Huronia Silurian Cephalopod Iowa

Middle Silurian cephalopod fossil on display at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C.  The fossil is labeled Huronia from Iowa (420 million years ago).  Image was taken in 2010.

Trace Fossil in the Making?

The picture shows a fresh water mussel out for a jaunt.  The U shaped trail is about 8-10 cms wide and the creature making it is about 13 cm long. 

I find the shells of this animal on local river banks and lake shores but have not seen one this size alive in its habitat.  It looks it uses its foot to move through the sediment in search of food.  Picture taken in Kentucky.

Thanks to my friend Herb for sending this image along. 

Silurian Scolecodont

Spotted a small black speck while trimming down mineral specimens with the diamond saw.  Later took some pictures through the stereo microscope using 23x and 40x magnification.  The matrix is very fragile but this appears to be a scolecodont without the serrated edge. Found in Waldron Shale (Middle Silurian) of Clark County, Indiana.

In addition, here is an interesting specimen of iridescent pyrite also found in the Waldron Shale.

This next image is a microscope shot of a Waldron Shale pyrite ball.

Last picture is not from the Silurian period but much older.  It dates to the Ordovician Period and might be Drake Formation.  Found east of Louisville, Kentucky.