Waldron Weirdie #3

[Tidgy's Dad]

I have found quite a lot of curved, calcite plates in my samples. Some are loose and others in the matrix from my Waldron Shale, S.W. Indiana samples. 

They are often quite plain and I was thinking athyrid, but the athyrids in the Waldron Shale seem to have rather thin shells and these are quite thick and chunky. I still think athyrid is most likely. 

Other, quite similar bits seem to have tubercles or spine bases on them. Trilobits? Echinoderm? 

Another lumpy one :

Or be shaped like an echinoderm plate?

The reverse :

Any help greatly appreciated as always. 

Thank you looking! 

@Peat Burns

Someone mentioned that you know a bit about the Waldron? Any input, please, Tony, old chap? Or the brachiopods from this formation, I'm drowning in the dark here. 

Edited June 1, 2022 by Tidgy's Dad

[TqB]

Without knowing the Waldron Shale at all, I'd have guessed echinoderm fragments, probably crinoid calyx bits.

Edited June 2, 2022 by TqB

[Tidgy's Dad]

7 hours ago, TqB said:

Without knowing the Waldron Shale at all, I'd have guessed echinoderm fragments, probably crinoid calyx bits.

Thank you very much, Tarquin. 

Your input is always greatly appreciated and I think you may be onto something as two of the most common crinoids in the formation are Eucalyptocrinites crassus, with smooth plates on the calyx, and E. tuberculatus, with tubercles. 

[Peat Burns]

23 hours ago, Tidgy's Dad said:

I have found quite a lot of curved, calcite plates in my samples. Some are loose and others in the matrix from my Waldron Shale, S.W. Indiana samples. 

They are often quite plain and I was thinking athyrid, but the athyrids in the Waldron Shale seem to have rather thin shells and these are quite thick and chunky. I still think athyrid is most likely. 

Other, quite similar bits seem to have tubercles or spine bases on them. Trilobits? Echinoderm? 

Another lumpy one :

Or be shaped like an echinoderm plate?

The reverse :

Any help greatly appreciated as always. 

Thank you looking! 

@Peat Burns

Someone mentioned that you know a bit about the Waldron? Any input, please, Tony, old chap? Or the brachiopods from this formation, I'm drowning in the dark here. 

Hi Adam,

 

I have some material from the Waldron of St. Paul, IN, but sadly, I've never been there.  I'm most familiar with the Silica Fm.  

 

I do have a large complete calyx of Eucalyptocrinus crassus.  Your smooth, thick, "pinkish-tan" plates do look consistent with that taxon, which, as you note, is common there.

 

Sorry I can't be of more help.

[Tidgy's Dad]

2 hours ago, Peat Burns said:

Hi Adam,

 

I have some material from the Waldron of St. Paul, IN, but sadly, I've never been there.  I'm most familiar with the Silica Fm.  

 

I do have a large complete calyx of Eucalyptocrinus crassus.  Your smooth, thick, "pinkish-tan" plates do look consistent with that taxon, which, as you note, is common there.

 

Sorry I can't be of more help.

That is of great help, Tony, my friend. 

It's terribly hard trying to identify pieces from a formation one has never visited and trying to compare bits in my hand with photos or descriptions online is difficult to say the least. 

Your input, as always, is most appreciated.  

[Peat Burns]

4 hours ago, Tidgy's Dad said:

That is of great help, Tony, my friend. 

It's terribly hard trying to identify pieces from a formation one has never visited and trying to compare bits in my hand with photos or descriptions online is difficult to say the least. 

Your input, as always, is most appreciated.  

Thank you, Adam.  Here is a picture of my Eucalyptocrinus crassus (there's also a Lyriocrinus melissa at the bottom of the block).