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Natural Science Forum / Biology / Paleontology / January 2007Fossil Help: Can anyone help me identify a fossil?
I'm trying to identify a fossil I found in central Kentucky. It has white rings encased in rock. The rings are of all different sizes and appear tubular (but broken off smoothly). I've uploaded a bunch of pictures here: http://picasaweb.google.com/stierle/Fossils I have 2 fossils in the picture. I'm pretty sure that one of them is petrified wood (though more than that I know not). It's the other one I'm less sure about. I'm trying to teach my son about fossils but I don't really know what to tell him. Any help anyone could provide would be most appreciated. > I'm trying to identify a fossil I found in central Kentucky. It has > white rings encased in rock. The rings are of all different sizes and > appear tubular (but broken off smoothly). I've uploaded a bunch of > pictures here: As usual, the pictures are hard to get much information from. But based on your description and what little I can see, the white rings are most likely parts of crinoid stems. Your petrified wood, again based on what little I can see, could be petrified wood, or it could be water-deposited, layered silica like agate. > http://picasaweb.google.com/stierle/Fossils > [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > I'm trying to teach my son about fossils but I don't really know what > to tell him. Any help anyone could provide would be most appreciated. Wow! Thanks so much. I looked at: http://www.safossils.com/crinoids.html And the Phylum: Echinodermata Class: Crinoidea Crinoid Stems seems spot on. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction. Greg > > I'm trying to identify a fossil I found in central Kentucky. It has > > white rings encased in rock. The rings are of all different sizes and [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > > I'm trying to teach my son about fossils but I don't really know what > > to tell him. Any help anyone could provide would be most appreciated. > I'm trying to identify a fossil I found in central Kentucky. It has > white rings encased in rock. The rings are of all different sizes and [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > I'm trying to teach my son about fossils but I don't really know what > to tell him. Any help anyone could provide would be most appreciated. One is limestone with crinoid stems. There are massive layers of rock full of the stuff. I would guess you are right about the other. > I'm trying to identify a fossil I found in central Kentucky. It has > white rings encased in rock. The rings are of all different sizes and [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > I'm trying to teach my son about fossils but I don't really know what > to tell him. Any help anyone could provide would be most appreciated. Looks like (and I'm willing to stand on a stack of paleo manuals and swear to it) the white fragments are Mississippian era crinoids. Crinoids are echinoderm 'sea lilies"-- an animal related to modern starfish. About 375-300 million years old. I also would be willing to bet they are in Burlington limestone. If they were in Missouri, I'd *know* they were in Burlington limestone. I know them as 'stone cheerios'. These are stem segments. Look up crinoids in Google. I'd be willing to go with petrified wood on the other piece. Can you scratch that one with a knife? If not, we'll try again on it. The only real positive ID on petrified wood is to put it under a strong hand lens or microscope and look to see if you can see the woody structure, but superficially, I'd be happy with that ID. You can also take them to a local rock shop, or college geo department and someone would gladly ID them for you in person. >> I'm trying to identify a fossil I found in central Kentucky. It has >> white rings encased in rock. The rings are of all different sizes and [quoted text clipped - 26 lines] > You can also take them to a local rock shop, or college geo department > and someone would gladly ID them for you in person. If he found it in central Kentucky, it would be an equivalent or close equivalent of the Burlington, or a formation or two above or below it. It looks like either Muldraugh, Ft. Payne or the Salem Limestone. If I had to choose, I'd say it is the Muldraugh. George |
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