Portable Diamond Saw

After reading this Trilobite Tale web page, it inspired me to modify my own gas powered trimmer with a diamond blade.  The blade is one that was used on a tile saw that I also use to cut fossil matrix with.  The attachment used is a brush cutter which had its blade replaced.  As always, WEAR SAFETY GLASSES when cutting or trimming with this type of power tool!  Follow the directions that comes with the power trimmer as well.

I set up the hose to spray water on the rock as I cut it. The pictures of the rock did not turn out since it was getting dark.  The blade was not centered on the shaft so it wobbled.  I need to find a way to correct this.  Also one need to press down against the rock or the blade will bounce.

The blade guard need to be replaced with one that will allow more blade exposure.  The blade being used is 7" in diameter.  Once I have made some changes I will post more results from this project.

Picture of original brush cutting attachment.  It took a while to figure out how to remove the blade.  One needs to attach a C-clamp to the drive shaft and then hold with their foot.  Take a racket with in this case 0.5" socket to remove the bolt hold the blade.

Phacops Trilobite with Tentaculites

This plate was recently sand abrasive cleaned.  It revealed the cephalon of a Phacops rana (Green, 1832) trilobite with a Tentaculites (Schlotheim, 1820) in front of it.  The Tentaculites (Schlotheim, 1820) was in between a broken segment of Phacops (Emmrich, 1839) thorax.  Further exploration of the plate reveal pieces of unidentified bryozoan and Protoleptostrophia (Caster, 1939) brachiopod.

Matrix is Silver Creek Member of North Vernon Shale Limestone of Clark County, Indiana.  Fossils are from the Middle Devonian Period (Eifelian) dating approximately 397 to 391 million years ago.

Unfortunately, I did not take a picture of the plate before I cleaned it.  Curses!

Visit Falls of the Ohio State Park

Happy Independence Day, USA!

As one can see from the picture the ancient Devonian Period sea beds are now becoming exposed in this summer season at the Falls of the Ohio State Park. Granted most of the visitors appear to be fishing from them but it is a great time to visit the park. If fossils or fishing are not your game, a large selection of day lily varieties are now blooming. It seems like 50+ types are flowering and the great part is they are mostly labeled with names.

The flowers were planted by the Louisville Daylily Society many years ago. Today Terry Martin maintains them and he has quite a collection to tend to. Learn more at the Falls of the Ohio State Park Facebook page.