The Dry Dredgers ventured out on a cool but sunny autumn day to two road cuts near Alexandra, Kentucky. The first site exposed the upper Kope and lower Fairview formations, while the second site exposed the Kope formation.
Here are some pictures of the Dry Dredgers collecting fossils
on the first site.
Fossils Found at Site 1
As was true on our September field trip, a deposit of non-Ordovician fossils were found. This was probably a deliberate attempt by someone to seed the site with fossils for people to find, or perhaps they were just dropped inadvertently.
Among the non-Ordovician fossils found were this pair of
beautiful Phacops rana trilobites of the middle Devonian period,
probably from the state of New York
Another, which was probably innocently brought here by the
glaciers or road crews, is this polished piece of coral.
And yet another specimen found was clearly brought here by a
recent hominid.
Trilobites Found on Site 1
Flexicalymene
There was evidence of Flexiclaymene, such as
this glabella in great shape.
But the nicest find was this under side of a Flexi on the
surface of a rock.
Other evidence of Flexicalymene found was this excellent Rusophycus (burrow).
Quite a few molted parts of the larger trilobite, Isotelus were found too.
Trace Fossils
Diplocraterian
Other Trace Fossils
Straight Shelled Nautiloid Cephalopods
Clams
Brachiopods
Rafinesquina
Cincinnetina multisecta
Site 2
The second site exposed entirely the Kope Formation.
Fossils Found at Site 2
The most interesting find were black squiggles on Bryozoans
sometimes thought to be Sphenothallus
Trilobites:
As always, a few Flexicalymene trilobites were
found.
Also wre found the burrow of the trilobite Flexicalymene called a Rusophycus.
On this site, too, were found some straight shelled Nautiloid
Cephalopods.
Here are some Inarticulate Brachiopods found on a Bryozoan.
I think these are tiny clams, perhaps Cycloconcha,
inside a Cepaholopod.
Long Sowerbyella Brachipods with Diplocraterian Trace Fossils
Isotelus Tracks called Cruziana.
Gastropods
Among the gastropods found were Cyclonema.
And what appears to be Paupospira on the surface
of a rock.
Examination with a hand lens may revealed features that
indicate it may be a different gastropod.
Crinoids
Several fragments of crinoid calyxes were found (next two
photos).
A coiled stem was found that is probably a
holdfast.
Here's an interesting stem fragment that may be from
Anomalocrinus.
Most of the crinoid parts found were stems.
Bryozoans
Some interesting specimens of the bryozoan with the stellate
monicule were found. They are called Constellaria.
Many bryozoan varieties could be found on the surface of the
rocks.
Other Fossil Types Found on Site 2
Annelid Worm Tubes called Cornulites were found.
Slabs and nodules depicted hard grounds in the Kope's late
Ordovician times. These hard grounds provided the substrate for a large variety
of animals.
Not a fossil, was this row of insect larvae casings (recent)
that fooled us for a short white as we picked up fossils.
That's all we've got for this field trip.
Let's see our winter field trip to Miami University's Limper Museum.
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