grayfingers
Cave Dweller
Member since November 2007
Posts: 4,575
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Post by grayfingers on Aug 30, 2011 19:49:46 GMT -5
I have a rock wall/barbeque in my back yard that has some interesting rocks embedded in it. House was built in 1948 so it has been there a long time. One is a fossil, am hoping to see if anyone can tell me what this is, I am always impressed with the knowledge of "all things rocks" the members here have. The piece pictured is about five inches square. Thanks, Bill
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Post by beefjello on Aug 30, 2011 20:13:36 GMT -5
I believe that's a crinoid plate Bill. Whether I'm right or not (someone more versed in fossils will let me know), it's super cool!
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jspencer
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2011
Posts: 929
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Post by jspencer on Aug 30, 2011 21:35:40 GMT -5
Beefjello is correct with his reply. A crinoid deathbed from millions of years ago. It is also known as an ancient sealilly. They anchored to the seabed and had a cup at the top which held small finger like protrusions like a bloom for it to catch plankton in the water. They also had floats like a small ball that floated above the crinoid and captured food. The stems are the small discs with the stacked up look. Very nice piece!
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jspencer
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2011
Posts: 929
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Post by jspencer on Aug 30, 2011 21:39:37 GMT -5
Sorry but forgot to tell you that the small ball like objects with the sectioned look is the cup I spoke of that holds the bloom. I believe it is called the calyx. Those in the pic were closed at the time of preservation.
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Post by tandl on Aug 30, 2011 21:50:40 GMT -5
Yup, several crinoids in there .
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Post by texaswoodie on Aug 31, 2011 6:10:39 GMT -5
Nice crinoid plate Bill. 1948 wasn't all that long ago. Curt
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Post by tanyafrench on Aug 31, 2011 7:15:46 GMT -5
Fascinating!
Tanya
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grayfingers
Cave Dweller
Member since November 2007
Posts: 4,575
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Post by grayfingers on Aug 31, 2011 7:48:41 GMT -5
Thanks for the ID guys! I had no doubt there would be several who would know what it was. I searched crinoids, and now I know what they looked like. A very beautiful creature indeed.
Now I am in danger of becoming addicted to collecting fossils...
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Post by tandl on Aug 31, 2011 8:40:18 GMT -5
full specimens of crinoid are perty rare , i wonder where yours came from , i`m sure you are too . Crawfordsville Indiana is the crinoid capital of the world . a very small area has produced alot of varieties , it is only 60 miles from my home . i have found one whole crinoid here, find tons of stems in various materials, they say the heads did`nt preserve as well as the stems .
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grayfingers
Cave Dweller
Member since November 2007
Posts: 4,575
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Post by grayfingers on Aug 31, 2011 9:31:02 GMT -5
Ted, I did some more searching and believe I have a good guess where this was collected. I have found fossils in the mountains both to the north and south of the Gallatin valley, mostly masses of small shells. The fellow who built our house was a rock collector, I found a photo in the basement floor joists showing several sets of shelves filled with what looks to be rocks and fossils. I doubt he traveled too far in those days to hunt rocks. I think it most likely came from the Bridger range which lies to the north. Found this site which seems to make this a credible assumption. I have climbed this peak many times, but did not realize what is there if one looks. Now I am wanting to find some nice specimens myself. serc.carleton.edu/research_education/trail_guides/sacagawea.htmlBill
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,681
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Post by Fossilman on Aug 31, 2011 10:06:53 GMT -5
Nice finds..................As of all fossils in a group like this-this is called a "death plate" too...............
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Post by tandl on Aug 31, 2011 10:33:53 GMT -5
Bill , looks like you found the spot , and it`s a big one too. looks like a great place to go . cool about finding the picture .
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jspencer
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2011
Posts: 929
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Post by jspencer on Sept 1, 2011 0:45:44 GMT -5
I`ve found them in Texas and they are actually one of the most common fossils found wherever there was marine life in ancient times. Our strata is cretaceous in age, about 65 million years old. I had a large piece of Austin chalk that was falling apart in my backyard back when we had rain in Tx. I found this crinoid float embedded in the chalk. Attachments:
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garock
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since February 2006
Posts: 1,168
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Post by garock on Sept 1, 2011 6:24:36 GMT -5
Very nice plate !! Up in Tennessee and Kentucky crinoid plates rarely have the calyx on them. That is really cool !! Frankie
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