I enjoy looking for fossils and rocks around my farm in central TN. Here's some I've found over the past year or so, but have no idea what they are... any help with i.d. is much appreciated.
by the way, not sure about the last one, it may just be a rock.
I'm thinking coral, especially the 2nd and 3rd pics. The first almost looks like a fan or elkhorn type coral. Google elkhorn coral and imagine a fossilized piece. The 3rd looks like a piece of brain coral.
Are there any shells or ocean life type fossils around?
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Andy - Engineer (as in Mechanical not train) in Maryland
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I found all of them on a limestone river bluff. A lot of shell fossils and plant stems & cones are turning up as well. I was thinking maybe the third picture was a sponge (Syringopora possibly).
I enjoy looking for fossils and rocks around my farm in central TN. Here's some I've found over the past year or so, but have no idea what they are... any help with i.d. is much appreciated.
by the way, not sure about the last one, it may just be a rock.
You don't give the age of the fossils. I suggest you search the www for geologic and paleontologic info on Central TN.
Invertebrates are not my thing; but, 'solius' seems to have abandoned us, so I'll make some guesses.
The first image is of a pseudofossil . . . an interesting rock.
The second image is of a coral.
The third image is of a colonial bryozoan.
The fourth image is of cross-sections of something . . . perhaps bi-valves.
The fifth image is of a "septarian nodule" . . . a fossil mudball.
The sixth image is of a brachiopod.
“A man should keep his little brain attic stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the rest he can put away in the lumber room of his library, where he can get it if he wants it.”
--Sherlock Holmes (Arthur Conan Doyle) in "The Sign of Four"
Thanks, this gives me some ideas on where to investigate further to determine age. It seems, generally speaking, that almost everything I find is plant, stem, coral related. The mudball is a first for me.
The reason I thought Photo 1 might be a fossil is what looked like growth rings - unfortunately it was broken in half when I found it, so here's another pic... Also I've included a pic of some of the cones & stems I've picked up.
Thanks, this gives me some ideas on where to investigate further to determine age. It seems, generally speaking, that almost everything I find is plant, stem, coral related. The mudball is a first for me.
The reason I thought Photo 1 might be a fossil is what looked like growth rings - unfortunately it was broken in half when I found it, so here's another pic... Also I've included a pic of some of the cones & stems I've picked up.
I do understand. Sometimes it is difficult to distinguish between wood and mineral. Keep in mind that minerals (rocks) often display growth rings.
With regard to the stems, consider the possibility that these are mineralized invertebrate (worms, shrimp) burrows. It is improbable that you will find woody plant remains in a marine environment.
“A man should keep his little brain attic stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the rest he can put away in the lumber room of his library, where he can get it if he wants it.”
--Sherlock Holmes (Arthur Conan Doyle) in "The Sign of Four"
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Originally Posted by Woodchip
