Anyone Else Like Chert?

[huskeriowa]

Hi all,

First warm hunt of the year. I don't know if anyone else likes impressions left in chert, but I do. Also found some decent superior agates, some small pieces of coral and a two ok artifacts. Nice to be out again!!!

[xonenine]

Chert is my favorite The NY chert is pretty plain, muddy colors, not like some states where it is colorful and druzy, with vugs, but sometimes there are nice pieces...

[huskeriowa]

Those are cool xonenine! I used to travel NY years ago and wish I would have had more of an interest in fossils during that time. Somehow pubs and rejection took precedence:). Any idea what the first picture and third are of specifically? I thought the third was the base of crinoids but the more I look the more I am not sure. Thanks

[lissa318]

Looks like you have quite a few brachiopods in the first one! I really like it. 3rd I'm guessing coral.

[xonenine]

Those are cool xonenine! I used to travel NY years ago and wish I would have had more of an interest in fossils during that time. Somehow pubs and rejection took precedence:). Any idea what the first picture and third are of specifically? I thought the third was the base of crinoids but the more I look the more I am not sure. Thanks

thanks husker I'd say Lissa already got it right

[Mike Olive]

Hi, Huskeriowa:

Yeah, I also like flint/chert. Sometimes, with flint, you can see the features of a fossil real well. Could the the one in the middle be an ammonite? I collect chert nodule fossils down in central Texas but, I haven't found any ammonites, so far. In my experience, some flint fossils are imprints and, some are, simply, part of the chert/flint diagenetic process--that is, the fossil has changed chemistry: the original form is still there but, its molecules have been replaced with, mainly, silica dioxide--ie, chert/flint. Using a magnifying glass, you can usually tell whether it is an imprint or, a replacement situation.

You have some nice ones there.

Mike Olive

[Sacha]

I make it a rule in my fossil collection that nothing gets added that I didn't find myself. No trades or purchases allowed. I also like to extend that practice to material to cut and polish for jewelry, at least to the greatest extent that I can. Chert is a readily available material in Florida and the Southeastern US coastal plain, takes a good polish and in some cases, has good color. Here are some of the pieces I've found, cut and polished.

From the Peace River I've only found 2 nodules in 4 years, both black and grey.

From the Vulcan quarry in West Central Florida, mostly earth tones.

From near Kingston, GA (Thanks to Coralhead) lots of cool variation in color.

And from Girard, GA (again thanks to Coralhead) the well known "Savannah River Agate".

None of these is very fossiliferous, but they provide additional options when rivers are high and I appreciate the reward of a self found piece.

Edited March 16, 2014 by Sacha