Syringothyrus texta Brachiopod

As Paleozoic brachiopods go, this is quite a large species.  One can see the ruler in the last picture showing this damaged specimen exceeding 6 cm in width.  Existing in the Mississippian Period, fossilized remains are found in the Borden Group and Spickert Knob Formation of Clark County, Indiana.  It is thought the identification of this fossil is Syringothyrus texta.

Thanks to Kenny for the fossil!

The Smithsonian National Museum of the Natural History has a display showing how various brachiopods anchored themselves to the sea floor.  See picture below illustrating the flat bottom of the Syringothyris textus.  This fossil is probably from the same locale as the one highlighted in this post.

Orthospirifer Internal View

Internal view of an Orthospirifer brachiopod fossil found in the Jeffersonville Limestone of Clark County, Indiana.  Animal existed in the Devonian Period.

Brachiopods and Pyrite Crystals

 Silurian period brachiopods that I have not identified with embedded pyrite crystals.  Last two images should have been stacked plus still working on exposure of fossil on black background material.

A future post will show another specimen of this fossil without pyrite.  I am now starting to think it might be some sort of clam and not a brachiopod.