewitz Shale (Stanton Formation) of Cass County, Nebraska. Fossil dates to the Pennsylvanian period. Thanks to Mark for the fossil.

Bolis enterogramma Gastropod

2012-02-07T05:30:00.000-05:00

Bolis enterogramma gastropod found in the Stone City Formation (Whiskey Bridge) of Brazos County, Texas. Fossils date to the Eocene age.

Reticulariina spinosa Brachiopod

2012-02-06T05:30:00.000-05:00

Reticulariina spinosa brachiopod found in the Hardinsburg Formation of Hart County, Kentucky. Fossil dates to the upper Mississippian Period. Thanks to Mark for the fossil.

Icriodus Conodont Fossil

2012-02-05T05:30:00.000-05:00

This fossil appears to be an Icriodus angustus? conodont found in either the upper Devonian New Albany Shale or Middle Devonian Beechwood Limestone of Clark County, Indiana.

Conodonts have been found in the southern Indiana for a while. In 1938, a new species found at the Falls of the Ohio was named Icriodus latericrescens by E.G. Branson and M.G. Mehl

While doing some conodont research, I came across an article about a researcher at the University of Houston named Glen Merrill. Dr. Merrill is a professor of Natural Sciences and has been publishing papers for over 50 years. His laboratory has collection approximately 750,000 conodonts. The article states that "Each conodont animal had seven kinds of elements that were surrounded by soft tissues and grew layer on layer."

Another item gleaned from the article is that the fossils change color when exposed to heat. From amber they go to brown, grey or black and eventually opaque and then vaporize. Oil companies became interested in this property as they found gas/oil in layers that had been heated and these fossils could be studied as thermal markers.

Read this informative article entitled UHD's Award Winning Faculty Series: Meet Glen Merrill from June 23, 2011 at the University of Houston Downtown web site: http://uhdnews.uhd.edu/news/stories.aspx?articleid=245&zoneid=1

Conostichus Trace Fossil

2012-02-04T16:15:00.002-05:00

Trace fossil that might be some sort of sea anemone burrow. These traces fossils can be referred to as Conostichus. Fossils were found in the Bangor Limestone of Colbert County, Alabama. The traces were made in the Mississippian (Carboniferous) Period about 325 million years ago.

Thanks to Larry for the fossils.

Learn more about these type of fossils at the Indiana Geological Survey web site on a page written by Henry H. Gray: Conostichus, an Enigmatic Fossil.

Kloedenella Ostracod

2012-02-03T05:30:00.000-05:00

Here are some pictures of Kloedenella sp. ostracods found in the Mifflintown Formation of Clinton County, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. The fossil dates to the Silurian Period (Wenlock Epoch, Homerian Stage). Thanks to Dave at the Views of the Mahantango blog for the specimens.

Find out more info about this genus in the book Microsfossils (2005) by Howard Armstrong and M.D. Brasier, Chapter 20 Ostracods pp.233-234.

Haplostiche "Nodosaria" texana Fusulinid

2012-02-02T15:20:00.001-05:00

The Haplostiche "Nodosaria" texana fusulinid found in the Weno Foramation (Comancheon) of Denton County, Texas. Fossils are dated to the early Cretaceous. Thanks to Dave at the Views of the Mahantango blog for the specimens. I believe he acquired them from an old estate collection for Oklahoma or Texas.

Species was named by Conrad in 1857. Thanks to Michael at foraminifera.eu for the reference citing this fossil. Bulletin Foraminifera of the Cretaceous of Central Texas (March 22, 1926)) by Dorothy Ogden Carsey lists a description on page 36 and shown on Plate 6, Figure 10.

Test large, elongate, usually straight; chambers gradually enlarging, each younger one enveloping the anterior portion of the immediately precedingone ;initial extremity slightly pointed, ultimate end broadly rounded to slightly protruded; aperture terminal, consisting of rounded to subovate orifices regularly arranged in a semi-radiating manner around a central opening of about the same size; surface of shell marked by rather closely set depressed suture lines. Length usually not exceeding 9 mm., occasionally much longer. Nodosaria texana occurs rather commonly in parts of the Del Rio formation and has been occasionally observed in the Buda limestone.

This blog posting contains images from two different specimens that were roughly the same size and photographed using a microscope set at about 30x.

I tried in my amateurish way to show the chambers of the second specimen by sanding it on different grit sandpaper. The black sandpaper appears to have embedded grit into the specimen though. Maybe a better way is to glue a specimen to a wood dowel and sand till half way through the specimen and then remove it. Turn over the specimen and glue the flat side to a glass plate and then sand till it is very thin.

Polygnathus cristatus? Conodont

2012-02-01T05:30:00.000-05:00

This fossil appear to be Polygnathus cristatus? conodont found in the Middle Devonian Beechwood
Limestone of Clark County, Indiana. Helicon Focus was used to create some of these images. This fossil is amber colored and translucent so a underneath light was used to reveal more detail.

Ozarkodina Conodont Fossil

2012-01-31T05:30:00.000-05:00

These fossils appear to be Ozarkodina willsi? conodonts found in either the upper Devonian New Albany Shale or middle Devonian Beechwood Limestone of Clark County, Indiana.

See the conodont.info web site to see Ozarkodina polita specimens: CLICK HERE and Ozarkodina tenuis specimens: CLICK HERE

Ilymatogyra arietina Pelecypod

2012-01-30T12:30:00.000-05:00

An Ilymatogyra arietina pelecypod fossil found in Grayson Marl Formation of Tarrant County, Texas. Animals lived in the upper Cretaceous Period. Check out Dave's write up on this fossil on the Views of the Mahantango blog: CLICK HERE
Thanks to Mark for these fossils.

A smaller Ilymatogyra arietina pelecypod fossil is shown in the next three images.

Spyroceras Cephalopod

2012-01-29T21:23:00.001-05:00

Two fossils are shown that might a Spyroceras cephalopod of the Mississippian Period. These fossils came from the Chesterian Zone of the Bangor Limestone Formation of Franklin County, Alabama.

Neochonetes granulifer Brachiopod

2012-01-25T23:56:00.000-05:00

Neochonetes granulifer brachiopod fossil found in the Kewitz Shale of the Stanton Formation of the Lansing Group of Cass County, Nebraska. Fossil dates to the Upper Pennsylvanian Period. I posted a picture of a group of these fossils found at the natural history museum in Paris, France back in October 23, 2009: CLICK HERE

Learn more about this fossil at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln School of Natural Resources web site: CLICK HERE

Thanks to Mark for the fossil.

Fossilized Cancer Tumor

2012-01-23T05:30:00.000-05:00

This fossil of a sauropod bone contains an elliptical shaped agate mass thought to be fossilized cancer tumor. Ouch, that looked painful! The picture was taken at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The accession number of the specimen is CM 72656 (Dinosauria indet.)

Learn more about cancers found in hadrosaurs at the Indiana public media site of A Moment of Science December 16, 2009 podcast about dinosaur cancer: CLICK HERE

Statue of Diplodocus sauropod outside the Carnegie Museum of Natural History.

Micro Fish Fossils

2012-01-21T23:50:00.002-05:00

This posting shows some very small fish fossils. Some of them are parts of vertebrate and others I am not sure about. The specimens were obtained by Dr. Jim Conkin from material collected on one of his research trips. The fossils were photographed using a microscope set at maybe 15x.

Michigan Kona Dolomite

2012-01-17T05:30:00.000-05:00

Kona Dolomite dated to over 2 billion years old. Thought to be a cyanobacteria colony (stromatolite). Found in the Kona Hills of Marquette County, Michigan. These early oxygen producers paved the way for more advanced lifeforms of the future. This piece was profiled in an earlier posting. It has now been wet sanded and polished with a Dremel tool. Has a nice reddish and pink color bands.

Moment of Science Podcast

2012-01-16T05:30:00.000-05:00

While listening to the local public radio station WFPL recently, I heard a short audio segment called A Moment of Science. The show is a production of Indiana public media which is a producer and distributor of created content by Indiana University's WFIU public radio and WTIU public television. An archive of shows going back to 2003 are available for listening and reading on their web site.

Picture is of a Dracorex hogwartsia on display at The Children's Museum of Indianapolis. This dinosaur is discussed in the podcast (see link further down) about naming new dinosaur species. It is now thought to be a juvenile Pachycephalosaurus.

Here are links to the audio episodes of paleontological interest:

How Do Scientists Figure Out If A Dinosaur Is A New Species? (November 22, 2011)

Why Did The Stegoceras Dinosaur Have A Domed Head? (October 24, 2011)

Using X-Rays To Find The Color Of Fossilized Skin And Feathers (October 18, 2011)

Was Dinosaur "Sue" A Boy? (August 12, 2011)

Uncovering An Even Taller T.Rex (And Others!) (October 4, 2010)

A World Full of Dinosaurs (December 19, 2006)

Dinosaur Cancer (December 16, 2009)

Prehistoric Runways (November 30, 2009)

Isty-bitsy Dinosaurs? (February 25, 2009)

A Whale of Evolution (April 29, 2008)

Pregnant Teenage Dinosaurs (March 4, 2008)

Extinction by Volcano? (February 12, 2008)

Cloning T-Rex: The Difficulty With Cloning Dinosaurs (June 12, 2007)

The First Flowers (October 31, 2006)

Dinosaur Turkey! (October 18, 2006)

Plesiosaurs (September 5, 2006)

Dinosaur photo by Michael Popp.

Pentamerus nysius Brachiopod

2012-01-15T18:00:00.000-05:00

A Pentamerus nysius brachiopod found in the Niagaran layer of Jefferson County, Kentucky. This fossil is one of the larger brachiopods found in the area. This Silurian Period creature tended to fossilize together. Thanks to Kenny for extracting it.

The Camouflaged Fossil

2012-01-13T05:30:00.000-05:00

So I am out in the field and picking up limestone plates that contain sections of Archimedes bryozoan like the one shown in this picture. One hopes to find Fenestella attached to the outer grove edges of the Archimedes that will be preserved in the plate. For the most part, it is just the screw part that is found.
This posting is about camouflaged fossils and when this limestone plate gets wet, it reveals the presence of a white crinoid arm. Not sure of the crinoid's identity but it was surprise when it was cleaned. Last image shows plate with ruler to give one some idea of its size.
The lesson I take away from this, is sometimes things are not as they first appear.

Billion Year Old American Fossils

2012-01-12T16:14:00.002-05:00

These pieces were cut off a larger block and have just been sanded down. I started using a sanding wheel with a belt sander attachment for the first time. Sure beats doing it by hand as I have done in the past! Next step is to hand sand these pieces with wet sandpaper and then polish it with the Dremel tool.

The slabs were photographed wet to bring out nice colors.

Thanks to Kenny for helping me cut the slab with a diamond saw.

Ordovician Graptolites

2012-01-08T22:52:00.000-05:00

Here are some pictures of graptolite specimens found a piece of limestone about 20 x 15 cm in size. The genus might be Geniculograptus (or Climacograptus). Fossil plate was found in Trimble County, Kentucky. These animals existed in the Ordovician Period.

Fenestella Bryozoan Plate

2012-01-06T12:40:00.000-05:00

This limestone plate is quite attractive showing how the Fenestella bryzoan laid on the sea floor and became fossils. There is some biodiversity as well with an unidentified brachiopod (maybe Orthotodes) and a branching bryozoan in the shape of a chicken wishbone.

Fossils are from the Mississippian Period Indian Springs formation of Crawford County, Indiana.

Polished Slabs at Carnegie Museum

2012-01-02T05:30:00.000-05:00

To begin 2012, a tack away from fossils will be taken temporarily for some geological eye candy. The Hillman Hall of Minerals of Gems at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History has a beautiful display of illuminated mineral slices. This posting shows just a few so you will need to visit Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in person to truly appreciate the beauty of these specimens. The first is an agate and amethyst piece from Brazil. Followed by another Brazilian piece of "bullseye" agate.

This next is is of a cross section of fire opal from Mexico.

This multi-shaded purple specimen is a piece of rhodochrosite from Argentina.

The following image is of an agate from Brazil.

This next picture is of a nephrite jade found in New Zealand.

The last image is of liddicoatite from Madagascar.

Heliophyllum Horn Coral

2011-12-31T05:30:00.000-05:00

Heliophyllum horn coral found in the Middle Devonian aged Jeffersonville Limestone of Clark County, Indiana. Not sure what species this is, there must be at least 8 of them found in the area.

Heliophyllum ingens Coral

2011-12-30T05:30:00.000-05:00

I believe this fossil would be classified as a colonial coral or maybe a cluster of horn corals attached together. The Stumm book on Devonian and Silurian Corals of the Falls of the Ohio (1964) identifies it as a Billingsastraea ingens. The Falls of the Ohio State Park web site lists as a Heliophyllum ingens (LINK). It was found in the Middle Devonian Boyle Limestone of Nelson County, Kentucky. The fossil can be yours: eBay LINK

Brevispirifer gregarius Textbook Specimen

2011-12-29T05:30:00.000-05:00

This Brevispirifer gregarius is almost a textbook example of a fossil specimen. Included with this posts are the illustrations from Henry Nettleroth's Fossil Shells of the Silurian and Devonian of Kentucky from 1889. That book referred to this fossil as a Spirifera gregaria. These fossils are used as identification markers for the stratigraphic layers in the Jeffersonville Limestone. Devonian fossil was found in Jefferson County, Kentucky.

Mississippian Spiny Brachiopod

2011-12-28T05:30:00.000-05:00

This fossil brachiopod is one of the larger ones I have found from the Mississippian Period. It was found in Indiana and shows evidence of once having been covered in spines. It might be a Dictyoclostus or Productella. Other pictures in this posting show magnified views of the spines.

Astylospongia praemorsa Sponge

2011-12-26T05:30:00.000-05:00

Astylospongia praemorsa sponge fossil found in the Silurian Period Waldron Shale of Indiana. Illustrations used in the posting are from Indiana Geological Survey #11 of 1881 and taken from Plate 2 Figures 7-8.

Merry Fossil Christmas 2011

2011-12-25T00:30:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas to one and all! Another Christmas season is upon us and as I have done the last two holidays, a fossil Christmas tree has been created with the aid of Adobe Photoshop.

The 2011 tree was made with a combination of seven fossils from the Paleozoic Era. The Devonian period contributed the horn coral which makes up the body of the tree and crinoid stem that makes up the trunk. Both were found in the Jeffersonville Limestone of Clark County, Indiana, USA. The star patterned crinoid stem segments make the top star and ornament. Thanks to Kenny for finding those in the Mississippian Period Borden Formation of Clark County, Indiana. The screw shaped icicle decoration is an Archimedes bryozoan and the orange tear shaped ornament is a Pentremites blastoid. Both fossils are Mississippian in age and were found in the Indian Springs formation of Crawford County, Indiana. The purple elliptical ornament is a Mississippian crinoid stem segment found at Lake Cumberland, Kentucky. See picture at bottom of posting to see actual fossil appearances.

Two more tree versions were created on in German and another in Spanish for some of the non-English readers on the Internet.

The picture below shows the fossils used to create the Christmas greeting graphic.

Receptaculites subturbinatus Sponge

2011-12-24T05:30:00.000-05:00

Pyrite fossil of a sponge called Receptaculites subturbinatus. Fossil was found in the Silurian Period Waldron Shale of Indiana. Illustrations in this post are from the Indiana Geological Survey #11 of 1881 found on Plate 2 Figures 1-3. Thanks to Mark for the fossil.

Silurian Foraminifera

2011-12-21T05:30:00.000-05:00

While working on a project taking pictures of Chinese foraminiferas collected in the 1980s, I took a picture of this specimen while the equipment was setup. It is a foram found in the Silurian period Osgood Shale of Ripley County, Indiana. My guess is it might be some sort of Ammodiscus. Dr. James Conkin collected this specimen some years ago. Second image is specimen wet after an attempt to move it with a wet brush.

Happy Fossil Hanukkah

2011-12-20T05:30:00.000-05:00

Today marks the opening of Hanukkah or Festival of Lights which will last 8 days. As a greeting to those who celebrate this event and also enjoy paleontology, this graphic was created with some Mississippian (Carboniferous) fossils and a lot of Adobe Photoshop. The fossils are a Fenestella bryozoan in remarkable intact 3-D form and a Pentremites blastoid. Both specimens were found in Indian Spring formation of Crawford County, Indiana.

The picture below shows the two fossils used to create this graphic. The bryozoan was photographed under the microscope at 23x. If you found this graphic interesting, visit the blog on December 25th and see the Christmas tree graphic!

The Black Blastoid

2011-12-19T05:30:00.000-05:00

This blastoid takes on a blackish appearance in its photos. Identified as a Pentremites from the Glen Dean Formation of Grayson County, Kentucky. It is dated to the Mississippian Period.

Turrilites Ammonite

2011-12-18T05:30:00.000-05:00

The Turrilites sp. ammonite fossil displayed at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (July 2011). The creature swam the Western Interior seas of the Upper Cretaceous (Mesozoic Era). Its Carnegie museum accession number is CM 7635.

Visit the Carnegie museum web site: http://www.carnegiemnh.org/

Scaphites nodosus Ammonite

2011-12-17T05:30:00.000-05:00

The Scaphites nodosus ammonite fossil displayed at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (July 2011). The creature swam the Western Interior seas of the Upper Cretaceous (Mesozoic Era). Its Carnegie museum accession number is CM 29891.

Visit the Carnegie museum web site: http://www.carnegiemnh.org/

Acanthoscaphites nodosus Ammonite

2011-12-16T11:14:00.000-05:00

The Acanthoscaphites nodosus ammonite fossil displayed at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (July 2011). The creature swam the Western Interior seas of the Upper Cretaceous (Mesozoic Era). Its Carnegie museum accession number is CM 40625.

Visit the Carnegie museum web site: http://www.carnegiemnh.org/

Keichiosaurus youngi Marine Reptile

2011-12-14T05:30:00.000-05:00

Keichiosaurus youngi primitive marine reptile fossil found in Guizhou Province in China. This creature swam during the Lower Triassic. The first fossil of this genus was discovered in 1957. Learn more at Wikipedia.

Keichousaurus hui drawn by Nobu Tamura (2007)
Found on Wikipedia
See more of Nobu Tamura's work at paleoexhibit.blogspot.com

Scale in the next picture is in inches.

Thanks to Mark Palatas for letting me photograph this specimen.

Insects in Amber

2011-12-13T09:41:00.002-05:00

Pictures of insects trapped in amber.

Did not see a label for this specimen. Thanks to Mark for letting me photograph it.

Pleuroceras spinatum Ammonites

2011-12-12T08:52:00.000-05:00

These pyrite fossils are Pleuroceras spinatum found in the Lower Lias formation of Untersturmig, Germany. These creatures swam around in the Jurassic period (200-145 million years ago). The scale in the second image is in inches. Thanks Mark Palatas for allowing me to photograph it.

Productus punctatus Crinoid

2011-12-10T05:30:00.000-05:00

The identification of this crinoid calyx I am not so sure about. The illustration was created by J. C. McConnell for the 1881 11th Annual Report of Indiana Department of Geology and Natural History John Collett, State Geologist, 1881. It is on plate 42 and from the coal measure strata of Newport, Indiana. The crinoid is identified as Productus punctatus.

The next two pictures are of a Misissippian Period fossil that somewhat matches the drawing. It was found in the Indiana Springs formation of Crawford County, Indiana.

Crania Silurian Brachiopod Holdfast

2011-12-09T05:30:00.000-05:00

This Eucalyptocrinus crassus crinoid calyx bears the remnants of a Crania sp. brachiopod. These brachopods existed in the Middle Silurian Period and their fossils can found in the Waldron Shale of Indiana. These brachiopods tended to attach to dead crinoids and brachiopods.

The next picture is an illustration of four holdfasts of the Crania siluriana brachiopod. The illustration shown was drawn by J.C. McConnell and can be found on Plate 21, Figure 6 of the Indiana Department of Geology and Natural History (Eleventh Annual Report) John Collett, State Geologist, 1881.

Last picture is of the first fossil shown but showing the attached matrix.

Gyroceras elrodi Cephalopod

2011-12-08T12:58:00.001-05:00

The illustration shown was drawn by J.C. McConnell and can be found on Plate 37 of the Indiana Department of Geology and Natural History (Eleventh Annual Report) John Collett, State Geologist, 1881. The fossil is identified as a Gyroceras elrodi found in the Silurian Waldron Shale of Indiana.

The next image is of Plate 38 Figure 4 showing a close up of the shell imprint. Described as "Portion of surface showing revolving and transverse lines."

Placenticeras meeki Ammonite

2011-12-07T05:30:00.000-05:00

This ammonite fossil is quite ornate with fractal like patterns representing sutures. The ammonite is known as the Placenticeras meeki found in the Pierre Shale Formation of the Badlands of South Dakota, USA. Unfortunately, I did not image it with a ruler but if I recall correctly it was over 10 cm wide. This animal swam in the Upper Cretaceous (70 million years ago) seas.

The next picture is of a much higher resolution if you want a zoomed in view of the patterns. The last picture shows the iridescent covering on the other side of the fossil. Thanks to Mark Palatas for allowing this to be photographed.

Here is a link to flickr showing a very similar one at the South Dakota School of Mines Museum: CLICK HERE

Eucalyptocrinites elrodi Calyx

2011-12-06T05:30:00.000-05:00

Super nice fossil specimen of a crinoid calyx called Eucalyptocrinites elrodi. This fossil was found in the Silurian aged Waldron Shale of Indiana. See more specimens at theWeeks Trilobite site: CLICK HERE

Thanks to Mark Palatas of Louisville for allowing these photographs.

Tyrannosaurus rex "Tyrant Lizard King"

2011-12-05T05:30:00.000-05:00

Hail to the king baby! Once thought to be the largest land walking carnivore to ever exist on the planet, this creature could weigh up to 6400 kg and stretch almost 13 meters. Jaws lined with over 50 serrated teeth, this animal became one lean, mean, herbivore crunching machine roaming what is now southwest Canada and western United States. They lived about 68 to 66 million years ago (Cretaceous Period, Mesozoic Era).

This fossil cast is of the Tyrannosaurus rex fossil at the Museum of the Rockies (MOR 980). The cast (CM 81336; acq. 2007) is on display next to the T.rex holotype (partially seen in bottom photo to the left) at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Dinosaurs in Their Time exhibit. The original fossil (aka "Peck's Rex") was discovered by J. Keith Rigby, Jr. at the University of Notre Dame in 1997.

Troosticrinus reinwardti Blastoid

2011-12-04T12:30:00.000-05:00

The elusive Silurian blastoid, Troosticrinus reinwardti, found in Decatur County, Tennessee. This specimen was found in the Brownsport Formation. Named for Tennessee's first state geologist, Gerard Troost (learn more about Troost: CLICK HERE).

Thanks to Mark Palatas for letting me take these pictures of one in his collection.

Pemphix sueri Arthropod Fossil

2011-12-03T05:30:00.000-05:00

This arthropod fossil has been identified as a Pemphix sueri. This animal lived in the Middle Triassic seas and living life similar to today's lobsters. This creature still has crustacean relatives alive today in the Pacific Ocean.

Fossil displayed at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (July 2011) and has the accession numbers is CM 2526 and CM 2537.

Visit the Carnegie museum web site: http://www.carnegiemnh.org/

Lariosaurus Nothosaur

2011-12-02T11:26:00.001-05:00

This nothosaur fossil has been identified as a Lariosaurus sp. This animal swam in the Middle Triassic seas hunting for fish and other small sea creatures. They hunted similar to seals of today. The Lariosaurus died out in the Triassic (Mesozoic Era) but may be related to the plesiosaur marine reptiles that came later.

Fossil displayed at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (July 2011) and has the accession number is CM 8946.

Visit the Carnegie museum web site: http://www.carnegiemnh.org/

Juvenile Tyrannosaurus rex Jaw

2011-12-01T05:30:00.000-05:00

This is a cast of juvenile Tyrannosaurus rex jaws/teeth found in Montana in 1966. Studies have shown that it was less than 3 years old when it died. The skull shape differs from a mature animal and was once thought to be a different species. These fossils were on display at the Carnegie Museum for Natural History in 2011.

Here is the mature skull shown in an exhibit at the museum. Discovered at Hell Creek, Montana and given the accession number CM 9380. This carnivore prowled the plains of the western United States and southwestern Canada in the Late Cretaceous Period (68-66 million years ago), Mesozoic Era.

This skull contains the actual fossils that are part of the holotype for the T. rex. The holotype was discovered by Barnum Brown in 1902. Those remains were used to create a intact skeleton for the American Museum of Natural History in New York city. The Carnegie Museum acquired this skeleton in 1941. In 2003, the museum dismantled the skeleton for analysis and cleaning. The work was finished in 2008 and the dinosaur was presented in its new pose. Read about the process at the PaleoLab section of their web site: http://www.carnegiemnh.org/exhibitions/paleolab/rex.html

See this site at the museum web site for media images of the skull including shots from inside the skull: http://www.carnegiemnh.org/press/08-apr-jun/051208rex-images.htm

Protoceratops andrewsi

2011-11-30T12:30:00.000-05:00

The horned dinosaur (ceratopsian) Protoceratops andrewsi displayed at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This small herbivore grazed in what is now Mongolia, China in the Cretaceous Period (Mesozoic Era). This fossil was found in 1925 at the Djadokhta Formation in Bayn Dzak, Mongolia. Dinosaur remains are accession number CM 9185.

Learn more at the museum web site: http://www.carnegiemnh.org/

Sphenodiscus lenticularis Ammonite

2011-11-29T23:57:00.001-05:00

The Sphenodiscus lenticularis ammonite found in the Fox Hills Formation of South Dakota, U.S.A. Originally named by Owen in 1852 the genus Ammonites. This creature swam the seas of the Upper Cretaceous. The suture pattern shown in the images was once covered by an iridescent shell. See this link the University of Wisconsin for an example: http://pages.cs.wisc.edu/~ifischer/Collections/Fossils/Images/sphenodiscus2.jpg

Thanks to Mark Palatas for letting me photograph this specimen in his collection.

Learn more at Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sphenodiscus

Saivodus striatus Shark Tooth

2011-11-28T18:56:00.001-05:00

This remarkable find of a Paleozoic shark tooth in central Kentucky is a Saivodus striatus. This type of fossil was originally described by Agassiz in 1843 as the genus Cladodus being a member of the Ctenacanthiformes. Fossil was found in Hardin County (?) of Kentucky in the Mississippian Period Salem Limestone (Meramecian), member of Borden Formation.

The name was changed in a Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology (26(2):253-266. 2006) COMMENTS ON THE SELACHIAN GENUS CLADODUS AGASSIZ, 1843 by Christopher J. Duffin and Michal Ginter.

Here is a link to more pictures of Saivodus found in the Viséan, Mountain Limestone, vicinity of Armagh, Northern Ireland: CLICK HERE

Here is a link to another found in a cave in Tennessee: CLICK HERE

Fossil was found and prepped by Mark Palatas of Louisville.

Pararaucaria patagonica Cone Fossil

2011-11-27T23:21:00.001-05:00

These plant fossils are very interesting showing conifer cones of the Pararaucaria patagonica. These plants existed in the Middle Jurassic (Callovian - 160 million years ago). Fossils found in the Santa Cruz Province of Argentina. One of the cones has been cut in two and its flat sides are polished.

Thanks to Mark Palatas for letting me photograph these specimens in his collection.

Emperoceras Ammonite

2011-11-26T13:40:00.001-05:00

The Emperoceras sp. ammonite fossil displayed at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (July 2011). The creature existed in the Western Interior seas of the Upper Cretaceous (Mesozoic Era).

Visit the Carnegie museum web site: http://www.carnegiemnh.org/

Onniella quadrata Brachiopod

2011-11-25T05:30:00.000-05:00

These brachiopods are the Onniella (Dalmanella) quadrata of the Maquoketa Group of Eldorado, Iowa. The animals lived in the Late Ordovician period. These brachiopods are similar to the ones found east of Louisville, Kentucky in the Kope Formation. See my posting about the Dalmanella multisecta: CLICK HERE

According to the write up on the Kope Formation on Wikipedia, it is part of the three formations that make up the Maquoketa Group. So the Iowa fossils appear to have some relationship with the Kentucky fossils.

These fossils were bought from eBay seller timfossil2001 who has some nice deals on Minnesota and Iowa fossils: http://www.ebay.com/sch/timfossil2001/m.html?item=370559137286&viewitem=&_trksid=p4340.l2562

Hormotoma Ordovician Snail

2011-11-24T05:30:00.000-05:00

Snail fossils found in the Maquoketa formation of Eldorado, Iowa. This small snails crept the sea floor in the late Ordovician period. The animals are of the genus Hormotoma. Fossils are about 2 cm high. Two species found in the Maquoketa are H. trentonensis and H. major mentioned in Stratigraphy of Middle Ordovician Rocks in the Zinc-Lead District of Wisconsin, Illinois, and Iowa by Allen F. Agnew, Allen V. Heyl, C.H. Behre, and E.J. Lyons, Geological Survey Professional Paper 274-K, 1956.

Since these are molds and no shell surface details are present, species identification would be difficult.

Fossils, Rocks, & Akiko Video

2011-11-23T05:30:00.000-05:00

Fossils, Rocks & Akiko from The Field Museum on Vimeo.

The Field Museum of Chicago, Illinois has released a video (about 2 minutes in length) of a behind the scenes in the preparatory lab. This video highlights Chief Preparator in the Fossil Vertebrate section Akiko Shinya. She shows some of the work process of preparing a Psittacosaur from Mongolia.

After seeing the video, I should be wearing hearing protection along with my eye and airway gear during fossil prep. Maybe padded gloves might help as the engraver makes my hand tingle or numb after continuous prolonged use.

This dinosaur existed in the Cretaceous Period (130-100 million years ago). Learn more at Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psittacosaurus

Platyrachella Devonian Brachiopod

2011-11-22T05:30:00.000-05:00

Look at the wingspan on this fossil brachiopod, it is not fully intact yet measures about 7 cm. Yeah baby!

This brachiopod is a Platyrachella sp. found in the Cedar Valley formation of Benton County, Iowa. It lived in the Middle Devonian period. This is one large Devonian brachiopod that I have not found an equivalent genus to in the fossils of the local Jeffersonville or Silver Creek limestones.

The brachiopod was photographed wet and was cleaned with a Dremel tool - stainless steel rotary brush and Dremel engraver 1-2.5 settings.

This fossil was bought from eBay seller timfossil2001 who has some nice deals on Minnesota and Iowa fossils: http://www.ebay.com/sch/timfossil2001/m.html?item=370559137286&viewitem=&_trksid=p4340.l2562

Acrocyathus Mississippian Fossil Coral

2011-11-21T10:58:00.001-05:00

These rugose coral fossils were found in Floyd County, Indiana in the St. Louis Limestone. This limestone dates back to the Middle Mississippian (Carboniferous) period. The corals appear to be Acrocyathus floriformis? also referred to as Lithostronchia or Lithostrotion or Lithostrotionella. These coral fossils also are found in Kentucky, Missouri, West Virginia, and maybe Alabama. Thanks to Alan for help with identification.

See a Lithostronchia specimen on the KYANA Geological Society web site: CLICK HERE

Learn more at the Kentucky Geological Survey web site: http://www.uky.edu/KGS/fossils/rugosecolonial3.htm

See other Lithostrotion corals on Plates XXXVI and XXXVII: CLICK HERE

Cirroceras nebrascense Ammonite

2011-11-20T05:30:00.000-05:00

The Cirroceras nebrascense ammonite fossil displayed at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (July 2011). This fossil was probably found in South Dakota. The creature swam the Western Interior seas of the Upper Cretaceous (Mesozoic Era). Its Carnegie museum accession number is CM 29908.

Visit the Carnegie museum web site: http://www.carnegiemnh.org/

View another specimen at the U.S. National Museum of Natural History: CLICK HERE

Placenticeras whitfieldi Ammonite

2011-11-19T05:30:00.000-05:00

The Placenticeras whitfieldi ammonite fossil displayed at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (July 2011). This fossil was found in the Black Hills of South Dakota. The creature swam the Western Interior seas of the Upper Cretaceous (Mesozoic Era). Its Carnegie museum accession number is CM 29833.

Visit the Carnegie museum web site: http://www.carnegiemnh.org/

Subretepora asperato-striata Bryozoan

2011-11-18T05:30:00.000-05:00

While researching some Waldron Shale fossil identifications for members of the Fossil Forum, I came across this little gem. When I began collecting about 4 years ago, this is one of the first fossils I found. It is from the Waldron Shale of Clark County, Indiana. This Middle Silurian Period specimen is actually two fossils of distinction: the side not shown is a Favosites colony and the visible side is a little branching bryozoan. The bryozoan appears to be a Subretepora asperato-striata as seen on this web site: http://bingweb.binghamton.edu/~kwilson/Silurian/RochesterShale/RSCorBry.htm

Thanks to Dave at Views of the Mahantango for sending me this link.

Ostrea glabra Clam Fossil

2011-11-17T05:30:00.000-05:00

This bivalve fossil were found in the Niobarra and Pierre formations of the Western Interior Seaway. The Ostrea glabra clam lived in the Cretaceous Period (Mesozoic Era). Some clams could grow over a meter in diameter.

Cretaceous Period Map from Wikipedia.org

This specimen (CM 53977) was on display in July 2011 at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. See my write up of that trip: CLICK HERE.

Inoceramus Cretaceous Clam Fossil

2011-11-16T14:45:00.001-05:00

These bivalve fossils were found in the Niobarra and Pierre formations of the Western Interior Seaway. The Inoceramus sp. clams were one of the more common fossils found from the Cretaceous Period (Mesozoic Era). Some clams could grow over a meter in diameter.

Cretaceous Period Map from Wikipedia.org

These specimens were on display in July 2011 at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. See my write up of that trip: CLICK HERE.

Queens Tears Flower Blooming

2011-11-15T02:29:00.001-05:00

This is my first attempt at a YouTube animation and I chose a flower in the sunroom that was blooming as the subject. The plant is the Queen Tears or Billbergia nutans. The video of the flower consists of 87 images taken on 11-11-11 over several hours on a 7 minute interval. The video is set to segments of Wagner's Fantasie, Funeral March, and Finale performed by the U.S. Marine Band.

Thanks to Aunt Nita for the plant with its so exotic blooms.

Video can be found directly at this link: http://youtu.be/4T-K8doGPFs

Same plant blooming in December 2009 (LINK)

African Archean Fossil

2011-11-13T14:08:00.001-05:00

This specimen is thought to be over 2.5 billion years old. Bacteria and algae appeared at this time in the water. Volcanic activity produced increased atmospheric pressure and temperature. The higher temperature caused serpentization of the sediments thus the green color. In between the layers the micro stromatolites (like algal mats).

This fossil was found in southern Africa's Greenstone Belt. Its green color definitely matches the formation name. Unique about the fossil material is it is called butterstone dated to the geologic eon Archean.
See more on eBay: CLICK HERE

In addition, here are pictures of oolitic agate formed on a Wyoming seafloor during the Eocene. Check it out on eBay: CLICK HERE

KYANA Geological Society Annual Show 2011

2011-11-11T22:27:00.001-05:00

Another good show to attend if you are in the Louisville, Kentucky area November 12-13, 2011. The gym of the Resurrection Lutheran Church was filled with tables selling minerals, jewelry, fossils, geology supplies, art, and holiday gifts.

The main display attraction is a set of fluorescent minerals presented by Danny Settles of Danville, Kentucky. He had three custom cases with shortwave, midwave, and longwave UV fluorescent minerals. The cases were contained in a black curtain area with an illuminated green light button. Once the viewer pressed the button, the incandescent lights turned off the UV lights switched on. As Danny explained to me, the lights were custom made with a preheating system to extend the bulb life and cooling fans to keep the bulbs from getting too hot. After a fixed amount of time the UV lights power off and the white light returns.

The longwave UV case had Weardale, England fluorite (blue-purple), North Carolina opal (green), Canada sodalite (orange), and I think fluorite China and Ohio. Not as familiar with midwave specimens but the red one is from Iran. Shortwave UV specimens are of course dominated by Franklin/Sterling Hill, New Jersey.

Another display case had a very interesting knife with what looks to be an agate handle and meteorite iron blade. The next picture shows what appear to be cut and polished Kentucky agate specimens.

I met a number of friendly dealers and members of the KYANA Geological Society of which I belong. Since I also maintain the web site I tried extra hard this year to get names of people and companies whose material was at the show I was taking pictures of. Unfortunately, I ran out of time and did not get to see every table at the show but the following is a sampling of people I visited with.

Two dealers I do not believe I encountered before were nice enough to chat with me. John LaMont traveled to Louisville from Brookville, Indiana and runs Lamont's Rock Pile (Jewelry, Carvings, Fossils, Slabs, Cabs, Misc.). He had some appropriate carving of horses which I thought were very nice. Also on display were a parrot and eagle. In addition, he had a variety of Ordovician trilobites from Ohio (Flexicalymene), fish from Wyoming, ammonites from Madagascar, cephalopods from Morocco, and trilobites from Utah.

A dealer I believe is new to the Louisville show but a veteran of show circuit is Mark Palatas. He had a large selection of Paleozoic shark teeth. In addition, a good selection of Waldron Shale fossils which I enjoy studying. The following pictures of the Indiana crinoid calyx and Paciphacops Oklahoma trilobites also below to him.

I encountered long time KYANA member and dealer Bob Robinson selling polished spheres and slabs.

Long time mineral and fossil dealer Alan Goldstein had some very nice iridescent pyrite specimens from Kentucky for sale.

Panoramic image of the show floor taken 11-11-11.

So if you are looking for a holiday gift or want to increase your geological collection, visit the show. Admission and parking are free. Learn more at the KYANA Geological Society web site: http://www.kyanageo.org/showflier.htm

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Alabama Crinoid Calyx

2011-11-08T05:30:00.000-05:00

This crinoid calyx was found in the Bangor Limestone of Colbert County, Alabama. The animal lived in the Mississippian (Carboniferous) Period about 325 million years ago. It did not come with a label so not sure about its name.

Thanks to Larry for the fossil. Find some of his other fossils here: http://www.ebay.com/sch/larrysfossils/m.html?item=220880785514&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWNX%3AIT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649&_trksid=p4340.l2562

Anthracospirifer leidyi? Brachiopod

2011-11-07T05:30:00.000-05:00

The brachiopod pictured appears to be an Anthracospirifer leidyi? found in the Bangor Limestone of Colbert County, Alabama. This animal lived in the Mississippian (Carboniferous) Period about 325 million years ago. This brachiopod reminds me of the larger Syringothyrus texta found in the Borden Group of Indiana. See my earlier post about: http://louisvillefossils.blogspot.com/2011/01/syringothyrus-texta-brachiopod.html

These fossils are from larrysfossils on eBay and this fellow has some nice fossils on sale. He usually has a good selection of crinoid calyx found in the Bangor as well brachiopods, bryozoan, blastoids, and other fossils.

Check the fossil selection out at http://www.ebay.com/sch/larrysfossils/m.html?item=220880785514&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWNX%3AIT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649&_trksid=p4340.l2562

I cleaned the brachiopods with an engraver and stainless steel brush. The engraver was on too high a setting and/or too aggressive with device as a result brachiopod broke. I glued it back together and once it sets up I will clean the glue off.

Pyrite Stegerhynchus Brachiopods

2011-11-06T05:30:00.000-05:00

While this brachiopod is common in the Waldron Shale, these in pyrite form are rare. Field of view of the microscope is about 8 mm. Internally, the fossil is calcite which is covered in a thin layer of pyrite.

Fardenia subplana? Brachiopod

2011-11-05T07:26:00.000-04:00

This fossil was an interesting find in that is both sides of what I think is a Fardenia subplana brachiopod. Usually, they are just found with one side of the shell. The big surprise was when it was put under the microscope. Magnification revealed that some of the plications had fossilized as pyrite. The pyrite section almost looks like little Tentaculites. if they only were conical and not cylindrical.

Marcasite or Pyrite Blastoid

2011-11-04T14:00:00.000-04:00

This is a very interesting fossil. The fossil shown here is a paratype of the blastoid Orbitremites kentuckiensis. This fossil is one of two left in the personal collection of Dr. James Conkin who named it. The holotypes are stored at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (USNM PAL 127316): CLICK HERE TO SEE. The Smithsonian has imaged these specimens in their database.

The larger blastoid was profiled in an earlier blog posting that can be read here: http://louisvillefossils.blogspot.com/2011/10/orbitremites-kentuckiensis-blastoid.html

The scale in the next image is in inches so the fossil is about a half an inch wide.

Bottom of blastoid can be seen in the last image. It appears to have green modeling clay on it.

Saber Tooth Squirrel Fossil

2011-11-03T00:12:00.000-04:00

The November 3rd, 2011 issue of Nature highlights a new mammal species Cronopio dentiacutus researched by the University of Louisville's Dr. Guillermo Rougier. The animal is a squirrel with large fangs that lived in the times of the dinosaurs (Triassic). The fossil in matrix was found in 2002 in northern Argentina with prep work finished in 2008. The fossil is named characters in the books of Julio Cortázar

It has been compared to a computer animation character Scrat in the Ice Age movie. See pictures in article at Daily Mail: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2056715/Fossil-sabre-toothed-squirrel-fills-60million-year-void-knowledge-South-American-mammals.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

National Geographic has an artist rendering of what the squirrels might have looked like: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/10/101102-saber-toothed-squirrel-fossils-paleontology-dinosaurs-science/

Find the Nature article here: http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v479/n7371/full/nature10591.html

Learn more about Dr. Rougier who teaches in the University of Louisville's School of Medicine: https://louisville.edu/medschool/anatomy/faculty/faculty/professors/guillermo-rougier-ph-d.html

Charophyte Fossil - Tibet

2011-11-01T00:26:00.000-04:00

In my continuing adventure of trying to photograph charophyte (small green aquatic plant) fossils, here is the latest picture. This fossil is quite large compared to the others and is from Tibet, China. All the container is labeled is Tibet so I have no other information to provide.

Thanks to Dr. James Conkin of Louisville, Kentucky for letting me photograph it.

He and his wife have published a booklet about some of their charophyte research. It is entitled Orientation of North American Paleozoic Primitive Charophyte Gyrogonites - Updated (2010).

I believe it is $12 US with shipping included. Contact the publishers to purchase a copy.

Hycliffe Publishing, LLC
P.O. Box 7434
Louisville, KY 40207-0434
TELEPHONE: (502) 895-4658

E-mail me at louisvillefossils@gmail.com if you need help getting in contact with them

Isle of Wight Charophyte

2011-10-30T19:26:00.000-04:00

These pictures represent my first attempt at photographing a charophyte fossil. The microscope is using a mixture of Celestron lens for a telescope to get different magnifications. The one used for these pictures is 46x. This specimen is from the Isle of Wight off the coast of England. It is probably from the Eocene or Oligocene.

Looking at a paper by Monique Feist-Castel entitled Evolution of the Charophyte Floras in the Upper Eocene and Lower Oligocene of the Isle of Wight (1976), this fossil might be some sort of Harrisichara sp.

Read the paper on-line: http://palaeontology.palass-pubs.org/pdf/Vol%2020/Pages%20143-157.pdf

Thanks to Dr. James Conkin of Louisville, Kentucky for letting me take pictures of this specimen.

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Silurian Reef Database Project

2011-10-29T13:42:00.001-04:00

Silurian Reef Database from The Field Museum on Vimeo.

Here is an interesting video from the Fossil Invertebrate Department of the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, Illinois. A summer 2011 intern named Alex Lang(?) is the narrator and describes his task of cataloging Silurian fossils into a computer database. He states in the video that only 278 invertebrate fossil specimens are on display of over the 2 million in the collection. The collection is cataloged on books that began with the 1893 Columbian World Exposition in Chicago. Hopefully, they have transcribed the handwritten volumes and keep a copy in a fireproof safe. Better would be to photograph the volumes and store them digitally in various places around the world.

Louisville, Kentucky and Chicago, Illinois both sit on top of the remains of ancient Silurian reefs. The Field Museum also has links to this area in its relationship between local mining tycoon and geologist/paleontologist William Borden. His approximately 30,000 piece fossil collection was transferred from New Providence (Borden), Indiana to the Field Museum in 1923. William Borden and Marshall Field were partners in mining interests in Leadville, Colorado as well. See my post about Mr. Borden for more info: http://louisvillefossils.blogspot.com/2009/11/borden-institute.html.

Learn more about the Field Museum at their web site: http://fieldmuseum.org/

Check out the Fossil Invertebrates Diversity picture gallery (147 images): http://fieldmuseum.org/explore/multimedia/fossil-invertebrates-diversity

Specimens they show of local interest:

Image 16 (UC 14016): Polypora (Fenestella) cultellata bryozoan Falls of the Ohio, Indiana
Image 17 (UC 17494): Constellaria florida bryozoa Covington, Kentucky
Image 21 (UC 28227): Archimedes symmetricus bryozoa Princeton, Kentucky
Image 23 (PE 16568): Hiscobeccus capax brachiopod Abington, Indiana
Image 27 (UC 12329): Kirkidium (Conchidium) laqueatum brachiopod Delphi, Indiana
Image 28 (UC 13212): Pentameus oblongus brachiopod Indiana
Image 29 (UC 13520): Anthracospirifer (Spirifer) bifurcatus brachiopod New Providence, Indiana (Borden collection?)
Image 41 (UC 16542): Onniella meeki brachiopods Brookfield, Indiana
Image 63 (PE 40269): Triangulotarbus terrehautensis spider? Terre Haute, Indiana
Image 72-74 (UC 12900-1): Carcinosoma (Eusarcus) newlini eurypterid Kokomo, Indiana
Image 90 (UC 2465): Petraster americanus starfish Cincinnati, Ohio
Image 91 (UC 6020): Triamara tumida (Holocystites adipatusas) cystoid Jefferson County, Indiana
Image 92 (UC 6028): Caryocrinites indianensis cystoid Jefferson County, Indiana
Image 94 (UC 6419): Agelacrinites pulaskensis endrioasteroid Pulaski County, Kentucky
Image 95 (UC 6623): Oligoporus sulcatus echinoid? Harding County, Kentucky
Image 96 (UC 8825): Carneyella pilea endrioasteroid Cincinnati, Ohio
Image 97 (UC 9956): Elaeacrinus verneuili blastoid Falls of the Ohio, Indiana
Image 98 (UC 18061): Holocystites alternatus cystoid Jefferson County, Indiana
Image 103 (UC 54070): Carneyella pilea endrioasteroid Cincinnati, Ohio
Image 104 (P 20623): Platystoma Shumardi gastropod Falls of the Ohio, Indiana

Mucrospirifer Brachiopod Plate

2011-10-25T19:37:00.000-04:00

Pictures of a Mucrospirifer brachiopod plate of unknown origins. It did not have a label with it. I like the contrast of the fossils with the brown matrix.

The Horse Exhibition - Lexington, Kentucky

2011-10-21T05:30:00.000-04:00

When traveling I am asked where I live, my answer is Louisville, Kentucky, where the Kentucky Derby is run. In most cases, people have heard of this famous horse race. The Commonwealth of Kentucky is internationally known for its thoroughbred horses and the beautiful farms on which they roam. So it is exciting that the American Museum of Natural History has organized an Kentucky exhibit "The Horse" which shows "how nature's most majestic creature has shaped our world."

The Kentucky Horse Park's International Museum of the Horse (IMH) in Lexington will host this exhibition from October 22, 2011 through April 6, 2012. "The Horse" exhibit consists of six sections: The Evolution of the Horses (showing fossils); Horses and Hunters, Domesticating Horses; The Nature of Horses; How We Shaped Horses and Horses Shaped Us; and An Enduring Bond. The image of the diorama of wild horses is courtesy of the Kentucky Horse Park.

While horse fossils are not found in most of the state, the displays at museum will present some to view. Some idea of how the horse evolved can be seen in the next image.

Equine Evolution by H. Zell (29 Sept. 2010)
From wikipedia.org
licensed GNU Free Documentation License

Read their entire press release: CLICK/PRESS HERE or read important information below

For more information on “The Horse,” go to www.amnh.org/exhibitions/horse/, w ww.imh.org, or www.kyhorsepark.com .

Admission to The Horse is included with park admission, or a “museums only” ticket may be purchased for $8 for adults or $4 for children ages 7-12, which also includes admission to the entire International Museum of the Horse, the Al Marah Arabian Horse Galleries and the American Saddlebred Museum.

Park Hours and Rates: Through Nov. 6, the park is open seven days a week. Admission is $16 for adults, $9 for children 7-12. From Nov. 7 to March 14, the park is open Wednesdays through Sundays. Admission at that time is $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 7-12. Children age 6 and under are always admitted free of charge. Admission includes the International Museum of the Horse – a Smithsonian Affiliate, and the American Saddlebred Museum.

The Kentucky Horse Park is a working horse farm/theme park and equine competition facility dedicated to man's relationship with the horse. The park is an agency of the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet that hosted more than one million visitors and campers, as well as 15,000 competition horses in more than 100 special events and horse shows in 2010. The park is home to the National Horse Center which comprises more than 30 national and regional equine organizations. Located at Exit 120, Interstate 75, just north of Lexington, the Kentucky Horse Park is The place to get close to horses. Open daily March 15 to Oct. 31, and Wednesday through Sunday, Nov. 1 to March 14. The physical address of the park is 4089 Iron Works Parkway, Lexington, KY 40511.

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Caryocrinites persculptis Cystoid

2011-10-20T05:30:00.000-04:00

A small (approximately 2 cm tall) cystoid fossil called Caryocrinites persculptis. This specimen needs a little more cleaning to remove some stubborn matrix. A rare Silurian fossil found in the Waldron Shale of Clark County, Indiana.

See the Week's Trilobite web site to see the purported to may being the "finest cystoid ever found in the Waldron Shale Formation of Indiana" : CLICK HERE

Protoleptostrophia perplana? Brachiopod

2011-10-19T05:30:00.000-04:00

This may be one of the largest best preserved brachiopods I have ever found, measuring over 5 cm in width. It was recovered from the Silver Creek Limestone of Clark County, Indiana and appears to be a Protoleptostrophia perplana?. Originally, I thought this was a Megastrophia in an earlier posting (CLICK HERE) but Dave at Views of the Mahantango blog pointed out that error.

Thanks to Kenny for cleaning the matrix off this specimen with sand abrasive cleaning. See further down in this posting for before and after pictures of both sides. It really is clean!

Geniculograptus typicalis sp. Graptolite

2011-10-18T05:30:00.000-04:00

Here are some nice fossils called graptolites and appear to be Geniculograptus typicalis sp. This is an Ordovician fossil found in Woodford County, Kentucky. Home of a fine Kentucky bourbon, Woodford Reserve. Learn more at the Kentucky Bourbon Trail web site. Drink and fossil hunt responsibly. :)

Note this genus use to be Climacograptus. See this web site for details.

One thing I noticed about these fossils is they are very three-dimensional. Most graptolites one finds are compressed into the matrix, these are not.

Thanks to Herb for the pictures and finding this nice fossils on a recent fishing trip. Sweet!

GeoFest 2011

2011-10-17T05:30:00.000-04:00

This upcoming weekend the Indiana State Museum hosts its annual GeoFest which has lots of fossil and mineral experts on hand to answer questions. In addition, dealers will be selling minerals, fossils, jewelry, books, tools, and assorted geological items. Visitors get into the show with admission to the museum. While in the museum, check out the world-class exhibits about all things INDIANA!

See my blog posts about GeoFest 2010: CLICK HERE and CLICK HERE

The event happens October 21-23, 2011 and the times are:

Friday and Saturday (Oct. 21-22): 9 A.M till 5 P.M. EST
Sunday (Oct. 23): 11 A.M. till 4 P.M. EST

Indiana State Museum

650 West Washington St.

Indianapolis, IN 46204

Visit the Indiana State Museum to learn more: CLICK HERE

Rhipidium knappi Brachiopod

2011-10-16T05:30:00.001-04:00

Somewhat rare brachiopod fossil found in the Silurian Louisville Limestone which is known more for its corals. This fossil appears to some sort of Pentamerus but after some research it might be a Rhipidium knappi named by Hall and Whitfield. The Index Fossils of North America names it being found in Kentucky (Louisville Limestone) and west Tennessee (Brownsport). Might also be under the name Hall gave in in 1872 as Pentamerus knappi or his 1875 identification Pentamerus nysius var. crassicostus.

See images of it in the Nettleroth book on Kentucky Fossil Shells (1889): CLICK HERE

Nereidavus invisibilis? Scolecodont

2011-10-14T05:30:00.000-04:00

This fossil appears to be a Nereidavus invisibilis? scolecodont found in the Silurian Waldron Shale of Clark County, Indiana, USA. The fossil was found on top of another fossil as can be seen in the second picture. The second fossil is a crinoid holdfast.

Thanks to Kenny for the pictures and identification. See other possible scolecodonts found in the Waldron Shale: CLICK HERE and CLICK HERE.

Wikipedia has pictures of the modern sandworm Alitta virens (old genus name Nereis): CLICK HERE

Sieberella roemeri? Brachiopod

2011-10-13T20:10:00.001-04:00

A mold of the internal structure of what I think is a Sieberella roemeri? brachiopod. Fossil found in the Silurian Waldron Shale of Clark County, Indiana, USA. The Index Fossils of North America list the genus Sieberella named by Oehlert in 1887. The species was named by Hall and Clarke and is similar to a Gypidula coeymanensis and also was referred to as a Pentamerus sieberi by Buch.

This particular brachiopod is hard to find and so far I have only found two with them both being internal impression of one valve. Fossil marks the 19th brachiopod species identified in the Waldron Shale. See the others at this posting: CLICK HERE

National Fossil Day 2011

2011-10-12T05:30:00.000-04:00

It's National Fossil Day™ in the United States. There are no events planned in the area where I live. Even so, I will try and find a fossil or something to commerate the day.

Go to the official web site to learn more: http://nature.nps.gov/geology/nationalfossilday/

Note National Fossil Day is a trademark of the National Park Service.

Orbitremites kentuckiensis Blastoid

2011-10-09T20:15:00.000-04:00

Today's posting is a super rare treat! The fossil shown here is a paratype of the blastoid Orbitremites kentuckiensis. This fossil is one of two left in the personal collection of Dr. James Conkin who named it. The holotypes are stored at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (USNM PAL 127316): CLICK HERE TO SEE. Amazingly, the Smithsonian has imaged these specimens in their database. It is rare that I find specimens in their HUGE database that have been imaged. Maybe they like pyritized blastoids which appear to be very rare. The fossils might also consist of marcasite which if not properly stored can break down (pyrite disease) into melanterite and sulphuric acid.

Dr. Conkin tells the story of discovering the Coral Ridge Member (New Providence Formation or Knobstone Group) of Jefferson County, Kentucky, USA in 1957 and the pyrite fossil fauna there in his 2006 paleontological memoir "I SEE... WONDERFUL THINGS" on pages 101-103. He describes the area as "a frozen paradise of former life." The book contains a bittersweet story about what happened to the third paratype specimen as a squirrel mistook it for a nut.

This is a very interesting book filled with images of fossils and stories of how they were found throughout his long career. The locations range from China to throughout the United States (e.g. Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee, Texas).

Dr. Conkin also found another new species of this blastoid named Orbitremites coralridgensis. The holotype (USNM PAL 127324) can be seen at the Smithsonian collection web site: CLICK HERE. Note the genus may now be known as Globoblastus.

Copies of this unique book might still be obtained from Hycliffe Publishing, LLC

P.O. Box 7434
Louisville, KY 40207-0434
TELEPHONE: (502) 895-4658
E-mail me at louisvillefossils@gmail.com if you need help getting in contact with them.

worldcat.org lists two copies available at libraries in the University of Iowa and Tulsa, Oklahoma: CLICK HERE

Thanks to Dr. Conkin for letting me photograph this fossil specimen. Note fossil has been coated to help prevent marcasite breakdown.

Spathacalymene nasuta? Trilobite Cephalon

2011-10-08T20:34:00.000-04:00

Here are some pictures of a trilobite cephalon that has been cleaned. It was found in the Silurian of Indiana. The trilobite might be a Spathacalymene nasuta?. Next pictures shows a before and after cleaning of this fossil. The last picture shows a comparison between the Spathacalymene and Calymene trilobites.

That trilobite really must have been a real digger with that front scoop on its cephalon.

Thanks to Kenny for the pictures and good job on cleaning this little fellow up.

Protomegastrophia profunda Brachiopod

2011-10-04T18:05:00.000-04:00

Protomegastrophia profunda brachiopod fossil of the Waldron Shale of Clark County, Indiana. This Silurian brachiopod genus Protomegastrophia was named by Caster in 1939. This same person named the Devonian Megastrophia that can be seen HERE. The Smithsonian web site list the genus under another name of Brachyprion.

The Protomegastrophia profunda was originally named by the paleontologist James Hall as the Leptaena profunda. You can see a plate in Nettleroth's Kentucky Fossil Shells book (1889) Plate 17, figures 20-21: CLICK HERE

This is the 18th brachiopod I have identified of the Waldron Shale, see the list HERE.

Here are some of the species on display at the Muséum National D'Historie Naturelle Jardin Des Plantes Paléontologie et Anatomie Comparée in Paris, France.

Orthorhynchula linneyi Brachiopod

2011-10-03T21:24:00.004-04:00

The Orthorhynchula linneyi brachiopod found in the Lexington Limestone of Boyle County, Kentucky. Creature existed in the Ordovician (505-438 million years ago).

Polaricyclus conkini Ammonoid

2011-10-02T21:54:00.000-04:00

This fossil is a real treat. It is a Polaricyclus conkini and found in the type locality of Coral Ridge, Jefferson County, Kentucky. The species is named for Dr. James E. Conkin, professor emeritus at the University of Louisville. Fossil was named by David Work (Maine State Museum) and Charles Mason (Morehead State University) in their 2004 paper Mississippian (Late Osagean) Ammonoids from the New Providence Shale Member of the Borden Formation, North-Central Kentucky in the Journal of Paleontology. See paper: CLICK HERE.

Dr. Conkin discovered the Coral Ridge Member in the 1950s during thesis work at the University of Kansas. It is neat to see a fossil found in the Louisville area and named for a local geology professor.

This pyrite fossil was found in the Coral Ridge Member of the New Providence Shale. Thanks to Alan for letting me purchase it.

Images take using microscope at 23x and 8 mm field of view.

Silurian Black Snails

2011-09-30T05:30:00.000-04:00

For your visual inspection, here are two snail fossils that appear to now consist of pyrite. Found in the Silurian period Louisville Limestone, they might be some sort of Loxonema. Nettleroth in his Kentucky Shell book lists a Loxonema laeviusculum which looks similar.

Images taken with a microscope set to 23x and an 8 mm FOV. I was looking for graptolites but found these fossils instead.

Invertrypa Brachiopod

2011-09-29T11:02:00.002-04:00

This brachiopod fossil from Middle Devonian Period (about 390 million years ago). Fossil was found near Louisville Kentucky, USA. Brachiopod is an Invertrypa sp. from Jeffersonville Limestone of Clark County, Indiana.

Florissant Plant Fossils

2011-09-28T05:30:00.000-04:00

Recently, my cousin returned from Florissant, Colorado with this fossil plate from the late Eocene Epoch Florissant Formation as a gift. As best I can tell the first fossil shown is a leaf of maybe a Fagopsis or Cedrelospermum.

The next picture appears to be a piece of white cedar (Chamaecyparis) tree. Thanks again to Kenny for the gift.

UV Fluorescent Brachiopods

2011-09-27T05:30:00.000-04:00

This fossil plate of a cluster of Sowerbyella brachiopod shells appears to have a unique property of fluorescence under longwave ultraviolet light (394? nm). My light produces a lot of visible purple light so the specimen appears quite purple with some orange-brown color on some shells. In person, the orange-brown color is much more pronounced.

I believe the mineral present is aragonite with a manganese activator. Referring to the book The Uranium and Fluorescent Minerals: A Handbook of Uranium Minerals and A Field Guide for Uranium Prospecting 3rd Ed. by H.C. Dake, page 21, it lists "ARAGONITE. A calcium carbonate that fluoresces and phosphoresces variably.... When manganese is the chief activator the luminescence is orange or red-orange, and usually faint."

These fossils are from the Kope Formation of Kentucky and that layer is known for its aragonite fossils (usually brown). I need to now go through the collection and test them for fluorescence.

Another issue I need to solve is filtering visible purple light from my UV light. I might have to go Thomas Edison on it and just start trying different materials for filtering properties.

Baby Eucalyptocrinus Crinoid

2011-09-25T14:53:00.000-04:00

This crinoid calyx was almost found intact. One side of it is chipped off. A small ring is at the top where the arms folded together. Found in the Waldron Shale of Clark County, Indiana which dated to the Silurian Period. As can be seen with the included scale, this calyx is quite small. It is an Eucalyptocrinus crassus.

National Museum Day - Sept. 24, 2011

2011-09-22T05:30:00.000-04:00

Saturday, September 24, 2011 is National Museum Day with participating museums allowing free admission. In the Louisville, Kentucky area, seven museums are participating:

Carnegie Center for Art and History (named for a patron of paleontology)

Historic Locust Grove (home of Louisville's founder George Rogers Clark)

Kentucky Derby Museum (go, baby go!)

Louisville Slugger Museum (batter, batter, batter... SWING!)

Speed Art Museum (named for the same guy as a famous local fossil quarry)

Howard Steamboat Museum and Mansion (200th anniversary of the Ohio River New Orleans steamboat)

Frazier History Museum (lock and load)

So many great places to visit and only so many hours in one day, decisions, decisions.

Check out the Smithsonian web site for museums in your area that are participating and print out an admissions ticket: CLICK HERE