Lower Carboniferous Microfossils

Tom has been working on some recent finds....

The flooded quarry on Aughertree Fell.

The quarry looking over Skiddaw.

The quarry is dominantly limestone, with clay rich limestone and shale bands, which are highly fossiliferous. These beds contain a variety of macro-fossils falling out of the matrix, providing a rare insight to the Lower Carboniferous (Mississippian).

Bryozoa and a bivalve shell macrofossils eroding out of shale.

Many of the fossils are well preserved but some of the larger specimens are highly dis-articulated, with some deformation of thin specimens, specifically bivalves. 

Dis-articulated crinoid stem with 1/2" cold chisel for scale.

After searching by eye for macrofossils, panning can reveal microfossils. Through brushing the eroded shale and micaceous limestone into the pan and washing the majority of the clay out, the fossils can be collected. This grit is best collected from outwashes such as runnels and slopes.

Gold panning the eroded shale and micaceous limestone.

After drying the matrix, then the tedious job of sorting through it begins, under a microscope. This is done through getting a half a teaspoon of matrix, spreading it out and separating the micro-fossils from the matrix. While the majority of fossils are crinoidal, there is a wealth of biodiversity. 

Microfossils with pin for scale.

Microfossils with pin for scale.

Ostracods.

More microfossils.

Microfossils, including gastropods, bivalves, crinoid fragments, bryozoa, ostracods and echinoid spine fragments.

A work in progress guide to the microfossils: 

A guide to microfossils (not including scale) (a work in progress).