Snail Imprint in Bryozoan Fossil

 

These images show an interesting fossil combination. The fossil ensemble was found in the Kope Formation (Latonia (Eden) Shale) of Carroll County, Kentucky, USA. The main fossil appears to be a Prasapora simulatrix (Ulrich, 1886) bryozoan. The colony grew on top of the shell of a Hormotoma gracilis (Hall, 1847) gastropod. The imprint of the shell's spiral looks intact. These fossils existed in the Ordovician Period. I have found that when in an area with Kope Formation fossils that bryozoans tend to cover other fossils and preserve details on the fossils they cover. See the cephalopod fossil in this 2010 posting.

See more examples of Prasapora simulatrix bryozoan fossils:

http://www.drydredgers.org/thumb_by_bryozoan.htm#Prasapora

The Latonia Formation consists of three members: McMicken, Southgate, and Economy.

https://strata.uga.edu/cincy/strata/LithostratSystems.html

Acidaspis Trilobite Fossil Fragment

These images show what appears to be the front part of a cephalon of an Acidaspis trilobite fossil. It was found in the Kope Formation of Carroll County, Kentucky USA. The fossil was photographed under 40 magnification of a microscope and is approximately 1.3 mm long. This fossil dates to the Ordovician Period.

This next image is of the same fossil when it was wet.

This last image is of the fossil in the matrix. It is located next to a cephalon fragment of a Cryptolithus trilobite fossil. My personal experience is the matrix from the Kope Formation is best hunted under the microscope. This small world yields a diverse graveyard of sea creature that once roamed an ancient earth.

I documented similar fossils about 10 years ago.
https://louisvillefossils.blogspot.com/2010/02/acidaspis-trilobite-fragments.html

Geniculograptus Graptolite Fossil

I believe this graptolite fossil is of the genus Geniculograptus. The fossil was photographed under a microscope at 23 magnification. The fossils is approximately 5.1 mm long. It was found in the Kope Formation (Edenian Stage?) of Carroll County, Kentucky, USA. Fossil dates to Ordovician Period.

Learn more about this fossil at this site.

https://strata.uga.edu/cincy/fauna/graptolithina/Geniculograptus.html

Atraktoprion Scolecodont Fossil

This image is of a microfossil fragment that appears to be an Atraktoprion scolecodont. It was found in the Kope or Fairview Formations of Mason County, Kentucky, USA. The creature existed in the Ordovician Period. Field of view is about 1 mm.

Thanks to Kenny for the picture.

Cleidophorus Pelecypod Microfossil

This image is of a microfossil that appears to be a Cleidophorus pelecypod. It was found in the Kope or Fairview Formations of Mason County, Kentucky, USA. The creature existed in the Ordovician Period. Field of view is about 1 mm.

Thanks to Kenny for the picture.

Ambonychia Pelecypod Fossil with Bryozoan

This fossil appears to be an Ambonychia clam fossil with both valves. It is has quite a bit of matrix covering detailed parts. The clam fossil has a colony of cyclostome bryozoan (see this web site image or called ctenostome type on this web site).

The fossil still needs to be cleaned to see if more shell and bryozoan detail can be revealed. It is rare for me to find clams with both valves intact so this was a happy discovery.

The fossil was found in the Kope Formation of Carroll County, Kentucky, USA. These creatures existed in the Ordovician Period.

Isotelus Trilobite Hypostome Fossil

This picture shows the feeding scoop or hypostome of an Isotelus sp. trilobite fossil (not complete). It was found in the Kope Formation (Eden Group) of Carroll County, Kentucky, USA. It dates to the Ordovician Period.

Thanks to Vic for the pictures.

Sinuites cancellatus Gastropod Fossil

This picture shows what appears to be a mold of a Sinuites cancellatus gastropod fossil. It was found in the Kope Formation (Eden Group) of Carroll County, Kentucky, USA. It dates to the Upper Ordovician Period.

Cryptolithus tessellates Trilobite Head Plate

This picture shows what appears to be an upside down Cryptolithus tessellates trilobite head plate fossil. It was found in the Kope Formation (Eden Group) of Carroll County, Kentucky, USA. It dates to the Ordovician Period. Thanks to Kenny for cleaning out the inverted head plate section with a dental tool.

Flexicalymene granulosa Trilobite

This picture shows what appears to be a Flexicalymene granulosa trilobite fossil. It was found in the Kope Formation (Eden Group) of Carroll County, Kentucky, USA. It dates to the Ordovician Period. This trilobite differs from the Flexicalymene meeki in that has a smooth surface on the cephalon while the F. granulosa has a gritty surface texture.

Baby Ectenocrinus Crinoid Calyx and Stem

This fossil appears to be a baby Ectenocrinus crinoid calyx and stem fossil. It is in matrix with group of other creatures found in the Kope Formation (Eden Group) of Carroll County, Kentucky, USA. When it was found part of the stem was covered. It is quite small with the entire fossil about 1 cm in length. How I spotted it is sorta of a mystery, lucky I guess. Fossil dates to the Ordovician Period.

Thanks to Kenny for cleaning the matrix so the entire fossil is visible.

Rusophycus Trilobite Burrow

This picture shows a trace fossil or ichnofossil I have not found before. It is a trilobite burrow also referred to as a Rusophycus. It was found in the Kope Formation (Eden Group) of Carroll County, Kentucky, USA. The trace fossil dates to the Ordovician Period.

Maybe it was made by a Flexicalymene trilobite. The three main trilobite remains found in that area are Cryptolithus, Flexicalymene, and Isotelus. I originally picked up this rock because there was a branching bryozoan on the other side that was partially covered by matrix. I thought if it could be prepped out it would make a nice display specimen. Thanks to my cousin Kenny, he recognized the trace fossil on the back which was even cooler!

Homilodonta filistriata Clam Fossil

This picture shows what appears to be a Homilodonta filistriata clam or pelecypod fossil. It was found in the Kope Formation (Eden Group) of Carroll County, Kentucky, USA. It dates to the Ordovician Period. According to the fossilworks web site, it is also known as Ctenodonta filistriata and Deceptrix filistriata.

It is still in matrix and appears to have both valves.

Cryptolithus Ordovician Trilobite Fragment

This image shows a Cryptolithus tessellatus fragment found years ago.  It existed in the Ordovician Period. The fossil plate was found in the Kope Formation of Carroll County, Kentucky. When cleaning fossils recently, it was in a box waiting to be finished. I will try and air abrasive clean it soon. The question is the tear drop center section intact. My cousin extracted some of the matrix with an air scribe but that area now needs to be excavated with the sand blaster.

The plate this fossil is on has another Cryptolithus with part of the cephalon and an imprint of that center tear shape.

See my previous post about other trilobite fossils found at this locality.

On the back of the plate are a number of graptolites (see picture above - photographed wet). See images from previously found fossils in Carroll County at this blog posting.

UV Fluorescent Brachiopods

This fossil plate of a cluster of Sowerbyella (Jones, 1928) brachiopod shells appears to have a unique property of fluorescence under longwave ultraviolet light (394? nm).  My light produces a lot of visible purple light so the specimen appears quite purple with some orange-brown color on some shells.  In person, the orange-brown color is much more pronounced.

I believe the mineral present is aragonite with a manganese activator.  Referring to the book The Uranium and Fluorescent Minerals: A Handbook of Uranium Minerals and A Field Guide for Uranium Prospecting 3rd Ed. by H.C. Dake, page 21, it lists "ARAGONITE. A calcium carbonate that fluoresces and phosphoresces variably.... When manganese is the chief activator the luminescence is orange or red-orange, and usually faint."

These fossils are from the Kope Formation (Edenian Stage, Upper Ordovician Period) of Kentucky USA and that layer is known for its aragonite fossils (usually brown).  I need to now go through the collection and test them for fluorescence.

Another issue I need to solve is filtering visible purple light from my UV light. I might have to go Thomas Edison on it and just start trying different materials for filtering properties.

Brown Puff Ball Fossil

Not sure what this is, thought it might be some sort of crinoid calyx but cannot find where the stem attached.  Reminds me of a brownish dinner roll or slightly deflated doughnut hole.  It is about 2 cm wide and 1 cm tall embedded in matrix with a lot of Cryptolithus trilobite pieces.  The brown material might be argonite.  Matrix is the Kope Formation of the Ordovician period found in Carroll County, Kentucky.

Also included is a picture of a fragment of an Ambonychia clam fossil located on the same matrix block as this mystery fossil.

Catellocaula vallata Borings

This interesting plate shows a fossil bryozoan with what appear to be trace fossil path on it.  The little cross or star patterns were thought to be an animal (tunicate?) known as Catellocaula vallata.   This specimen is from the Ordovician Kope Formation of probably Carroll County, Kentucky.  My friend Mary Ann found this and Kenny took the pictures.  It is a nice find.

Learn more at Bill Heimbrock's xFossils site with the particular page covering Ron Fine's fossils [see Item #2 on this page].

Maroon Dalmanella Fossils

Dalmanella multisecta (formerly Onniella multisecta) brachiopod found in the Kope Formation of  Carroll County, Kentucky.  This brachiopod existed in the Ordovician Period.  Learn more at the Dry Dredgers web site.  For some reason, these fossils are a maroon color.

It is 10^3 day!

Dalmanella multisecta Brachiopod

Dalmanella multisecta (formerly Onniella multisecta) brachiopod found in the Kope Formation of  Carroll County, Kentucky.  This brachiopod existed in the Ordovician Period.  Learn more at the Dry Dredgers web site.