[Rockhounds] Mazon Creek Fossil

[R. Peter Richards]

I'm pretty sure that it is a plant fossil, not an animal, and that it  
is common.  30 years ago, I probably could have put a name to it, but  
I can't at this point.  I'm sure some other member will do so.  Mazon  
Creek was (is) famous for its preservation of soft-bodied  
invertebrate and other animals that are not commonly preserved in the  
fossil record.  One classic example is the "Tully Monster", a critter  
that was not only soft-bodied but totally bizarre.  Too small to eat  
New York City, but otherwise the stuff of science fiction!

Pete Richards


On Oct 11, 2008, at 8:41 PM, John Siebel wrote:

> Hi folks,
>
> I'm looking for help in identifying a Mazon Creek (Illinois) fossil  
> that I received from a fellow list member a while back (Thanks  
> Steve!). It looks like it could be a shell imprint but than again  
> possibly plant matter of some kind. The plate measures 7cm wide. I  
> ain't no expert so any help is appreciated. View image at http:// 
> www.flickr.com/photos/31394106 at N08/?saved=1
>
> Thanks for your help - John
> PS. I just noticed, under magnification, that the surface is  
> peppered with tiny pyrite cubes. How cool!
>
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___________________________________
R. Peter Richards
rpr at heidelberg.edu
Morphological crystallographer





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