Fossil Hunting Trip

[DWhatley]

Will you polish the first one? What criteria do you use for the ones you "clean" up vs keep as is?

 

[Architeuthoceras]

I will usually just leave them "as is", just a good washing. Those I photograph in the field are usually good enough to show off just as they are, I collect more still buried in the rock that need preparing and I will prepare them on an as needed basis. If one turns out to be an exceptional specimen or looks like it will show some morphologic character better than others I will prepare it a little sooner and/or with more care. I never polish a fossil, that usually destroys some information. The only reason some get polished is to make them more attractive to potential buyers.

A quick description of Fossil Preparation

 

[DWhatley]

I have a noname dremel and Neal has a noname vibrating tool so finding something to practice on is the next step

 

[Architeuthoceras]

A closeup of part of a very large rock. Anyone want to ID all the little parts and pieces on there?

 

[DWhatley]

Would the tree like structure be something like staghorn coral?

 

[Terri]

It does look like some kind of branching coral, is that really cool thing in the center, part of a trilobite? To the left of center an orthocone?(depending on the age of the rocks) I see some gastropods, crinoid pieces and brachiopods scattered around. A lot of cool stuff on that rock Kevin, it reminds me of some I'm finding. You do realize that you are going to have to show us what every tiny little thing on that rock is.

 

[DWhatley]

I was going to go snails and a centipede but could not come up with a smart... answer for that weird pointing crown thing.

 

[cuttlegirl]

but could not come up with a smart... answer for that weird pointing crown thing.

I think it's the pygidium of a trilobite (tail part).

 

[Architeuthoceras]

The rock is early Middle Ordovician. The first real (common) corals appear in rocks about 100 meters above this one, the branching thing is a Bryozoan. The thing to left of center is an Orthocone as Terri said. The crown in the center is the pygidium of a trilobite as ID'd by CG and Terri. There are gastropods and crinoid pieces in there too, I will annotate the photo this weekend and repost, but please keep helping.

 

[Terri]

Just above the top right end of the "branch" of the bryozoan....

 

[Terri]

Going out on a limb here (pun intended), remember my thread is titled "Help"...trilobite part shifted in the mold?

 

[Architeuthoceras]

It's just upside down

 

[Terri]

I think I see a lot of trilobite pieces scattered in with the crinoids and gastropods. Along with other things i don't have a clue on but would really like to know, I find them in my Ordovician rocks too. Above the orthocone to the left between the fractures in the rock and extending down towards the bryozoan looks interesting...

 

[Terri]

There must be something....where's Hajar?

 

[cuttlegirl]

Yeah, I recognize that, I just don't remember what it is. Kevin is going to make me pull out my invertebrate fossil book...