Queenston Quarry , Near Niagara Falls On

[Fossildude19]

Peter,

As somebody famous once said, "There are no coincidences!"

Glad you had an amazing trip. Congratulations!

Once again, a great detailed report, full of information, and great pics/finds!

Well done! Best of luck for future hunts!

Best regards,

[pleecan]

Thanks very much Tim for your encouraging comments!

Peter

[pleecan]

Well here is an update from the ROM on the finds.... there are no eurypterids in the photos......

"As for the fossil photos, I'm pretty sure that there are no eurypterids represented. The larger "complete but weathered eurypterid about 4" long" looks very suspect - more like organic (degraded bitumen) staining than anything else. The "2 segments" are almost certainly a trilobite thoracic axial ring, and I strongly suspect the "tail section" is the axial portion of a trilobite pygidium. Of course, all this is speculation without being able to see the actual specimens"... and I was so sure that these were infact eurypterid in origin having found eurypterids in a quarry some 45 minutes drive south of here in the Bertie Formation.

Some Geology of the Quarry:

"On the stratigraphy of the Queenston quarry complex, you're basically dealing with 4 more or less discrete units of what used to be called "Middle" Silurian age (= Wenlockian). These are, in ascending order:

Rochester Formation (approx. 2.5 m of shaly dolostones/dolomitic shales) Decew Formation (approx. 1.5 m of dolostone) Gasport Member of the Lockport Fm (approx. 5 m of crinoidal dolostone) Goat Island Member of the Lockport Fm (approx. 0.75 m chert bearing dolostone)

There is considerable lateral variation in exposure, thickness, and detailed liithology of these units as you move from quarry section to quarry section, so it would be hard for me to tell exactly where you were, even with the excellent site photos and descriptions. If you're looking for useful references, try to track down copies of "Limestone Industries of Ontario - Volume III" published by the Ministry of Natural Resources and the old Ministry of Northern Development and Mines in 1989, and "Sedimentology and Depositional Environments of Silurian Strata of the Niagara Escarpment, Ontario and New York - Field Trip Guidebook B4" (R.J. Cheel, Editor) published by the Geological Association of Canada in 1991. "

I still will continue to look for eurypterids on my next visit.

PL

Edited October 26, 2010 by pleecan

[Fossildude19]

Sorry to hear the disappointing news!

But, I know you will persevere, and come across something wonderful next trip out!

That graptolite fossil alone is worth the small disappointment - very cool!

I think you are on the right track Peter. Next time the eurypterids will reveal themselves!

Regards,

[pleecan]

Thanks for the comments Tim... yes the Graphtolite is a real prize! I generally do't see much fossils in the dolostone... just mainly blank rock... I always have fun exploring new quarries.... there is one unknown that is intriguing that the ROM is scratching their heads... the fossil is carbonized on dolostone see link

http://www.thefossilforum.com/index.php/topic/16415-silurian-unknown-from-queenston-quarry-on/

I just emailed the ROM a set of pics last night taken with a microscope objective .... bilateral symmetry... and I think there are 2 bumps that look like eyes....

Peter