Eozoon canadense Pseudofossil

Originally this fossil was identified in 1864 or 1865 by John William Dawson as a Precambrian foraminifera. As it turns out it was metamorphosed bands of calcite and serpentine thus a pseudofossil. Specimen can be seen at the Museo di Paleontologia at Sapienza University of Rome Italy.

Image was taken in June 2014.

Learn more at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eozoon_canadense

Pyrite Strobeus Snail Fossil

This is one beautiful and shiny fossil! It appears to be a Strobeus pyrite gastropod fossil. It was found in a coal mine at a depth of 60-250 meters. More pictures below show some more specimens that were found.

My identification source is Fossils of Ohio (Bulletin 70, Rodney M. Feldmann Editor, State of Ohio, Department of Natural Resources, Division of Geological Survey, Columbus Ohio 1986) pages 162-173, figure 24 of specimen from Putnam Hill shale (Allegheny Group, Pennsylvanian) Vinton County Ohio, OSU 46701.

The fossil was situated above the coal seam so it might be from the Pennsylvanian Period (late Carboniferous). It was found in Webster County Kentucky USA. The mines there are part of the Eastern Interior Basin. The formations found there are Sturgis, Carbondale, and Tradewater. The limestone layers are Carthage, Madisonville, Providence, Yeargiss?, and Lead Creek.

Learn more about the geology of this area at the United States Geological Survey:
http://pubs.usgs.gov/pp/p1151h/penn.html

Oreopithecus bambolii Fossil

An interesting fossil shown in this picture is of an Oreopithecus bambolii primate. The fossil can be found at the Museo di Paleontologia at Sapienza University of Rome Italy. Creatures like this existed in the Miocene Epoch of Neogene Period. Fossil was found in Baccinello Basin located in Tuscany, Italy. The area was known for its lignite mines. An intact Oreopithecus fossil skeleton was found in 1958 by Johannes Hürzeler in one of those mines.

Image taken in June 2014.

Learn more at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oreopithecus
http://www.museonaturalemaremma.it/index.php?id=45&L=