Hexagonaria Coral Fossil

These pictures of a Hexagonaria anna (Whitfield, 1973) coral fossil. It was found in the Bell Shale of the Traverse Group of Alpena, Michigan, USA. The coral lived in the Devonian Period.

 

Heliophyllum? Coral Fossil from Michigan

These pictures of what looks like a Heliophyllum sp. (Hall, 1846) coral fossil plus there are some bryozoan colonies. It was found in the Bell Shale of the Traverse Group of Rogers City, Michigan, USA. The coral lived in the Devonian Period.

 

Atrypa Brachiopod Fossil from Michigan

These pictures are of an Atrypa sp. (Hall, 1862) brachiopod fossil. It was found in the Genshaw Formation at Carmeuse Quarry of Rogers City, Michigan, USA. The brachiopod lived in the Devonian Period (Givetian age). In September 2011, Dave wrote about another brachiopod from this area which is called "Blue Beds". The fossil has a blackish-brown color. Dave speculated that it might caused by hydrocarbons (bitumen, tar, or oil). See his post at Views of the Mahantango blog here.

 

Hexagonaria anna Coral Fossil

These pictures of a Hexagonaria anna (Whitfield, 1973) coral fossil. It was found in the Bell Shale of the Traverse Group of Alpena, Michigan, USA. The coral lived in the Devonian Period.

On the bottom of the fossil are a number Aulopora coral fossils that grew on the Hexagonaria. Also there are a number of bryozoan colonies. Plus there is a Aulopora coral fossil found on the top of the coral.

Native American Bird Stone From Hexagonaria Fossil

In September 2021 I visited the Besser Museum at Alpena, Michigan, USA. They had a large exhibit on Native American artifacts found in Michigan. One that caught me attention was labeled "petoskey stone pop-eye", see picture above. It is a native American bird stone made shaped from a Hexagonaria coral fossil. They also have on display a copper bird stone identified as the only one known. The museum has an impressive collection of copper artifacts created by native American peoples of Michigan.

The Besser Museum for Northwest Michigan was named for Jesse Besser (1882-1970) who perfected and produced machines that create these famous concrete blocks. Out in the yard is a huge boulder sized Hexagonaria (Gürich, 1896) coral fossil (from Devonian Period). They also have areas where you can search for and keep fossils from material dumped there from local quarry.

 

Bryozoan Holdfast Fossil

In September 2021, I was collecting in Alpena Michigan USA. While there I found something that was not immediately apparent what it was. After consulting with Paleo Joe he told me it was a fan bryozoan holdfast fossil. It was found in the Potters Farm Formation of the Traverse Group. The fossil dates to the middle Devonian Period (Givetian Stage). Only found this one and was a little thrown off as I don't remember ever encountering a holdfast that looked like this.

Atrypa Brachiopod Fossil with Crystallized Lophophore

Check out this picture of an Atrypa (Hall, 1862) brachiopod fossil (note the two elliptical shapes which are feeding tubes or lophophore that have crystallized). The fossil was found in the Genshaw Formation at Alpena, Michigan USA. The creature lived Middle Devonian Period (Erian Stage).

 

Anthonomus defossus? Snout Beetle Fossil

These images show snout beetle or weevil insect fossils of the Order Coleoptera, Family Curculionidae found in the Florissant Formation of Teller County, Colorado, USA. I wonder if this insect was in the Anthonomini weevil tribe in the subfamily Curculioninae and maybe genus Anthonomus (Gemar, 1817) or species Anthonomus defossus (Scudder, 1876).  It dates to the Chadronian Stage (37.2 - 33.9 million years ago) Eocene Epoch of the Paleogene Period. Thanks to Doug for the image. Fossils were uncovered in September 2021. Field of view is 2 mm.

Dicranurus hamatus Trilobite Fossil

On a recent trip to Alpena, Michigan USA with several amateur paleontologists from Louisville and one from Chicago, we visited a local paleontologist Paleo Joe (aka  Joseph Kchodl). This picture is of one of his trilobite fossils from Oklahoma. This fossil is known as Dicranurus hamatus (Conrad, 1841). It was found in the Haragan Formation and existed in the Devonian Period.

 Learn more about Oklahoma trilobites in the Geological Survey Bulletin 123 Trilobites of the Haragan, Bois D'Arc and Frisco Formations (Early Devonian) Arbuckle Mountains Region, Oklahoma by K. S. W. Campbell (1977). Paper can be found at this LINK.