Platystrophia ponderosa Brachiopod - Kentucky

Platystrophia ponderosa brachiopod found in McMillan Formation of Spencer County, Kentucky. Creature lived in the Ordovician Period. The brachiopod is the state fossil of Kentucky.

Sphenopteris Plant Fossil

Sphenopteris sp. plant fossil found at Carbon Hill, Alabama.  Plants grew in the Pennsylvanian Period. Thanks to Dave for the fossil.

Troosticrinus reinwardti Blastoid

Finally, I have acquired a Troosticrinus reinwardti (Troost, 1835) blastoid fossil. While I did not personally collect it I am thankful to kind collector who shared it with me. The fossil was found in the Brownsport Group of Decatur County, Tennessee. The genus is named for Dr. Gerard Troost, Tennessee's first geologist and science professor at University of Nashville (1826-1850). The genus Troosticrinus was named in 1866 by Dr. Benjamin Franklin Shumard (1820-1869). He wrote "If, from a more thorough study of such species, it shall be deemed advisable to separate them from the Genus Pentremites, I would propose the name TROOSTICRINUS for the group, in honor of the late lamented Dr. Gerard Troost, of Tennessee, one among the earliest of pioneers in American Geology and Palaeontology." Species originally named by Gerard Troost in 1835 as Pentremites reinwardti.

The fossil is about 1.3 cm long and 6 mm wide.

One day I hope to make it to the Silurian formations of western Tennessee for a chance to find one of these fossils personally. Thanks to Ron for the fossil.

Spinocyrtia granulosa? Brachiopod

This brachiopod fossil might be called Spinocyrtia granulosa? or Orthospirifer. It was found in the Beechwood Limestone of Clark County, Indiana. This animal lived in Middle Devonian times. It might also have some trace fossils on it maybe made by some sort of gastropod.

Heliophyllum infundibulum Horn Coral with Aulocystis

A fine Middle Devonian fossil specimen of a Heliophyllum infundibulum horn coral hosting another coral colony of Aulocystis transitorius. I found this coral in the Beechwood Member, North Vernon Limestone, Givetian Stage of Clark County, Indiana, USA and my cousin Kenny cleaned it with air abrasion. It looks so much different when I spotted it. One could tell it was a horn coral and had another coral colony but WOW he really uncovered a nice size colony on this specimen.

Thanks to Kenny for the pictures.

Echinosphaerites aurantium Cystoid

These images show some interesting fossils found on the island of Öland off the Swedish coast (Suède). Fossils are Ordovician Period cystoids in the matrix from about 465 million years ago. They are identified as Echinosphaerites aurantium. The interesting thing about them is some are yellow fluorescent under longwave UV light.  See picture below.

UPDATE: Christian P. told me in an e-mail,  in Sweden these fossils are called "the Linné's apples".  Named after the Swedish botanist Carl Nilsson Linnæus. Learn more at wikipedia.

Thanks to Dave for the fossils and Christian for finding them in Sweden!

Pyrite Encrusted Caryocrinites Cystoid

 This fossil appears to be a Caryocrinites persculptis? cystoid encrusted with pyrite crystals. It was found in the Waldron Shale of Clark County, Indiana. Fossil dates to the Middle Silurian Period.  Thanks to Kenny for the images!

See more specimens at this web site.