August 2024 - Finds of the Month Entries

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REMINDER: PLEASE carefully read ALL of the rules below.

Make sure you include all the required information, IN THE REQUESTED FORMAT (below) when you submit your fossil! 

If you have a question about a possible entry, please send me (or any staff) a PM.

Please pay special attention to Rule #5: 

Before and After Preparation Photos must be submitted for prepped specimens NOT  found during the Month of the Contest.

In addition to keeping the contest fair, this new qualification will encourage better documentation of our spectacular past finds.

Entries will be taken until 11:59:00 PM EDT on AUGUST 31, 2024

Any fossil submitted after that time, even if the topic is still open, will be deemed ineligible! 

 

Only entries posted with CLEAR photos and that meet the other guidelines will be placed into the Poll. 

Photos of the winning specimens may be posted to TFF's Facebook page.

 

Please let us know if you have any questions, and thanks for sharing more of your fossils and research this month.

 

Shortly after the end of the Month, separate Polls will be created for the Vertebrate and Invertebrate/Plant Find of the Month.

 

In addition to the fun of a contest, we also want to learn more about the fossils. 

Tell us more about your fossil, and why you think it is worthy of the honor. 

To view the Winning Fossils from past contests visit the Find Of The Month Winner's Gallery.

 

Now, go find your fossil, do your research, and make an entry!
Best of success to all, and good hunting!

 

***********************************

Rules for The Fossil Forum's Vertebrate and Invertebrate/Plant Find of the Month Contests

1. Find a great Vertebrate Fossil or Invertebrate/Plant Fossil! Only fossils found personally by you are allowed. NO PURCHASED FOSSILS.
2. Post your entry in the Find of the Month topic. Use a separate post for each entry. (Only two entries per member per contest category.)
3. Your fossil must have been found during the Month of the Contest, or Significant Preparation * of your fossil must have been completed during the Month of the Contest.
4. You must include the Date of Discovery (when found in the contest month); or the Date of Preparation Completion and Date of Discovery (if not found in the contest month).
5. Before and After Preparation photos must be submitted for prepped specimens not found during the Month of the Contest. Please make sure you arrange for photos if someone else is preparing your fossil find, and completes the MAJORITY of prep in the contest month. Pre-Prep Photos need to be dated with the start of the month date, and then finished prep date must be supplied.  Entries not including this information/photos will be disqualified.
6. You must include the Common and/or Scientific Name.
7. You must include the Geologic Age or Geologic Formation where the fossil was found.
8. You must include the State, Province, or region where the fossil was found.
9. You must include CLEAR, cropped, well-lit images (maximum 4 images). If you are proud enough of your fossil to submit it for FOTM, spend some time to take good photos to show off your fossil.
10. Play fair and honest. No bought fossils. No false claims.

 

* Significant Preparation = Substantial work to reveal and/or repair important diagnostic features, resulting in a dramatic change in the look of the fossil. The qualification of Significant Preparation is decided at the discretion of staff. Any doubts as to the eligibility of the entry will be discussed directly with the entrant.

 

PLEASE READ AND UNDERSTAND THE RULES BEFORE YOU POST!!!

IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, PLEASE CONTACT A MOD OR ADMIN.
ENTRIES NOT FOLLOWING THE REQUESTED FORMAT WILL BE ELIMINATED FROM THE CONTEST!!

 

******* Please use the following format for the required information: *******

 

Information about your find. A short paragraph or sentence or two about why it should be fossil of the month.

Rarity, completeness, beauty, etc.

 

 

• Date of Discovery  [month, day, year]

• Preparation Completion Date (if prepped) [month, day, year]

• Scientific and/or Common Name

• Geologic Formation and/or Geologic Age

• State, Province, or Region Found

• Photos of Find  (Please limit to 4 clear, cropped, and well-lit images.) (If prepped, before and after photos are required, please.)

[Fossildude19]

 

 

For the sake of adhering to the rules, finds will have to be approved, before being seen by the membership at large.

They will be approved as the mods/admins have time to check for proper formatting, identification,  prep dates, etc.

READ THE RULES CAREFULLY!

 

ANY ENTRIES NOT FOLLOWING THE REQUESTED FORMAT or PROVIDING NEEDED DETAILS WILL BE DISQUALIFIED!!!

[Brian James Maguire]

I would like to submit this specimen for consideration for the rarity of preservation of the Brachidium a skeletal spiral structural support for the Lophophore, The specimen has excellent preservation of this internal structure giving a window into the internal workings of an often overlooked but fascinating creature, the Brachiopod. 

 

• Date of Discovery: 8-1-2024

• Preparation Completion Date: 8-8-2024

• Scientific and/or Common Name: Spiriferid Brachiopod with exposed Brachidium

• Geologic Formation and/or Geologic Age: Malahide formation 

• State, Province, or Region Found: Dublin, Ireland

 

[AK hiker]

We could not have a better day to be out hiking after several heavy rain events got out in the field to find this freshly exposed beauty

 

 

 

• Date of Discovery: August 4, 2024

• Scientific and/or Common Name: Pachydiscus sp.

• Geologic Formation and/or Geologic Age: Cretaceous, Matanuska Formation

• State, Province, or Region Found: Talkeetna Mountains, Alaska, USA

 

 

56.5 pounds

 

 

 

The area has been very active tectonically evident by the fused fractures in the specimen.

[C2fossils]

I found what is probably my best specimen so far, a Bone Disease (probably arthritis) fused Ocodelius Virginianus lumbar vertebrae.

 

 

 

• Date of Discovery: August 4, 2024

• Scientific and/or Common Name: Ocodelius Virginianus

• Geologic Formation and/or Geologic Age: Glacial Deposits

• State, Province, or Region Found: Eastern Kansas, U.S.A.

 

[Collector9658]

A bit disappointing. I tried to rescue what I could, but the rock was fractured in so many ways.

One cheek is slightly dis-articulated, but it was still nice to find what was once a nice bug.

 

 

• Date of Discovery: August 16, 2024
• Scientific and/or Common Name: Ameura missouriensis 
• Geologic Formation and/or Geologic Age: Pennsylvanian, Winterset Limestone 
• State, Province, or Region Found: Kansas City area, Missouri

 

 

 

 

[Fossildude19]

Still a nice bug if you ask me, Jay! 

Many of us would be happy with something as rare as this.

 

 

[Dean Ruocco]

Last week I was blessed with the discovery of a beautiful Eldredgeops rana from the Mahantango formation, so I thought I’d submit it for FOTM!

• Date of Discovery: August 10, 2024

• Preparation Completion Date: August 16, 2024
• Scientific and/or Common Name: Eldredgeops rana 
• Geologic Formation and/or Geologic Age: Middle Devonian, Mahatango Formation. 
• State, Province, or Region Found: Montour Preserve Pennsylvania.

[Jaybot]

5 hours ago, Collector9658 said:

A bit disappointing. I tried to rescue what I could, but the rock was fractured in so many ways.

One cheek is slightly dis-articulated, but it was still nice to find what was once a nice bug.

 

 

• Date of Discovery: August 16, 2024
• Scientific and/or Common Name: Ameura missouriensis 
• Geologic Formation and/or Geologic Age: Pennsylvanian, Winterset Limestone 
• State, Province, or Region Found: Kansas City area, Missouri

 

 

 

 

Rare find still!  I've been also looking for trilos in the KC metro for over a year, and have only found partial pygidiums.  From what I've read, trilobites in general are pretty rare in this region.  Thought I'd share this for those not familiar with the KC trilobite rarity situation

[Thomas1982]

12 hours ago, Dean Ruocco said:

Last week I was blessed with the discovery of a beautiful Eldredgeops rana from the Mahantango formation, so I thought I’d submit it for FOTM!

• Date of Discovery: August 10, 2024

• Preparation Completion Date: August 16, 2024
• Scientific and/or Common Name: Eldredgeops rana 
• Geologic Formation and/or Geologic Age: Middle Devonian, Mahatango Formation. 
• State, Province, or Region Found: Montour Preserve Pennsylvania.

 

 

Sweet find!  My daughter who has very particular taste in trilobites would absolutely love this one!!

[Fin Lover]

I'd like to submit the dolphin skeleton I found earlier this week.  I'm not sure when it will be prepped, so I'm submitting it in situ.

If you want to read more about the excavation, visit the Charleston Center for Paleontology's Facebook page about it.

 

There's also one news story that has aired so far (two more coming!)

 

 

 

Date of Discovery: 8/14/24

Scientific and/or Common Name:  Dolphin  (Presumably Xenorophus sloanii, but that could change once the skull is prepped.)

Geologic Formation and/or Geologic Age: Oligocene (Ashley Formation)

State, Province, or Region Found: Summerville, SC

 

Skull (upside down), including mandibles with teeth, and a few verts in the closest block. 

Row of articulated verts and some ribs in the middle block.  Back block contains ribs.

 

 

Row of articulated verts

 

 

When still underwater.  Skull in the bottom middle, some verts on the left,

and part of the line of tail verts closer to the top of the picture

 

 

So far, they have identified at least 37 vertebrae, 8 ribs, and a skull with teeth.  

 

 

Edited August 19 by Fin Lover

[BobWill]

Not a cat! This little starfish ossicle came from the Pennsylvanian of Texas. I don't recall seeing many micro-fossils here so it's time to offer one up. It came from a bulk sample taken from a new site we got to explore a couple of weeks ago. I've heard there is current research into IDs for asteroids from these deposits but for now I can't give it a full name. Millimeter scale in 1st image.

 

Date of discovery: bulk sample collected August 5, 2024

Preparation: culled from bulk sample August 17, 2024

Scientific or common name: Asteroid terminal ossicle

Geologic Formation: Finis Shale member of the Graham Formation, Late Pennsylvanian Sub-period

State, Province, or Region Found: near Jacksboro, Texas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[LiamL]

 

 

Date of discovery: 8/16/2024

Preparation Completion : 19 August

Scientific or common name: Steneosaurus sp. crocodile vertebrae

Geologic Formation: Falciferum Zone - Lower Jurassic

State, Province, or Region Found:  Yorkshire Coast, England, Port Mulgrave

 

As Found

 

 

After Prepwork

 

[fossilus]

Heat index was like 115F, and at 68 my wife had a fit that I went out kayaking by myself, but this is what I found:

 

Date of discovery - August 19, 2024

Preparation - still being stabilized and cleaned, skull is disarticulated and may be difficult to reassemble.

Scientific name- Bison latifrons- horn core and partial skull.

Geologic formation- Beaumont formation

State, province or region - SE Texas

 

In 30+ years hunting this river this is first horn core from one of these I've found.  Note 12 inch scale on bottom photo. Maximum circumference is 421mm,  16.5 inches, length along curve is 895mm, 35 inches.

Edited August 25 by fossilus

[BobWill]

Thanks to whoever cleaned up my photos. Someday I'll have better equipment and better skills to use it

[Fossildude19]

10 minutes ago, BobWill said:

Thanks to whoever cleaned up my photos. Someday I'll have better equipment and better skills to use it

[Brevicollis]

Hello, I think I've found something that could compete here. This small lovely, not very common species, sea urchin, with a ambulatory system preservation, I've never found before on any sea urchin I've found til now 

 

 

Date of discovery : August 27, 2024

Scientific name : Sea Urchin, Brissopneustes danicus flint Steinkern

Geologic formation and/or age : Mönsted Kalkgruber, Maastrichtium, 69 mio years.

State, province, or region : Midtjylland, Denmark.

 

[Alex S.]

I thought I'd submit this because I've never posted before and think that it is a beautiful and less common cystoid from the Spence shale.

 

Date of discovery: August 5th, 2024

Date of preparation: August 27th, 2024

Scientific name: cystoid, Gogia palmeri?

Geologic formation/ and or age: Spence shale, middle Cambrian, 506-505 million years old

State, province, or region: Richmond, Utah

 

[Sonickmonx]

I am submitting my dolphin skeleton I discovered earlier this month during hurricane Debbie. A double dolphin FOTM - that’s surely a first!  This is my first dolphin and it’s a doozy!  

 

 

I found it initially as a couple ribs and vertebrae in a washout. I managed to follow them to a total of 36 vertebrae and the skull. I also found a lot of rib fragments and both tympanic bulla ear bones. I have a few dozen other bones I have to figure out where they go. I have spent a lot of time prepping it this month and am satisfied enough to post it for FOTM. I have a professional very interested in it and it has already been promised to him. He is pretty confident it’s a new species which is super exciting!  Pleistocene whales and dolphins from this area are really uncommon, which adds to the excitement and importance of this specimen!

 

 

 

Date of Discovery: 8/6/24

Scientific and/or Common Name: Dolphin - the genus and species is unknown, a professional feels there’s a high likelihood of being a new species

Geologic Formation and/or Geologic Age: Pleistocene - Penholoway Formation

State, Province, or Region Found: Summerville, SC