Foerstephyllum Coral Fossil

This specimen is a Foerstephyllum (Bassler, 1941) coral fossil. It dates to the Ordovician Period and was found in Jefferson County, Kentucky USA. Thanks to Wes for these fossils.

 

Drymopora auloporoidea Coral Fossil

 

This fossil appears to be a Drymopora auloporoidea (Davis, 1885). It was found in the Devonian Period layer of Jefferson County, Kentucky, USA. The fossil was from the collection of James Conkin.

First named in the 1885 publication Kentucky Fossil Corals A Monograh of the Fossil Corals of the Silurian and Devonian Rocks of Kentucky by William J. Davis.

 

Amplexus Pyrite Horn Coral

This fossil is a pyritized horn coral. The identification appears to be Amplexus fragilis (White & St. John) of the Coral Ridge fauna, New Providence Shale of Jefferson County, Kentucky. Time period for this specimen is Middle Mississippian (Osagean). It was found by a local geology professor Barbara Conkin years ago.

Columnariq sulcata Coral Fossil

 

This image is of a Columnariq sulcata  plant fossil. It was found in Eifel, Germany. The coral existed in the Devonian Period.

 
Picture taken at Museo di Geologia e Paleontologia Florence Italy (Università degli Studi di Firenze) in August 2024.

Cyathoseris Coral Fossil

Cyathoseris (Milne, Edwards & Haime, 1849) is a coral fossil. It existed during the Eocene Epoch (about 56-34 million years ago ). This fossil was found inWachberg Austria. Fossil was on display at Natural History Museum Vienna (Naturhistorisches Museum Wien) (August 2024).

Monument Composed of Fossil Corals of the Bardstown Reef

While visiting Bardstown Kentucky USA I found a monument built there in 1972. The plaque read "BITS OF HISTORY CASCADE RELICS OF HISTORY -- THE BELL, ROCK, TROUGH, MILL STONES AND LARGE ROCKS." When I closely examined the top section of structure it became obvious that was composed of maybe a hundred fossil corals. The monument is next to the The City of Bardstown Building, Bardstown Historical Museum/Oscar Ketz Museum of Bourbon History, and Jones Avenue Park & Don Harned Little League Field.

The corals date to the Ordovician Period and might be part of the Whitewater Formation (aka Bardstown Reef). I think these fossils might be Foerstephyllum (Bassler, 1941) and I have also seen the genus Favosites (Lamarck, 1816) to describe what these corals are.

I believe there is a monument to St. Joseph at the St. Joseph Catholic cemetery in Bardstown with its based composed of coral fossils like the ones pictured in this posting.
 

Chonostegites clappi Coral Fossil

 

Here are some pictures of what appears to be a Chonostegites clappi (Edwards & Haime, 1851) coral fossil. It was found in the Jeffersonville Limestone of Clark County, Indiana USA. The fossil dates to the Middle Devonian Period.

Species appears to have been named for Dr. Asahel Clapp (1792-1862) one of the first medical doctors in New Albany, Indiana and a frequent collector of fossils from the Falls of the Ohio area. The holotype for this species is supposed to reside in the École des Mines of Paris France.

 Thanks to Kenny for the images. 

 

Cladochonus beecheri Coral Fossil on Crinoid

These pictures are of what appears to be a Cladochonus beecheri (Grabau, 1899 aka Monilopora) coral fossil that had grown on a crinoid column. Fossil found in the New Providence Formation of Clark County, Indiana USA. It dates to the Mississippian Period. Thanks to Kenny for the images.

Coral Fossil Serving Bowl

This picture of a unique fossil specimen. A colonial coral fossil was shaped in a serving bowl. It might be from the Alps. Fossil was on display at the Natural History Museum Vienna (Naturhistorisches Museum Wien) on August 2024.

Syringolites kunthianus Coral Fossil

 

This picture is of a Syringolites kunthianus (Lindström, 1896) coral fossil. It existed during the Silurian period. The fossil was found in Gotland Sweden. Fossil was on display at the Natural History Museum Vienna (Naturhistorisches Museum Wien) on August 2024.

Heliolites murchisoni Coral Fossil

This picture is of a Heliolites murchisoni (Milne Edwards & Haime 1851) coral fossil. It existed during the Silurian period. The fossil was found in Dudley, England. Fossil was on display at the Natural History Museum Vienna (Naturhistorisches Museum Wien) on August 2024.

Alpena Michigan Microfossils

 

My cousin screened through a lot of micro material I brought back from Alpena Michigan USA in October 2021. It was found in the Potter Farm Formation and dates to Middle Devonian Period (Erian Age). 

The brachiopod fossil in boxes 110 & 117, 76-77, and another in 109 appear to be a Strophondonta crassa (Imbrie, 1959).

Rectangles 107, 108, and 115 appear to be Aulopora coral fossils with some that had grown on a branching bryozoan.

Cornulites appear to be in boxes 60 and 61.

A blastoid in cells 62, 63 & 66 could be Heteroschisma subtruncatum.

Cell 22 is a fish tooth fossil.

Fossil in rectangle 69 is some sort of bone fossil.

Thanks to Kenny for image and preparing all those fossils. Very nice work!

Aulopora Coral Fossil

This picture is of an Aulopora (Goldfuss, 1829) horn coral fossil. It existed during the Devonian period. The fossil was found in Caledonia, New York, USA. Fossil was on display at the Natural History Museum Vienna (Naturhistorisches Museum Wien) on August 2024.

 

Aulacophyllum conigerum Coral Fossil

 

This picture is of an Aulacophyllum conigerum (Davis, 1877) coral fossil. It was found in the Beechwood Limestone of Charlestown, Indiana USA. It dates to the Middle Devonian Period.

This coral fossil was once part of the collection of southern Indiana paleontologist George K. Greene (1835-1917). It appeared that all of Greene's fossil collection was sold to American Museum of Natural History in New York City after his death but as it turns out there was one cabinet not sold and was past down to his descendants. 

This fossil is now on display at the Falls of the Ohio State Park Interpretive Center till at least September 2024 after that it should be transferred to the Indiana State Museum. George Greene's great-great-grandson William "Bill" Bishop passed away on November 29, 2023 and his wish that fossils be donated.

Arachnophyllum striatum Coral Fossil

 

This picture is of an Arachnophyllum striatum (d'Orbigny, 1850) coral fossil. It was found in Beargrass Creek, Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky USA. It dates to the Silurian Period.

This coral fossil was once part of the collection of southern Indiana paleontologist George K. Greene (1835-1917). It appeared that all of Greene's fossil collection was sold to American Museum of Natural History in New York City after his death but as it turns out there was one cabinet not sold and was past down to his descendants. 

This fossil is now on display at the Falls of the Ohio State Park Interpretive Center till at least September 2024 after that it should be transferred to the Indiana State Museum. George Greene's great-great-grandson William "Bill" Bishop passed away on November 29, 2023 and his wish that fossils be donated.

Grabauphyllum johnstoni Coral Fossil

 

This picture is of a Grabauphyllum johnstoni (Foerste, 1917) coral fossil of the Silurian Period. This image is of the lost holotype published in 1917. It dates to the Silurian Period and was found outside of Chicago, Illinois, USA.

This fossil was first described and imaged in "Notes on Silurian Fossils From Ohio and Other Central States" by August F. Foerste (1862-1936) pages 187-204 in The Ohio Journal of Science Volume XVII No. 6 April 1917. The holotype fossil was lost. Fossil coral researcher Erwin C. Stumm (1908-1969) revisited this fossil in the November 15, 1968 publication Contributions from the Museum of Paleontology The University of Michigan, "A Redescription of the Middle Silurian Compound Rugose Coral Grabauphyllum johnstoni Foerste (Vol. 22, No. 6, pp. 71-73, 1 pl.).

Foerste wrote, "Found in the Niagaran dolomite near McCook, 5 miles west of Chicago, Illinois, by William Johnston. Genus named in honor of Prof. Amadeus Grabau, of Columbia University in recognition of his valuable contributions to our knowledge of corals." I have written about Dr. Amadeus Grabau (1870-1946) in an earlier blog posting.

Diploria flexuosissima

 

These images are of Diploria flexuosissima (d'Achiardi, 1868) scleractinian coral fossil. They were found in Montecchio Maggiore, Veneto, Italy and dates to the Paleogene Period.

Pictures taken at Museo di Geologia e Paleontologia Florence Italy (Università degli Studi di Firenze) in August 2024.

Septatraea geometrica Coral Fossil

 

This image is of Septatraea geometrica coral fossil. It was found in Italy and dates to the Miocene Epoch.

Picture taken at Museo di Geologia e Paleontologia Florence Italy (Università degli Studi di Firenze) in August 2024.

 

Favosites emmonsi Coral Fossil

This "honeycomb" coral fossil pictured above is known as Favosites (Emmonsia) emmonsi (Hall, 1876). It was found in the Jeffersonville Limestone of the Falls of the Ohio, Clark County, Indiana USA. The fossil dates to the Devonian Period. Included in this picture is George Greene's original display label.

This coral fossil was once part of the collection of southern Indiana paleontologist George K. Greene (1835-1917). It appeared that all of Greene's fossil collection was sold to American Museum of Natural History in New York City after his death but as it turns out there was one cabinet not sold and was past down to his descendants. 

This fossil is now on display at the Falls of the Ohio State Park Interpretive Center till September 2024 after that it will be transferred to the Indiana State Museum. George Greene's great-great-grandson William "Bill" Bishop passed away on November 29, 2023 and his wish that fossils be donated.

Arachnophyllum pentagonum Coral Fossil

 

The colonial rugose coral fossil pictured above is known as Arachnophyllum pentagonum (Goldfuss, 1826). It was found in the Louisville Limestone of Jefferson County, Kentucky USA. The fossils date to the Silurian Period. This coral fossil was once part of the collection of southern Indiana paleontologist George K. Greene (1835-1917). It appeared that all of Greene's fossil collection was sold to American Museum of Natural History in New York City after his death but as it turns out there was one cabinet not sold and was past down to his descendants. 

This fossil is now on display at the Falls of the Ohio State Park Interpretive Center till September 2024 after that it will be transferred to the Indiana State Museum. George Greene's great-great-grandson William "Bill" Bishop passed away on November 29, 2023 and his wish that fossils be donated.