Big Turnout for Fossil Talk

Over 175 people turned out to here a presentation about the geology and fossils of the Louisville, Kentucky area on August 21st, 2011.  Amateur paleontologist Kenny Popp talked for about 40 minutes on the subject showing maps, stratigraphy charts, and fossil images.  The venue for this speech was unique in that it was held inside St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church off Bardstown Road.

After the talk concluded, there were a number of tables with examples of fossils found in the area.  Corals, brachiopods, bryozoans, and microfossils could be seen in abundance.  A number of visitors brought fossils to show or be identified. I personally saw a nice section of Siphonophrentis horn coral (one of largest to exist on Earth) in addition to a number of colonial corals.  Some of the attendees were also impressed with the Ordovician scolecodonts shown under the microscope.

It was good to see so many people in the community take an interest in the area's geology!

The images are a little blurry since the church was dark and I did not have a tripod for the camera.  See earlier blog posting about this event: CLICK HERE

Kona Dolomite Stromatolite

One of the oldest fossil remains found in North America, stromatolite cyanobacteria colony formed over 2 billion years ago. Yes, you read that right over 2,000,000,000 years ago!
 
The Kona Dolomite has a lovely reddish-pink-white color. One side is polished to allow a better view of the colorful pattern. The other sides are in a rough form. Material was collected in Marquette County of the upper penisula of Michigan, USA.

You have an opportunity to own this unique piece of Paleozoic history now available for a short time on eBay: CLICK HERE TO SEE!

Archimedes Bryozoan with Roots?

The fossil pictured is a very interesting find.  It appears to me that this Archimedes sp. bryozoan has a holdfast or root like structure at its base.  Another nice feature of this bryozoan preserved in matrix is the Fenestella like netting still somewhat attached to the screw like structure of the colony.

Next two pictures show magnified views of this root like structure. The microscope images are over exposed somewhat due to the halogen light source.  It is difficult to see but the line pattern on the main Archimedes screw surface matches that found on the thinner wire like root structures.

Last two images give sense of size/dimensions of the bryozoan fossil.

Fossil found in Crawford County, Indiana in Mississippian Period age matrix.