Anthracospirifer leidyi? Brachiopod

The brachiopod pictured appears to be an Anthracospirifer leidyi? found in the Bangor Limestone of Colbert County, Alabama. This animal lived in the Mississippian (Carboniferous) Period about 325 million years ago. This brachiopod reminds me of the larger Syringothyrus texta found in the Borden Group of Indiana. See my earlier post about: http://louisvillefossils.blogspot.com/2011/01/syringothyrus-texta-brachiopod.html

These fossils are from larrysfossils on eBay and this fellow has some nice fossils on sale.  He usually has a good selection of crinoid calyx found in the Bangor as well brachiopods, bryozoan, blastoids, and other fossils.

Check the fossil selection out at http://www.ebay.com/sch/larrysfossils/m.html?item=220880785514&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWNX%3AIT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649&_trksid=p4340.l2562

I cleaned the brachiopods with an engraver and stainless steel brush.  The engraver was on too high a setting and/or too aggressive with device as a result brachiopod broke.  I glued it back together and once it sets up I will clean the glue off.

Pyrite Stegerhynchus Brachiopods

While this brachiopod is common in the Waldron Shale, these in pyrite form are rare. Field of view of the microscope is about 8 mm.  Internally, the fossil is calcite which is covered in a thin layer of pyrite.

Fardenia subplana? Brachiopod

This fossil was an interesting find in that is both sides of what I think is a Fardenia subplana brachiopod.  Usually, they are just found with one side of the shell. The big surprise was when it was put under the microscope.  Magnification revealed that some of the plications had fossilized as pyrite.  The pyrite section almost looks like little Tentaculites. if they only were conical and not cylindrical.