Sunday, July 15, 2012

Dichocrinus striatus Crinoid Plate

This Mississippian Period fossil appears to be a Dichocrinus striatus crinoid calyx plate. Fossil in image about 4 mm wide. It was found at Spergen Hill, Indiana at a famous Salem Limestone microfossil locality. The identification matches Figure 5b found on Plate XIII in the Indiana Department of Geology and Natural Resources Thirtieth Annual Report, W.S. Blatchely State Geologist, 1905.
Thanks to Kenny for sharing this fossil image.
Plate XIII Figure 5b

Plate XIII Figures 5 and 5a


Sunday, July 8, 2012

Unknown Mississippian Shark Fossil

Unidentified shark fossil found in the Indian Springs or Haney Formation of Crawford County, Indiana, USA. This creature swam around in the Upper Mississippian seas. It might be a Psammodus or Helodus tooth fragment. Still researching.


Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Cornulites proprius?



Described by James Hall in 1876 as "elongate-tubular, obconical or trumpet-shaped bodies, rapidly enlarging toward the aperture, which is campanulate with the margins always imperfect." The Cornulites propius worm tube fossil is found in the Waldron Shale of Bartholomew County, Indiana. These creatures lived in the Silurian Period.

Cornulites propius illustration from Indiana Department of Geology and Natural History 11th Annual Report 1881; Plate 32 Figure 4