Louisville Fossils and Beyond: kentucky science center

Showing posts with label kentucky science center. Show all posts

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Turbinopsis shumardi Gastropod Fossil

Here is an image of a Turbinopsis shumardi (DeVerneuil)gastropod fossil. It existed in the Devonian Period (410-360 million years ago). The fossil is on display at the 2nd floor (next to of the MSD Tunnel project exhibit) Kentucky Science Center - Louisville Kentucky USA. I believe the species was named after Dr. Benjamin Franklin Shumard (1820-1869) a Louisville educated medical doctor who also collected fossils.

Learn more about the Kentucky Science Center (aka Louisville Science Center) at their web site:
https://kysciencecenter.org/

Monday, September 16, 2019

Polished Prismatophyllum Rugose Coral Fossil

Here is an image of a polished Prismatophyllum rugose coral fossil (Petosky Stone). It existed in the Devonian Period (410-360 million years ago). The fossil is on display at the 2nd floor (next to of the MSD Tunnel project exhibit) Kentucky Science Center - Louisville Kentucky USA.

Learn more about the Kentucky Science Center (aka Louisville Science Center) at their web site:
https://kysciencecenter.org/

Thursday, September 12, 2019

Snake Stone Ammonite Fossil

On a recent visit to the Kentucky Science Center, I came upon one of my favorite fossils in their collection. The snake stone ammonite fossil was modified by an artist who carved a snake head at the opening of the spiral shell. Britain might be the origin of this one as there is a legend there that of a Catholic Saint Hilda of Whitby (614-680) who turned the snakes of the area into stone. St. Hilda is the patron saint of learning and culture and sometimes ammonite symbols represent her in academic environments.

When I was helping with curating the collections at the center, encountering this fossil triggered a sense of mysticism or superstition. Notice at one side of the ammonite the ridges are worn as if it had been carried around in someone's pocket as a good luck talisman.

The American palaeontologist Alpheus Hyatt (1838-1902) named an ammonite genus Hildoceras after her. Above image of St. Hilda memorial at Church of St. Mary, Whitby, Yorkshire, England from Wikipedia (public domain). Note the coiled snake ammonites at her feet.

The ammonite fossil pictured in this posting appears to be a Dactylioceras tenuicostatum (Young et Bird, 1822). This animal existed in the Lower Jurassic Period (about 180 million years ago).

As of 2019, the fossil can be seen on the second floor Discovery Gallery in the hallway section leading to the polar bears and Egyptian mummy. It is part of ammonite fossil display case. Learn more at https://kysciencecenter.org/

Learn more about snake stone ammonites:
https://depositsmag.com/2016/09/27/fossil-folklore-ammonites/

https://www.hakaimagazine.com/article-short/a-legend-of-snakes-and-stones/

https://whitbymuseum.org.uk/

https://twitter.com/kjlymer/status/1065676659414712320

https://woostergeologists.scotblogs.wooster.edu/2015/06/06/exploring-the-coast-north-of-scarborough/

Monday, September 9, 2019

Fossils from Waterway Protection Tunnel Project - Louisville, Kentucky

The Kentucky Science Center has an interactive display for the Metro Sewer District (MSD) Waterway Protection Tunnel project. This project is a 4 mile (6.43 km) tunnel 200 feet (60.96 m) under the city to store up to 55 million gallons (208 million liters) of storm runoff water. It will take at least 3 years to complete.

As of this writing, the tunnel was 15% dug. I found the display really well done and resourceful way to divert storm water from the sewer system instead of using basins. The future will show us how well this system will work. I encourage you if in the Louisville area to visit the Kentucky Science Center as see this exhibit. Look out the windows on either side of it as it has some views riverfront and a MSD sewer line project.

Included in the exhibit are 3 core samples from the test drillings. If you look close you can see different fossils in them (horn coral and colonial coral).

I was contacted months ago by the Cubero media company that created this display. They asked for permission to use some images from this blog site in the display. It was nice to see me given credit on one of the screens.