diggerdan Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 I want to thank everyone for the help I have been getting with my fossil Ids. It is nice to find so many people who share my interest in fossiling, and thanks for the warm welcome to the site. (Oh I almost forgot what the heck is this) Dan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hybodus Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 Fossil coral - not sure where in Tn you found it - but many Silurian - Devonian outcrops in the state.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kauffy Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 some type of colonial coral....very cool!!!!!! :lol: "Turn the fear of the unknown into the excitment of possibility!"We dont stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kauffy Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 i have ones from the missisipian, not sure if they are the same, mine are a bit worn but very similar structure and shape.... "Turn the fear of the unknown into the excitment of possibility!"We dont stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest solius symbiosus Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 If it is from the Miss, I would guess Lithostrotionella Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diggerdan Posted January 22, 2008 Author Share Posted January 22, 2008 It came from NE middle Tn. up on the Cumberland Plateau it measures 12x8 in. I found it on the surface. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest solius symbiosus Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 I think my original guess is correct. Lithostrotionella is a common Tabulate of the lower Carboniferous. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jkfoam Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 Solius, I agree the specimen is Lithostrotionella, but I think Lithostrotionella is a Rugose coral and not a Tabulata. See Moore, Lalicker and Fischer, Invervebrate Fossils, page 132. JKFoam The Eocene is my favorite Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members geofossil Posted January 22, 2008 Members Share Posted January 22, 2008 The above postings are correct and it's a colonial rugose coral. The term 'Lithostrotionella' was revised in the early 1980's by Bill Sando ( I did some work for him) and reassigned into other genera such as Stelechophylum, Kleopatrina, etc. The revisions are avilable in the Journal of Paleontology (available at university librairies). Re: a referral by jkfoam above. I heartlily endorse any fossil nut getting a copy of the the book jkfoam recommends: Invervebrate Fossils by Moore, Lalicker and Fischer This is the 'bible' geology students used for a couple of decades. It's an excellent textbook but, even more important, it is the foundation book what many geologists use. It's not so much 'the best' book (although i think it is) as much as it is 'the' book. Think of it as the equivalent of Microsoft in operating systems...one could argue there are better systems but you need to know M.S. to have conversations with fellow computer geeks. The book has been around a long time and there should be plenty of used copies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Pristis Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 The above postings are correct and it's a colonial rugose coral. The term 'Lithostrotionella' was revised in the early 1980's by Bill Sando ( I did some work for him) and reassigned into other genera such as Stelechophylum, Kleopatrina, etc. The revisions are avilable in the Journal of Paleontology (available at university librairies). <snip> I've thought of this "door-stop" specimen as Hexagonaria or Prismatophyllum (another rugose colonial coral) until I saw this thread. Does this appear to be Lithotrotionella? I have no collecting data. ----Harry Pristis http://pristis.wix.com/the-demijohn-page What seest thou else In the dark backward and abysm of time? ---Shakespeare, The Tempest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diggerdan Posted January 22, 2008 Author Share Posted January 22, 2008 I've thought of this "door-stop" specimen as Hexagonaria or Prismatophyllum (another rugose colonial coral) until I saw this thread. Does this appear to be Lithotrotionella? I have no collecting data.----Harry Pristis Yours looks much better than mine can you give me some suggestions on cleaning off the dirt and mold. Thanks...Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jkfoam Posted January 23, 2008 Share Posted January 23, 2008 Harry, To me the biggest visual difference between the Genus Hexagonaria and Lithostrotionella is that Hexagonaria lacks a sharp upward projection (Axial boss) in the center of the corallite. The specimen you pictured shows the upward projection and I would call it Lithostrotionella. Also to consider is the geologic horizon where your specimen was found. Hexagonaria is mainly a Devonian fossil while Lithostrotionella is Mississippian JKFoam The Eocene is my favorite Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hybodus Posted January 23, 2008 Share Posted January 23, 2008 So... NE TN, then likely not Mississippian, and most likely Devonian. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Pristis Posted January 23, 2008 Share Posted January 23, 2008 Harry,To me the biggest visual difference between the Genus Hexagonaria and Lithostrotionella is that Hexagonaria lacks a sharp upward projection (Axial boss) in the center of the corallite. The specimen you pictured shows the upward projection and I would call it Lithostrotionella. Also to consider is the geologic horizon where your specimen was found. Hexagonaria is mainly a Devonian fossil while Lithostrotionella is Mississippian JKFoam Thank you, jkfoam! Dan . . . You could use a pressure-washer (at a low setting) to clean up your coral. You do run the risk to blowing it to smithereens if there are unseen fissures. An air-abrasive machine is the preferred clean-up tool. ---------Harry Pristis http://pristis.wix.com/the-demijohn-page What seest thou else In the dark backward and abysm of time? ---Shakespeare, The Tempest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest solius symbiosus Posted January 23, 2008 Share Posted January 23, 2008 The Appalachian Plateau is Carboniferous. Some of the thrusts on the eastern side have pushed up some other stuff, but I'm not that familiar with the Geology of that area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hybodus Posted January 23, 2008 Share Posted January 23, 2008 Right on! The Cumberland is a little strange because exposures can range from Silurian - Mississippian. Sorry Dan - you would have to be more specific in the collecting location to nail down probable age and species Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diggerdan Posted January 23, 2008 Author Share Posted January 23, 2008 The piece came from a hilltop in Clay Co. near Celina it was on the surface. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest solius symbiosus Posted January 23, 2008 Share Posted January 23, 2008 From the map, it looks like Clay Co has every thing from Ord to Miss, but since it came from a hill top, I would assume Miss. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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