Dawsonoceras Up Close

Dawsonoceras cephalopod found in the Waldron Shale of Clark County, Indiana.  Creature existed in the Middle Silurian Period. It has sinusoidal growth lines which were magnified under the microscope 23 times.

Guam Micro Samples

UPDATE (11/19/2017): The long semi-transparent specimens in the images might be a sponge spicule. I was reading the a book entitled  On Growth and Form (1st edition, 1917) by D'Arcy Wentworth Thompson chapter IX On Concretions, Spicules, and Spicular Skeletons page 413 shows images of Alcyonarian spicules: Siphonogorgia and Anthogorgia. These images look some what similar to the specimens shown in the images on this page. Thanks to Fossils and Other Living Things for this posting and this posting.

This specimens were found at Pago Beach on the island of Guam. Images are magnified 40 times under a microscope which should equate to a 4 mm field of view. The first picture has a gastropod in it. The other specimens might be some sort of foraminifera.

Thanks to Pam for obtaining the specimen and Herb for the processed material.

Paraconularia magna

This appears to be a Paraconularia magna fossil. It was found in the Cisco group Finis Shale of Jack County Texas. It is from the Pennsylvanian Period (Virgilian). It was named by Ries in 1949.

These specimens are interesting in that they are blue. Under magnification one can see a blue like fossilized shell and more grove like detail.

Mariacrinus carleyi Crinoid Calyx

The fossil shown here is an Mariacrinus carleyi crinoid calyx found in the Waldron Shale of Davidson County, Tennessee, USA. It was found in the 1960s. Fossil dates to the Silurian Period.

Peneroplis plantus Foraminifera

This looks like a Peneroplis plantus foraminifera. It was found at Pago Beach on the island of Guam. Image is magnified 40 times under a microscope which should equate to a 1 mm field of view.

Learn more at the Foraminifera blog: http://foraminifer.blogspot.com/2010/01/peneroplis-planatus-optical-image.html

Thanks to Pam for obtaining the specimen and Herb for the processed material.

Update: I found another one and here is its picture.

Polystomella aculeata Foraminifera

UPDATE: I am pretty sure my earlier identification is incorrect. I now think this might be an Elphidium aculeatum (Polystomella aculeata).

This looks like a Nerotalia calcar foraminifera. It was found at Pago Beach on the island of Guam. Image is magnified 40 times under a microscope which should equate to a 1 mm field of view.

Learn more at the foramBARCODING web site.

Thanks to Pam for obtaining the specimen and Herb for the processed material.

Platyceras and Acanthocrinus Fossilized Spines

This piece of Devonian Period limestone is from the Jeffersonville layer of Clark County, Indiana. It is unique in that it contains spines from two types of creatures: snail and crinoid. The solid spines are from the Acanthocrinus or Gilbertocrinus while the hollow ones might be from the Platyceras snail.

Thanks to Kenny for the picture.

Flexicalymene meeki Trilobite Fossils

Enrolled Flexicalymene meeki trilobite fossils found in Franklin County, Indiana. These creatures scurried along the sea floor back in the Ordovician Period.

My cousin Kenny found all these in one day which makes that a GREAT fossil day! Thanks to my cousin for the picture.

Fisherites Chlorophytes Fossil

These pictures show a fossil of calcareous green algae (chlorophytes) from the Ordovician Period. They are called Fisherites sp. of the order Dasyclads and family Receptaculites. The fossil was found in the Galena Formation of Minnesota.   Second picture shows a cross section of the fossil.
Thanks to Herb for the images.

Mississippian Age Cornulites Fossil

Cornulites worm tube fossil found in the Indian Springs Formation of Crawford County, Indiana. The worm tube is located in the picture to the upper left of the blastoid. Fossil is dated to the Mississippian Period. 

Thanks to Kenny for the picture.

Devonian Hindia Sponge Fossil

This sponge fossil appears to be a Devonian period Hindia sphaeroidalis. This fossil as found in the Nelson County, Kentucky and is from the Beechwood Limestone.

Thanks to Kenny for the picture.

Callianopsis Shrimp Claw Fossil

Here is a fossil I profiled in August 2012. My cousin brought this back from Washington state and yesterday he prepped it. This picture shows a picture of it August and now January 2013.
We think this is a claw from a ghost or mud shrimp called Callianopsis. The fossil could be from the Lincoln Creek formation of the Oligocene epoch.

Thanks Kenny for the pictures!