Ceratites nodosus Ammonite Fossil

This ammonite fossil was seen at the New Harmony Indiana USA Working Men's Institute Museum & Library in June 2020. It was identified as a Ceratites nodosus (Bruguière. 1789). The fossil dates to Cretaceous Period. Specimen accession number WMI 309.7. No locality for this fossil was listed.

The Working Men's Institute (WMI) was created by geologist William Maclure in 1838. Its goal is to provide useful knowledge to those who work with their hands. At one time there were 160 institutes in Indiana and Illinois, only the New Harmony branch remains. The library is longest continuous operating one in the state of Indiana.

Melonechinus Sea Urchin Fossil

This fossil was seen at the New Harmony Indiana USA Working Men's Institute Museum & Library in June 2020. It was identified as a Melonechinus sp. (Meek & Worthen, 1861, p. 396) from St. Louis Limestone. The fossil dates to Mississippian Period (340-330 million years ago) in the Meramecian series. Limestone named by George Engelmann in Remarks on the St. Louis Limestone: American Journal of Science, series 2, volume 3, pages 119-120 (published 1847). Specimen accession number WMI 310.4.

There appears to be a second echinoid fossil on display as well but was not labeled. This one was more intact. The case label read "Mr. James Sampson, 1806-1890, was a saddler, a storekeeper and McClure agent. When he retired in 1858, he followed his fancy for collecting things, natural history mainly along the Wabash River and cut off river." The case is full of nice fossils but almost none of them are labeled. The fossil looked to be about the size of a grapefruit.

Crane Fly Fossil

This image shows a crane fly insect fossil found in the Florissant Formation of Teller County, Colorado, USA. The genus might be a Tipula. It dates to the Eocene Epoch of the Paleogene Period. Thanks to Kenny for the image.