Lophophores in Devonian Brachiopods

The fossilized feeding structure (lophophore) inside brachiopods is shown in today's post.  These first 5 images are of the Athyris brachiopod found in the Jeffersonville Limestone of Clark County, Indiana.  It existed in the Devonian Period.

The next pictures shows the imprint of a lophophore inside a fossil of a Pseudoatrypa brachiopod.  From the same place and time period as the Athyris shown earlier.

 Last image if of an Orthospirifer again for the same time and location as the previous mentioned brachiopod fossils.

Calcite in Brachiopod Fossils

Examples of calcite crystals forming inside brachiopod fossils.  In this case two different brachiopod fossils are shown.  The first image shows a Platystrophia ponderosa brachiopod from the Ordovician Period of Kentucky.  Two images following are of Orthospirifer brachiopod fossils from the Devonian Period of Indiana.

The rest are of Platystrophia ponderosa brachiopods.  The image make look slightly different in color, lighting and focus.  Two different Canon cameras were used to test close up abilities.  A Powershot Pro in Super Macro mode and an EOS DSLR with a 50mm macro lens.  Incandescent light was used and the DSLR white balance was not set right making the fossils look yellowish.

Unidentified Mississippian Period Crinoid Calyx

Unidentified crinoid calyx found recently at Lake Cumberland, Kentucky.  Fossil dates to Mississippian Period and found in the Fort Payne Formation.

Thanks to Herb for letting me photograph this fossil.