Submitted on 2008-02-25 by David Thompson

Location (approximate): Alpena, Alpena, MI

Strat unit: Traverse formation

Submitter notes: In the Genshaw formation there is a noted section containing these small inflated Athyris brachiopods along with small Atrypa species. There are thousands of these small brachiopods all of the same size and few showing any predatory borings or damage. Due to hydrocarbons in some nearby layers and the presence of water, they are a distinct and clear blue. Once dry, they are a flat gray. These were collected and are being kept in water to preserve the color which shows a bit in these photos.

Photo title: blue Athyris brachiopods from the 'blue beds'

Taxa present: Athyris lens

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Submitted on 2008-02-25 by David Thompson

Location (approximate): Alpena, Alpena, MI

Strat unit: Traverse formation

Submitter notes: Another view of these small brachiopods. Where these are found they are all about the same size but in a deep layer. Considering the numbers found at exposed sites,there must be millions of these brachiopods in the formation. It is staggering to wonder what was going on at this time whereby so many brachiopods of almost one size (and age?) lived and died preserved this way. These are things I wonder about and make collecting so fascinating.

Photo title: blue Athyris brachiopods from the 'blue beds'

Taxa present: Athyris lens

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Submitted on 2008-03-12 by David Thompson

Location (approximate): Jackson, Jackson, MI

Strat unit: Marshall formation

Submitter notes: This shows the more complex suturing of the amminoids compared to the nautiloids which are straight with simple rings. Unfortunately there is not too much of the fossil visible so identification is tentative. This is a typical example of the 'rusty' look of fossils in the Lower Marshall sandstone from th 'blue ridge esker' south of Jackson, MI

Photo title: Mississippian Amminoid from Lower Marshall Sandstone

Taxa present: Mercanites

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Submitted on 2008-03-12 by David Thompson

Location (approximate): Jackson, Jackson, MI

Strat unit: Marshall formation

Submitter notes: This is a full view of the specimen with the amminoid showing a number of different pelecypods including Palaeoneilo. Preservation is not as detailed as other matrix.

Photo title: Pelecypods from Mississippian Lower Marshall Sandstone

Taxa present: Mercanites , Palaeoneilo

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Submitted on 2008-03-12 by David Thompson

Location (approximate): Jackson, Jackson, MI

Strat unit: Marshall formation

Submitter notes: This is example of straight nautiloid from the Blue Ridge Esker south of Jackson along with a hash of pelecypods. In these photos a US 25 cent piece is used for scale.

Photo title: nautiloid from Lower Marshall Sandstone

Taxa present: Mooreoceras

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Submitted on 2008-03-12 by David Thompson

Location (approximate): Jackson, Jackson, MI

Strat unit: Marshall formation

Submitter notes: This is the reverse side of the previous example showing a gastropod (?) and a part of ammoniod (?) centered in this small block. This sandstone turns up in almost every parking lot in Michigan where cobble stones are used as fill around buildings. These were collected in the esker, however. A 25 cent piece for scale

Photo title: Gastropod from Mississippian Lower Marshall Sandstone

Taxa present: amminoid , gastropod

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Submitted on 2008-03-12 by David Thompson

Location (approximate): Grand Ledge, Eaton, MI

Strat unit: Saginaw formation

Submitter notes: This example is of an early, but now extinct 'seed fern,' or Pteridosperma. This was collected in the saginaw formation near Grand Ledge, MI at the Lincoln Brick Yard Park just north of the Grand River as were the other plant material shown here. All were collectred in the 1990's

Photo title: Early Pennsylvanian plants from the Saginaw formation at Grand Ledge, MI

Taxa present: Neuropteris tenuifolia

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Submitted on 2008-03-12 by David Thompson

Location (approximate): Grand Ledge, Eaton, MI

Strat unit: Saginaw formation

Submitter notes: This piece shows several stems and leaf parts in matrix but not enough for good identification as to taxon or species. This is how most of the plant materials appear

Photo title: Early Pennsylvanian plants from the Saginaw formation at Grand Ledge, MI

Taxa present: Plantae

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Submitted on 2008-03-12 by David Thompson

Location (approximate): Grand Ledge, Eaton, MI

Strat unit: Saginaw formation

Submitter notes: Here are several different examples of seed ferns (Pteridosperms) from the Grand ledge area. a US 25 cent piece is used for scale in all photos.

Photo title: Early Pennsylvanian plants from the Saginaw formation at Grand Ledge, MI

Taxa present: Neuropteris tenuifolia

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Submitted on 2008-03-12 by David Thompson

Location (approximate): Grand Ledge, Eaton, MI

Strat unit: Saginaw formation

Submitter notes: This strap-like leaf may be an example of Cordaitale which were common during this period in Michigan`but are also now extinct. Coin for scale.

Photo title: Pennsylvanian plant from the Saginaw formation at Grand Ledge, MI

Taxa present: Cordaites

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Submitted on 2008-03-12 by David Thompson

Location (approximate): Jackson, Jackson, MI

Strat unit: Marshall formation

Submitter notes: this is an example of the straight nautiloids from this formation in close up.

Photo title: Mississippian nautiloid from Lower Marshall Sandstone

Taxa present: Mooreoceras

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Submitted on 2008-05-11 by David Thompson

Location (approximate): Alpena, Alpena, MI

Strat unit: Potter Farm formation

Submitter notes: A complete coral head for the Spongophyllum alpenense species,similar to the famous 'Petoskey'stone,(Hexagonaria sp.) when these are water worn or polished. This is the natural fossil with unworn coralites as it was buried in sediment and preserved in detail.

Photo title: Spongophyllum alpenense, Coral head

Taxa present: Spongophyllum alpenense.

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Submitted on 2008-05-11 by David Thompson

Location (approximate): Alpena, Alpena, MI

Strat unit: Potter Farm formation

Submitter notes: This is a side view of the Spongophyllum alpenense

Photo title: Another view of same coral head

Taxa present: Spongophyllum alpenense.

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Submitted on 2008-05-11 by David Thompson

Location (approximate): Alpena, Alpena, MI

Strat unit: Potter Farm formation

Submitter notes: Closeup view of Spongophyllum alpenense coral showing detail of coralites. There are several Bryozoan colonies upon the same coral head. The coral is about 9'(22.8 cm) by 7' (17.7 cm) by 4 1/2' (11.4 cm) thick and weighs 8 1/2 lb or 3.85 Kg. This was removed from soft clay at the Potter Farm location in Alpena.

Photo title: Detail of coralites

Taxa present: Spongophyllum alpenense.

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Submitted on 2008-05-11 by David Thompson

Location (approximate): Alpena, Alpena, MI

Strat unit: Potter Farm formation

Submitter notes:

Photo title: very detailed view of coralites

Taxa present: Spongophyllum alpenense.

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Submitted on 2008-05-12 by David Thompson

Location (approximate): Alpena, Alpena, MI

Strat unit: Traverse formation

Submitter notes: This large branching coral colony was found in many pieces in the ditch near the cemetery in Alpena, MI This was painstakingly re-assembled and restored by Scott Vergiels of the 'Friends'

Photo title: A Branching Coral Colony

Taxa present: Cystiphylloides petoskeyenes (potterenes?)

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Submitted on 2008-05-12 by David Thompson

Location (approximate): Alpena, Alpena, MI

Strat unit: Potter Farm formation

Submitter notes: Another view of this large coral. The coral is 8'(20.5 cm)high by 9 1/2' (24. cm) wide. In the first view hand gives scale. In this a USA 25 cent piece is used.

Photo title: Another view of same branching coral,

Taxa present: Cystiphylloides petoskeyenes (potterenes?)

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Submitted on 2008-05-12 by David Thompson

Location (approximate): Alpena, Alpena, MI

Strat unit: Potter Farm formation

Submitter notes: This shows opening and internal structure of coral. This opening is 2' (5. cm) across.

Photo title: View of individual coralite,

Taxa present: Cystiphylloides petoskeyenes (potterenes?)

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Submitted on 2008-05-12 by David Thompson

Location (approximate): Milan, Washtenaw, MI

Strat unit: Silica formation

Submitter notes: This shows the opposite view of Strophodonta demissa with some small Bryozoan, Hederella concinnoides, growing on it.

Photo title: Opposite view of Brachiopod

Taxa present: Strophodonta demissa, Hederella concinnoides

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Submitted on 2008-05-13 by David Thompson

Location (approximate): Milan, Washtenaw, MI

Strat unit: Silica formation

Submitter notes: This series shows two species of Pelecypods from the Silica formation from several angles to show their structure but this is not too exciting to view. The Silica bivalves generally are casts or Steinkerns with little shell other then thin phosphatic layers and as such are overlooked. Here are two similar species distinguished mostly by size. The larger is nodocostata and the smaller is sylvaniensis. The smaller is 2' long by 1 1/4' wide (5 X 3 cm). The larger is 2 1/4' long by 2' wide by 1 1/2' high (5.5 X 5 x 3.5 cm).

Photo title: Silica Pelecypods

Taxa present: Grammysia sylvaniensis, Grammysia nodocostata

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