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David Buzzeo | all galleries >> Thoughts >> Climate > Fossils
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Fossils

Here is a photography of a sample of shale from the Burgess Shale. If you look closely, you will see it is full of fragments of fossils. Most are too small to identify.

There are three larger fragments near the center of the image. On the large dark fragment, we can clearly see the ribs. This is typical of a Brachiopod or a Mollusc than an Arthropod, which includes the famous Class of Trilobite. Brachiopods and Molluscs have both existed since the Cambrian and are with us today. The smaller black fragment is similar to the larger fragment. My guess is that these are both Brachiopods.

Above and to the right of the dark fragments, is a light brown fragment. It also has clearly defined ribs. However, the wider triangular rib in the center which leads back the hinge of the creature is more typical of a Mollusc.

What Class, Order, Family, and Genus these creatures are, is far beyond my paleontological ability.


other sizes: small medium large original auto
globalgadabout21-Aug-2019 23:46
you did well to come away with such an intriguing shale lump...your explanation helps greatly in deciphering clues..
janescottcumming17-Feb-2019 16:05
That's a wonderful find!
Walter Otto Koenig28-Jan-2019 16:47
Fascinating find David. Thank you for your explanation.
Neil Marcus28-Jan-2019 03:04
An exciting find. I admire what you figured out.
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