Beautiful fossil....can anyone tell me what it is?

[archer66]

Found this in a creek last week. Looks like a cross section of a tree to my uneducated eye. Can anyone tell me what it is?

For reference the stripes on the background are 1 inch wide. Let me know if you need a better picture or more description. Sure is pretty when it's wet, huh?

Thanks,

 

[Harry Pristis]

What does the other side look like?

It's easy to associate circular and/or radial patterns with life; but, there are some geoforms - crystals often - that only mimic once-living things. What do you think it is?

 

[Bushido Dude]

Type of coral, not sure on exact species. Where was it found?

http://www.biocrawler.com/w/images/4/4f/Fossil_Coral_Heliophyllum.jpg

 

[archer66]

Re: Beautiful fossil....can anyone tell me what it is cortex picture added...

Here is a picture of the other side of the rock....

It was found in NE Missouri about 20 miles west of the Mississippi River. I have found Horn Coral fossils in the past so coral isn't out of the question.

 

[Bushido Dude]

Yea I would definitely say a cross section of a type of horn/rugose coral Keep looking around, there are some really amazing specimens in that area!! Some more rare stuff too!

 

[diggummup]

Could be a cross section of Pipe Organ Coral - Entelophyllum?

 

[archer66]

Were any of the pipe organ or horn corals ever as large in diameter as my find? I should have place a ruler in the frame but for size reference the stripes on the background in the first picture are 1 INCH wide which would make brown center part of my rock more than 4 inches in diameter.

The more I look at it the more I think it might be some form of crystal.

 

[Solius Symbiosus]

It is almost certainly a rugosid. I have seen some species of Heliophyllum and Siphonophrentis nearly a meter long, and seven or eight cm in diameter.

 

[Darkgold]

Found this in a creek last week. Looks like a cross section of a tree to my uneducated eye. Can anyone tell me what it is?

For reference the stripes on the background are 1 inch wide. Let me know if you need a better picture or more description. Sure is pretty when it's wet, huh?

Thanks,

That came from the ocean, and looks like some type of plant.