Spines in Brachiopods rarely survive in the local rocks. While I believe I have found a few already separated, I rarely see one actually embedded on the shell. I found the 1mm long spine on this Brachiopod specimen I brought back this evening after freeing it from float limestone withinRead More →
Finding a possible Petalodus tooth is one of the gateway fossils that lead to my love of fossil hunting. My first find was a bust, but finally I have found the real thing. This piece came from the huge shelf rocks that outcropped inches from the creek bed locally. WeRead More →
Shansiella was first described by Yin in 1932. It can be identified as such by viewing it’s bands and a distinctive selenizone on the aperture opening. There are large numbers of Gastropod samples to be found in Limestone and shale, but I rarely do I find ones that are asRead More →
Most cephalopod specimens I find are small to medium in size. They range from 3-5 inches in diameter. This one was much larger. Found as a huge slab of limestone in the middle of Guffy Run, recent storms brought this rock to rest in the center of the stream. ItRead More →
Ever since I’ve figured out what they were, local Pinnid fossil specimens are a personal favorite to find. In examining the remaining shell material in these fossils, I have been able to see the prismatic layer represented on the shell hinge in at least two specimens. The specimens below showRead More →
This was one of my favorite specimens when I pulled it out of the huge chunk of limestone we were working on. You can clearly see the Metacoceras steinkern and there is a thickness of shell material on the inside of the half circle. In the middle portion there isRead More →
Closely related to modern horsetails, Calamites is an extinct genus that existed from the Carboniferous until the early Permian. Horsetails are one of several genera considered to be living fossils. They reproduce using spores, which were similar to Lepidodendron. Both Lepidodendron and Calamites produced cone arrangements of spores. This genusRead More →
Catalog Number: CG-0012 My first Wilkingia find was in soft eroded matrix. I found this specimen while exploring a new locale. A 6 foot by 2 1/2 foot by 7 inch thick slab of limestone that was only 6 inches from the stream bed. With help, I slowly removed soilRead More →
While I have many sources of limestone locally, this specimen of Fenestella was one of my first finds in a new location. A limestone ridge cropped above the stream across the valley floor to the other side. So, while I’ve likely encountered many bryozoans in limestone, this is the firstRead More →
I am finding Pseudorthoceras to be common in the local rocks. I find them often. They are often seen straight on and can be mistaken for crinoid columnials. I also am finding them to be fragile and will readily break apart when attempting to extract them. I was able toRead More →