This is a view of the rock itself with the largest coral on the right.
There was also a brachiopod shell (Strophodonta demissa I believe)that showed the typical rounded "blooms" of Beekite.
I decided that I wanted to dissolve the limestone rock in acid and free the Beekite preserved fossils to see if they were 3-D. After a few hours the large coral was free and very well preserved.
At first I thought it was a Cystiphyllum americanum but the calice details are wrong. In a Cystiphyllum there should be blisters present instead of septa.
The Brachiopod shell wound up being a single valve but part was missing and had probably broken off before I found the rock.
To my surprise there were a few more corals that had been in the block. Two normal looking, small Heliophyllum.
Specimen #1
Specimen #2
As well as this coral with a very contorted history of growth.
And finally this small colony of Favosites sp.
On the side of the colony was yet another small horn coral.
Overall there were six fossils that were preserved by Beekite within that small block of limestone. The next time I head up to East Bethany I am going to look for more limestone with Beekite preserved fossils. Who know what else I may find once I dissolve the rock?
those are beautiful! How do you recognize Beekite? Did you know it wasnt affected by acid prior to you dissolving the limestone?
ReplyDeleteJim, Thanks for the compliment. Beekite has a very recognizable shape that makes it look like a bulls eye. Look at the second picture on this post and you will see what I mean. Sometimes they will get puffy too so that they almost look like Cheerios. From experience I knew that Beekite is a variety of Quartz (like Chalcedony) and as such would not be affected by the muriatic acid I used.
ReplyDelete