Tag Archives: Devonian

Wooster’s Fossil of the Week: A tall brachiopod from the Devonian of western Russia

In the summer of 2009 I had a field adventure in Russia. It was an extraordinary time. I learned considerable amounts of Russian geology and paleontology, of course, and was immersed in the Russian geological culture. Along the way I … Continue reading

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Wooster’s Fossil of the Week: an upside-down nautiloid from the Devonian of Wisconsin

This lump of a fossil in Wooster’s teaching collection requires some explanation. It is not particularly well preserved, but it is our only representative of an interesting group of nautiloid cephalopods. The label that came with it says it is … Continue reading

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Wooster’s Fossils of the Week: A rugose coral and its encrusters from the Middle Devonian of New York

This week’s fossils were found on a most excellent field trip to the Niagara region of New York in August. One of our outcrops was a small patch of gravel in Bethany Center where the Centerfield Limestone Member of the … Continue reading

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Wooster’s Fossil of the Week: A mystery fossil for my Invertebrate Paleontology students

At the beginning of my Invertebrate Paleontology course I give each student a fossil to identify by whatever means necessary. I challenge them to take it down to the species level, and tell me its age and likely place of … Continue reading

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A day’s excursion into the Middle Devonian of western New York

LOCKPORT, NEW YORK (August 7, 2015) — Today Andrej Ernst and I were able to join Brian Bade and his friends on a collecting trip up Buffalo Creek in Erie County, New York. Our goal was simply to look for … Continue reading

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Wooster’s Fossil of the Week: A coiled nautiloid from the Middle Devonian of Ohio

The above fossil is a nautiloid cut in cross-section, showing the large body chamber at the bottom and behind it to the left and above the phragmocone, or chambered portion of the conch (shell). It is a species of Goldringia … Continue reading

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A Day in Stromness

STROMNESS, SCOTLAND (June 21, 2015) — I intended to explore the region around Stromness today as I waited for the late afternoon ferry to Thurso, but it rained continuously. Since I can’t afford to get my meager kit wet while … Continue reading

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Wooster’s Fossils of the Week: The mysterious Paleozoic encrusters Ascodictyon and Allonema

  The above pair of fossils are small sclerobionts commonly found on hard substrates in shallow marine sediments through much of the Paleozoic, especially the Silurian and Devonian. Paul Taylor and I have been studying them for a few years … Continue reading

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Wooster’s Fossils of the Week: Orthid brachiopods from the Middle Devonian of New York

On the first day of the Invertebrate Paleontology course at Wooster, I give all the students a fossil to identify as best they can. Everyone gets the same kind of specimen, and they can use any means to put as … Continue reading

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Wooster’s Fossil of the Week: An interlocking rugose and tabulate coral (Devonian of Michigan)

This beautifully polished fossil looks like half of an antique bowling ball. Normally I hate polished fossils because the external details have been erased, but in this case the smooth surface reveals details about the organisms and their relationship. We … Continue reading

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