Unprepped Silurian Crinoid Holdfast

This crinoid holdfast is maybe the most extensive one I have every found. It is still quite embedded in Waldron Shale matrix but the large number of roots are exposed. Somewhat amazing how much this animal has such similar characteristics to that of a plant. While not able to make an exact identification it appears to be the holdfast of an Eucalyptocrinus of the Silurian Period. Fossil found in Clark County, Indiana, USA.

On the other side of the matrix piece, this smaller holdfast was found that appears to be like a large tap root with small branches coming off it.

Identification is based off of images of Eucalyptocrinus roots (holdfasts) from illustrations from Plate 19 (Figures 6-7) Indiana Department of Geology and Natural History Eleventh Annual Report John Collett State Geologist 1881.

Also plate 20 shown below.

Pterinea Pelecypod Fossil Fragment

This fossil appears to be a Pterinea brisa Hall (or Ambonychia (Pterinea) striaecostata McChesney 1869) pelecypod fossil found in the Silurian Waldron Shale of Clark County, Indiana. Learn more about it at my earlier blog posting from June 20, 2012.

T-rex Finger Puppet

My recent posts seem to be centering on the British Geological Survey web site and videos which will continue today with a focus one of their paper puppet activities. It is interesting how looking at one thing can lead you to new knowledge from a slightly different direction. The path that lead me to this puppet was initiated after reading the blog post entitled A Story of the Season on Fossils and Other Living Things web site. It was about story about a Christmas message created with foraminiferas on microscope slide by Arthur Earland in 1912. While searching the Internet for images of this slide I came across the videos and images of the British Geological Survey.

The PDF templates and directions can be found at their web site here: http://www.bgs.ac.uk/discoveringGeology/time/puppets/tRex.html

When I created the puppet I had to resize the image from A4 paper to 8.5"x11" paper. Doing this seems to converted the hand puppet into a finger puppet. The tools I used were:

• Color printer
• Cardstock paper
• Scissors
• Scotch Tape
• Drywall screw holder (could not find paper fasteners)

The drywall plastic pieces make this puppet look like a FrankenRex monster. I found the activity interesting and something I will share with my plethora of small nephews. Need to be patient when cutting out the teeth on the jaw sections though.

This YouTube video lasting about 6 minutes shows how to assemble the Tyrannosaurus rex hand puppet.