Texas Fossils: An Amateur Collector's Handbook - free ebook by William Henry Matthews

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Texas Fossils: An Amateur Collector's Handbook

William Henry Matthews

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TEXAS FOSSILS: An Amateur Collector’s Handbook

TEXAS FOSSILS: An Amateur Collector’s Handbook

By William H. Matthews III November 1960 Second Printing, July 1963 Third Printing, August 1967 Fourth Printing, June 1971 Fifth Printing, November 1973 Sixth Printing, April 1976 Seventh Printing, November 1978 Eighth Printing, September 1981 Ninth Printing, August 1984...

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INTRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION

Almost everyone has seen the fossilized remains of prehistoric plants or animals. These might have been the skeleton of a gigantic dinosaur, the petrified trunk of an ancient tree, or the shells of snails or oysters that lived in the great seas that covered Texas millions of years ago. Each year more and more people are learning that these fossils are more than mere curiosities. Instead, they are realizing that a good collection of fossils provides much information about the early history of our

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WHAT ARE FOSSILS?

WHAT ARE FOSSILS?

Fossils are the remains or evidence of ancient plants or animals that have been preserved in the rocks of the earth’s crust. Most fossils represent the preservable hard parts of some prehistoric organism that once lived in the area in which the remains were collected. The word fossil is derived from the Latin word fossilis , meaning “dug up,” and for many years any unusual object dug out of the ground was considered to be a “fossil.” For this reason some of the earlier books dealing with fossils

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Paleobotany

Paleobotany

Paleobotany deals with the study of fossil plants and the record of the changes which they have undergone....

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Invertebrate Paleontology

Invertebrate Paleontology

This is the study of fossil animals without a backbone or spinal column. These include such forms as fossil protozoans (tiny one-celled animals), snails, clams, starfish, and worms, and usually represent the remains of animals that lived in prehistoric seas. Because invertebrate remains are the most common fossils in Texas, this book is devoted largely to the discussion of invertebrate fossils and their method of collection....

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Vertebrate Paleontology

Vertebrate Paleontology

The vertebrate paleontologist studies the fossils of animals which possessed a backbone or spinal column. The remains of fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals are typical vertebrate fossils....

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Micropaleontology

Micropaleontology

Micropaleontology is the study of fossils that are so small that they are best studied under a microscope. These tiny remains are called microfossils and usually represent the shells or fragments of minute plants or animals. Because of their small size, microfossils can be brought out of wells without being damaged by the mechanics of drilling or coring. For this reason microfossils are particularly valuable to the petroleum geologist who uses them to identify rock formations thousands of feet b

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REQUIREMENTS OF FOSSILIZATION

REQUIREMENTS OF FOSSILIZATION

Although a large number of factors ultimately determine whether an organism will be fossilized, the three basic requirements are: 1. The organism should possess hard parts. These might be shell, bone, teeth, or the woody tissue of plants. However, under very favorable conditions of preservation it is possible for even such fragile material as an insect or a jellyfish to become fossilized. 2. The organic remains must escape immediate destruction after death. If the body parts of an organism are c

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MISSING PAGES IN THE RECORD

MISSING PAGES IN THE RECORD

Although untold numbers of organisms have lived on the earth in past ages, only a minute fraction of these have left any record of their existence. Even if the basic requirements of fossilization have been fulfilled, there are still other reasons why some fossils may never be found. For example, large numbers of fossils have been destroyed by erosion or their hard parts have been dissolved by underground waters. Others were entombed in rocks that were later subjected to great physical change, an

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ORIGINAL SOFT PARTS OF ORGANISMS

ORIGINAL SOFT PARTS OF ORGANISMS

This type of fossil is formed only under very special conditions of preservation. To be preserved in this manner, the organism must be buried in a medium capable of retarding decomposition of the soft parts. Materials that have been known to produce this type of fossilization are frozen soil or ice, oil-saturated soils, and amber (fossil resin). It is also possible for organic remains to become so desiccated that a natural mummy is formed. This usually occurs only in arid or desert regions and w

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ORIGINAL HARD PARTS OF ORGANISMS

ORIGINAL HARD PARTS OF ORGANISMS

Almost all plants and animals possess some type of hard parts which are capable of becoming fossilized. Such hard parts may consist of the shell material of clams, oysters, or snails, the teeth or bones of vertebrates, the exoskeletons of crabs, or the woody tissue of plants. These hard parts are composed of various minerals which are capable of resisting weathering and chemical action, and fossils of this sort are relatively common. Many of the fossil mollusks found in the Tertiary and Cretaceo

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ALTERED HARD PARTS OF ORGANISMS

ALTERED HARD PARTS OF ORGANISMS

The original hard parts of an organism normally undergo great change after burial. These changes take place in many ways, but the type of alteration is usually determined by the composition of the hard parts and where the organism lived. Some of the more common processes of alteration are discussed below. This process, known also as distillation takes place as organic matter slowly decays after burial. During the process of decomposition, the organic matter gradually loses its gases and liquids

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TRACES OF ORGANISMS

TRACES OF ORGANISMS

Fossils consist not only of plant and animal remains but of any evidence of their existence. In this type of fossilization there is no direct evidence of the original organism, rather there is some definite indication of the former presence of some ancient plant or animal. Objects of this sort normally furnish considerable information as to the identity or characteristics of the organism responsible for them. Many shells, bones, leaves, and other forms of organic matter are preserved as molds an

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PSEUDOFOSSILS

PSEUDOFOSSILS

Among the many inorganic objects formed by nature there are some that bear superficial resemblance to plants or animals. Because they are often mistaken for organic remains, these objects have been called pseudofossils , or “false fossils.” Fig. 3. Dendrites. These thin branching mineral deposits bear a marked resemblance to plants, hence they are called pseudofossils. Although these closely resemble the remains of ferns or other plant material ( fig. 3 ), dendrites are actually thin incrustatio

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COLLECTING EQUIPMENT

COLLECTING EQUIPMENT

Fossil collecting is a relatively inexpensive hobby because it requires a minimum of supplies and equipment. However, as in almost any hobby, there are certain basic items of equipment that must be acquired. The hammer is the basic tool in the collector’s kit. Almost any type of hammer is satisfactory, but as collecting experience is gained it may be desirable to get a geologist’s hammer. These hammers, also called mineralogist’s or prospector’s picks, are of two types. One type has a square hea

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WHERE TO LOOK

WHERE TO LOOK

Knowing where to look for fossils is a very important part of fossil collecting. It has already been pointed out that igneous and metamorphic rocks are not likely to be fossiliferous , but that most fossils are found in marine sedimentary rocks. These sediments were deposited under conditions that were favorable for organisms during life and which facilitated preservation after death. Limestones, limy shales, and certain types of sandstones are typically deposited under such conditions. One shou

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HOW TO COLLECT

HOW TO COLLECT

When a likely collecting spot has been located, the ground should be examined very carefully to see if there are any rock fragments which contain pieces of shell or the imprints of leaves or other organisms. If the fossils have been freed by weathering, they can be easily picked up and placed in the bag. Many times, however, it will be necessary to take the hammer and very carefully remove the surrounding rock . Smaller specimens may be more safely freed with the careful use of the proper size c

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CLEANING AND PREPARATION OF FOSSILS

CLEANING AND PREPARATION OF FOSSILS

It is usually necessary to do the final cleaning and preparation of fossils at home or in the laboratory, for most fossils brought in from the field require considerable preparation before they are ready for display. Excess matrix should be carefully removed with hammer and chisel; blows should always be directed away from the fossil . Smaller tools (needles, tweezers, and awls) should be used in the final preparation stage, and one should work carefully to avoid damaging the specimen. Before st

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THE SCIENCE OF CLASSIFICATION

THE SCIENCE OF CLASSIFICATION

The number of organisms, both living and extinct, is so great that some system of classification is needed to link them all together. Many fossils bear distinct similarities to plants and animals that are living today, and for this reason paleontological classification is similar to that used to classify modern organisms. This system, known as the system of binomial nomenclature , was first used consistently in 1758 by Linné (or Linnaeus), an early Swedish naturalist. Scientific names establishe

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THE UNITS OF CLASSIFICATION

THE UNITS OF CLASSIFICATION

The world of organic life has been divided into the plant and animal kingdoms. These kingdoms have been further divided into larger divisions called phyla (from the Greek word phylon , a race). Each phylum is composed of organisms with certain characteristics in common. For example, all animals with a spinal cord (or notochord) are assigned to the phylum Chordata. The phylum is reduced to smaller divisions called classes , classes are divided into orders , orders into families , families into ge

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IDENTIFICATION OF FOSSILS

IDENTIFICATION OF FOSSILS

The beginning collector is usually content to know if his specimen is a clam or a snail or a fern or a palm leaf. But as the collection grows, it becomes increasingly desirable to know the scientific name of each fossil . When he starts to identify fossils it may be helpful to show them to a geology teacher if a college or university is nearby. Most teachers are glad to be of help and will probably have similar specimens in their own collections. As all colleges do not have geology departments,

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IDENTIFICATION KEY TO MAIN TYPES OF INVERTEBRATE FOSSILS

IDENTIFICATION KEY TO MAIN TYPES OF INVERTEBRATE FOSSILS

(Instructions on pages 23 -25 for use of key)...

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LIST OF TEXAS COLLEGES OFFERING GEOLOGY COURSES

LIST OF TEXAS COLLEGES OFFERING GEOLOGY COURSES

Plate 6 Fossil Identification Chart I RADIAL SYMMETRY Plate 7 Fossil Identification Chart II BILATERAL SYMMETRY Plate 8 Fossil Identification Chart III NO APPARENT SYMMETRY...

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CATALOGING THE COLLECTION

CATALOGING THE COLLECTION

After the fossils have been cleaned and tentatively identified, they should be cataloged. This is necessary to enable the collector to have a record of his collection and to furnish as much information as possible about each individual fossil . The collecting data can be taken from the labels that were placed in each bag of fossils as they were collected, or from the field notebook. Actually, it is wise to check one against the other. This information should then be entered in some type of recor

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HOW FOSSILS ARE USED

HOW FOSSILS ARE USED

Fossils are useful in a number of different ways, for each specimen provides some information about when it lived, where it lived, and how it lived. Fossils are very important, for example, in tracing the development of the plants and animals of our earth. This is possible because the fossils in the older rocks are usually primitive and relatively simple; but a study of similar specimens that lived in later geologic time shows that the fossils become progressively more complex and more advanced

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GEOLOGIC COLUMN AND TIME SCALE

GEOLOGIC COLUMN AND TIME SCALE

In order to discuss fossils and the age of the rocks containing them, it is necessary to become familiar with the geologic column and the geologic time scale ( Pl. 1 ). The geologic column refers to the total succession of rocks, from the oldest to most recent, that are found either locally or in the entire earth. Thus, the geologic column of Texas includes all rock divisions known to be present in this State. By referring to the geologic column previously worked out for any given area, the geol

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THE GEOLOGY OF TEXAS

THE GEOLOGY OF TEXAS

The geologic history of Texas, like the geologic history of the rest of the earth, is recorded primarily in marine sedimentary rocks. These rocks provide some knowledge of the early geography and the first inhabitants of what is now the State of Texas. Most of these rocks were formed from sediments deposited in shallow seas which covered parts of the State at various times in earth history. By studying these rocks and their relations to each other, geologists have established a geologic column f

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Geology

Geology

Geologic studies of the State of Texas have indicated the presence of rocks formed during every era and period of geologic time. These range from the Precambrian granites of the Llano uplift to the Quaternary gravels of the High Plains. Plate 10 GENERALIZED GEOLOGIC MAP OF TEXAS Modified from Geologic Map of Texas, 1933 This map in a higher resolution One of the best ways to become acquainted with the geology of Texas is to study the geologic map of the State ( Pl. 10 ). A geologic map shows the

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PLANT FOSSILS

PLANT FOSSILS

Plant fossils are usually fragmental and poorly preserved, and this tends to discourage most amateurs from an active interest in paleobotany. However, in spite of these problems, much is known of the evolution of plants, and plant fossils provide much information about life of the past. In addition, certain plants are of considerable value as indicators of ancient climatic conditions, and their remains have played a large part in the formation of vast coal deposits. In the following classificati

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ANIMAL FOSSILS

ANIMAL FOSSILS

The fossilized remains of animals are very common in many of the sedimentary rocks of Texas. These remains are of many different kinds and represent the fossils of such diverse organisms as the shell of a tiny one-celled animal or the bones or tusk of a huge elephant. The fossils most commonly found, however, are the remains of invertebrate animals such as clams, snails, and corals, and it is this type of fossil that attracts the interest of most amateur collectors. It is not always easy to tell

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GENERAL WORKS

GENERAL WORKS

Dunbar, C. O. (1959) Historical geology, John Wiley and Sons, New York. College-level text, well written and well illustrated. Moore, R. C. (1958) Introduction to historical geology, McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York. College-level presentation of earth history. Many illustrations of fossils. Moore, Ruth (1953) Man, time, and fossils, Alfred Knopf, New York. A readable account of fossils and their development throughout geologic time. Panghorn, M. W., Jr. (1957) Earth for the layman, American Geolo

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NONTECHNICAL AND JUVENILE

NONTECHNICAL AND JUVENILE

Andrews, R. C. (1953) All about dinosaurs, Random House, New York. Interesting and readable dinosaur book for junior high and high-school age. Andrews, R. C. (1956) All about strange beasts of the past, Random House, New York. Interesting and easy to read, this book deals largely with extinct and unusual mammals (junior high and high school). Colbert, E. H. (1945) The dinosaur book, American Museum of Natural History, New York. A classic among “popular” dinosaur books. For all age levels. Colber

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COLLECTING HELPS

COLLECTING HELPS

Brown, Vinson (1954) How to make a home nature museum, Little, Brown and Co., Boston. Contains suggestions for collecting, mounting, and displaying fossils and other objects of nature. Camp, C. L. , and Hanna, G. D. (1937) Methods in paleontology, University of California Press, Berkeley. Excellent discussion of collecting and preparation techniques. Casanova, Richard (1957) An illustrated guide to fossil collecting, Natureograph Co., San Martin, Calif. Has collecting hints and fossil localities

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REFERENCE WORKS

REFERENCE WORKS

Arnold, C. A. (1947) An introduction to paleobotany, McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York. College-level textbook. Beerbower, J. R. (1960) Search for the past, Prentice-Hall, Inc., Englewood Cliffs, N. J. Good background text. Well illustrated. Has section on vertebrates. Colbert, E. H. (1955) Evolution of the vertebrates, John Wiley and Sons, New York. Comprehensive and technical treatment of vertebrate fossils. Cushman, J. A. (1948) Foraminifera, their classification and economic use, Harvard Univer

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SELECTED REFERENCES ON TEXAS FOSSILS[2]

SELECTED REFERENCES ON TEXAS FOSSILS[2]

*Adkins, W. S. (1920) The Weno and Pawpaw formations of the Texas Comanchean: Univ. Texas Bull. 1856. Descriptions and illustrations of many common Cretaceous fossils. *Adkins, W. S. (1928) Handbook of Texas Cretaceous fossils: Univ. Texas Bull. 2838. Lists all fossils described from the Texas Cretaceous prior to 1928, with many useful illustrations. *Adkins, W. S. , and Winton, W. M. (1919) Paleontological correlation of the Fredericksburg and Washita formations of north-central Texas: Univ. Te

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GLOSSARY

GLOSSARY

Amber —a hard, yellowish, translucent, fossilized plant resin. Ammonite —ammonoid cephalopod with complexly wrinkled suture pattern; member of subclass Ammonoidea. Anterior —front or fore. Anus —the terminal opening of the alimentary canal, through which waste matter is discarded from the body. Aperture —the opening of shells, cells, etc. Aragonite —calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) crystallizing in a different form than calcite . In shells it is chalky and opaque; is less stable than calcite. Archeozoi

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