Devonian Coral Fossil

My cousin found these coral fossils today on paleontology field trip. They date to the Devonian Period and were found in Clark County, Indiana USA. Thanks Kenny for the picture.

 

 

 

Sponge Holdfast Fossil in New Albany Shale

Conodont (on right side) with sponge holdfast fossils found in the New Albany Shale. It dates to the Upper Devonian Period. Specimen from the Barbara Conkin collection and was probably found in Clark or Floyd County, Indiana USA. Thanks to Kenny for the image. Field of view about 6 mm.

 

New Albany Shale Conodont Fossil

Conodont fossil found in the New Albany Shale. It dates to the Upper Devonian Period. Specimen from the Barbara Conkin collection and was probably found in Clark or Floyd County, Indiana USA. Thanks to Kenny for the image. Field of view about 3mm.

 

Orbiculoidea Brachiopod Fossil

 

Orbiculoidea (d'Orbigny, 1847) brachiopod fossil found in the New Albany Shale. It dates to the Upper Devonian Period. Specimen from the Barbara Conkin collection and was probably found in Clark or Floyd County, Indiana USA. Thanks to Kenny for the image. Field of view about 3mm.

 

Devonian Fish Bone Fossils

 

These pictures are of a somewhat unique and rare fossil found in the Louisville Kentucky USA area. The almost fossil bare New Albany Shale sometimes reveals a blue material that are the fish bone remains from the late Devonian Period. These fossils were found in the Blocher Formation of Clark County, Indiana, USA. The main pieces is about 2 cm in length. 

The fossils once belonged to Barbara Conkin(1928-2019) who taught geology at Jefferson Community College. Thanks to Kenny for taking these pictures.

 

Meristella maria Brachiopod Fossil

Imprint remains of fossilized brachiopod called Meristella maria (Hall, 1863). James Hall renamed the genus Meristina (Hall, 1867). These animals lived in the Middle Silurian Period.  Fossils found in the Osgood Shale of  Napoleon, Indiana USA.

 

Holocystites gyrinus Cystoid Fossil

This fossil which appears to be a Holocystites gyrinus (Miller & Gurley, 1894) cystoid was found in Napoleon, Indiana USA. It dates to the Silurian Period  (Telychian to Sheinwoodian stage) in age. The locality is world famous for this type of fossil. It was found in the Massie Formation or Osgood Shale.

 

Scaphopod, Ostracod and Gastropod Fossils

Above is a picture of  Dentalium scaphopod, ostracod and gastropod fossils. These animals existed in the Mississippian Period. They were found in the Blue River Group of the St. Louis layer of Harrison County, Indiana USA. Thanks to Kenny for the image.

Dolatocrinus Crinod Column Section Fossil

 

This image shows a number of crinoid stem column sections identified as Dolatocrinus (Lyon, 1857)  from the Beechwood Limestone. The fossil dates to the Devonian Period. They were found in Clark County, Indiana USA by Barbara Conkin (1928-2019) who was a local professor of geology. 

Productella spinulicosta Brachiopod Fossil

This plate contains a number of spiny brachiopods that appear to be Productella spinulicosta (Hall, 1867) in the Jeffersonville Limestone. The fossil dates to the Devonian Period. It was found at Coopers Lane Quarry Clark County, Indiana USA by Barbara Conkin (1928-2019) who was a local professor of geology.

 

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.

Worm Tube Fossil

These pictures are of a worm tube fossil. Fossil found in the New Providence Formation of Clark County, Indiana USA. It dates to the Mississippian Period. Thanks to Kenny for the images.

 

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.

Favosites globosus Coral Fossil

 

This picture is of a Favosites globosus (Greene, 1898) coral fossil. The name it is now known is Emmonsia eximia (Davis, 1887). 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.

New Finds of Myelodactylus convolutus

 My cousin Kenny has found two new Myelodactylus convolutus (Hall, 1852) fossils in the last month. This criniod is somewhat unique as it is usually found coiled with its small calyx hidden inside the coil. They remind one of a modern millipede. Both specimens were found from Waldron Shale at the same quarry in Clark County, Indiana, USA. These fossils date to the Silurian Period.

Batocrinus icosidactylus Crinoid Fossil

These crinoid calyx fossils pictured above are known as Batocrinus icosidactylus (Casseday, 1854). They were found in the Salem Limestone of Lanesville, Harrison County, Indiana USA. The fossils date to the Middle Mississippian Period. 

The crinoid fossil genus and species was named by Samuel Addison Casseday (1831-1860), a Louisville area paleontologist.

These crinoid fossils were 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 remained with the family and was past down to his descendants. 

The fossil collection 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.

Batocrinus icosidactylus Crinoid Calyx

 

This crinoid calyx fossil pictured above is known as Batocrinus icosidactylus (Casseday, 1854). It was found in the Salem Limestone of Lanesville, Harrison County, Indiana USA. The fossil dates to the Middle Mississippian Period. 

The fossil was named by Samuel Addison Casseday (1831-1860), a Louisville area paleontologist.

This crinoid 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.

Breviphrentis nitida Horn Coral Fossil

These horn coral fossils pictured above were known as Breviphrentis nitida (Hall, 1876). They were found in the Jeffersonville Limestone of the Falls of the Ohio, Clark County, Indiana USA. The fossils date to the Devonian Period. Included in this picture is George Greene's original display label which refers to it as Zaphrentis nitida.

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.

 

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.