July 31, 2005 - Pennsylvanian Fossils, Walker Co, AL
BPS
members visited a new site this month in Walker
county.
A starfish had been
discovered on the scouting trip, so the group was hoping to find more
specimens. This roadcut exposed Pennsylvanian shale which
contained a small amount of plant material, including impressions and
casts, and a layer containing several nice slabs of starfish
casts, vertebrate tracks, and fish fin markings. The
starfish
are a type of echinoderm, and are in the
class Asteroidea.
We
surveyed a large portion of the cut, but only found the starfish in one
small area.
One of the more interesting finds of the day was a young kitten, living in a cave in the wall. It had apparently not eaten in quite a while, as it was nothing but a pile of bones. Several members fed her, and this friendly, loving little kitten now has a good home with Jan and Greg.
(Pictures courtesy Steve Corvin and Vicki Lais.)
![making fossil collecting plans](/system/files/images/05_jul_vl_group66.jpg)
Looking over the site, trying to decide where to start.
![hunting fossils in road cut](/system/files/images/05_jul_vl_group67.jpg)
One of the more interesting finds of the day was a young kitten, living in a cave in the wall. It had apparently not eaten in quite a while, as it was nothing but a pile of bones. Several members fed her, and this friendly, loving little kitten now has a good home with Jan and Greg.
(Pictures courtesy Steve Corvin and Vicki Lais.)
![making fossil collecting plans](/system/files/images/05_jul_vl_group66.jpg)
Looking over the site, trying to decide where to start.
![hunting fossils in road cut](/system/files/images/05_jul_vl_group67.jpg)
![Calamites rhizome](/system/files/images/05_jul_vl_bark94.jpg)
Calamites rhizome (root) showing distinctive round structures that "could" become new shoots.
![Calamites stem section](/system/files/images/05_jul_vl_calamites89.jpg)
Calamites stem section - this is the part that would have been above ground, and looks similar to today's bamboo.
Steve found this shale slab containing 2 very clear starfish on the
scouting trip.
![fossil starfish](/system/files/images/05_jul_sc_starfish24.jpg)
A closer look.
![hunting fossils in road cut](/system/files/images/05_jul_vl_lea68.jpg)
Lea digging through the rubble.
![fossil calamites](/system/files/images/05_jul_vl_calamites73.jpg)
Calamites - an impression and an inside mold.
![showing off fossil starfish](/system/files/images/05_jul_vl_leaStarfish77.jpg)
Lea found a slab with a nice starfish cast.
![fossil starfish](/system/files/images/05_jul_vl_leaStarfish77a.jpg)
A closer look at Lea's starfish.
![trace fossils](/system/files/images/05_jul_vl_raindrops72.jpg)
Possible raindrops and other trace fossils. Many of the fossil finds at this site were impressions on boulders too large to carry home.
![lepidodendrum and calamites](/system/files/images/05_jul_vl_smalls79.jpg)
These are impressions of lepidodendrum and calamites.
![starfish slab](/system/files/images/05_jul_vl_starfish75.jpg)
Bill found this slab of shale with several starfish impressions. He graciously allowed Greg to break it apart and shared it with other members.
![starfish slab](/system/files/images/05_jul_vl_starfish76.jpg)
A closer view of the slab. There are at least 6 starfish on this slab.
![Bill found fossil starfish](/system/files/images/05_jul_vl_billStarfish81b2.jpg)
Bill found the large slab containing several starfish. This is the piece he kept. Thanks for sharing such a wonderful find, Bill!
![fossil starfish](/system/files/images/05_jul_vl_billStarfish80.jpg)
A closer view.
![fossil plant markings](/system/files/images/05_jul_vl_stems74.jpg)
More plant impression fragments.
![Paige with new kitten friend](/system/files/images/05_jul_vl_cat83.jpg)
We found this newest member living in a cave in the rocks (the kitten, if you had to ask!), and nothing but skin and bones. We fed her and made a friend for life - Jan and Greg took her home to live with them.
![fossil starfish](/system/files/images/05_jul_sc_starfish24.jpg)
A closer look.
![hunting fossils in road cut](/system/files/images/05_jul_vl_lea68.jpg)
Lea digging through the rubble.
![fossil calamites](/system/files/images/05_jul_vl_calamites73.jpg)
Calamites - an impression and an inside mold.
![showing off fossil starfish](/system/files/images/05_jul_vl_leaStarfish77.jpg)
Lea found a slab with a nice starfish cast.
![fossil starfish](/system/files/images/05_jul_vl_leaStarfish77a.jpg)
A closer look at Lea's starfish.
![trace fossils](/system/files/images/05_jul_vl_raindrops72.jpg)
Possible raindrops and other trace fossils. Many of the fossil finds at this site were impressions on boulders too large to carry home.
![lepidodendrum and calamites](/system/files/images/05_jul_vl_smalls79.jpg)
These are impressions of lepidodendrum and calamites.
![starfish slab](/system/files/images/05_jul_vl_starfish75.jpg)
Bill found this slab of shale with several starfish impressions. He graciously allowed Greg to break it apart and shared it with other members.
![starfish slab](/system/files/images/05_jul_vl_starfish76.jpg)
A closer view of the slab. There are at least 6 starfish on this slab.
![Bill found fossil starfish](/system/files/images/05_jul_vl_billStarfish81b2.jpg)
Bill found the large slab containing several starfish. This is the piece he kept. Thanks for sharing such a wonderful find, Bill!
![fossil starfish](/system/files/images/05_jul_vl_billStarfish80.jpg)
A closer view.
![fossil plant markings](/system/files/images/05_jul_vl_stems74.jpg)
More plant impression fragments.
![Paige with new kitten friend](/system/files/images/05_jul_vl_cat83.jpg)
We found this newest member living in a cave in the rocks (the kitten, if you had to ask!), and nothing but skin and bones. We fed her and made a friend for life - Jan and Greg took her home to live with them.