Fossil and rock identification

ngruman

Quote by Evo

Notice the empty indentations? That's where yams fell out.

Normally, the fossils are the usual hard white substance. But I have found a large number of rocks recently where the fossils are of a soft, crumbly orange substance. These are all from this area, both the white and the orange. I'm wondering what the orange yam like fossils could be.

Here's an orange fossil of possibly a crinoid?

You have a trace fossil here called a worm burrow where a critter crawled through the carbonate mud and the void space that was left was then subsequently filled by sand that has been loosely cemented. Unfortunately, it isn't possible to tell exactly which sort of critter made the burrow; however, more questions could be answered if it was possible to tell which direction was stratigraphically "up".

Evo

Quote by ngruman

You have a trace fossil here called a worm burrow where a critter crawled through the carbonate mud and the void space that was left was then subsequently filled by sand that has been loosely cemented. Unfortunately, it isn't possible to tell exactly which sort of critter made the burrow; however, more questions could be answered if it was possible to tell which direction was stratigraphically "up".

This one is definitely a crinoid. I've found others that confirmed it.

Evo

Quote by ngruman

Your "swimming yams" look like rip-up clasts from some sort of flow - based on how they are aligned. Do you happen to know what the matrix is surrounding the yams? And what are the yams made out of?

I'll verify the rock they're in tomorrow. The yams look like clay.

dlgoff

Quote by Andre

Any progress? The bluish greenish hue may indicate copper. Have you considered bornite or maybe chalcite

I need a spectrometer Andre. I did a "flame test" with a propane torch directed on a small area of the edge; no change in flame color.

Andre

Quote by dlgoff

I need a spectrometer

I just happen to know that Lisab has one; working with it daily.

dlgoff

Quote by Andre

I just happen to know that Lisab has one; working with it daily.

Really? I would send the rock to her if she were interested. What a deal.

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