460 million year old Indiana sea bed *with new close-up pic

[Bruce Williams]

Hi folks,

This is another stunning fossil, microscope prepped by Jerry Rush of Indiana, USA. Note: All species identified by Jerry.

We are looking at a 45 sq. mm piece of Ordovician sea bed (approx. 460 million years ago). See pic2 for key.

In addition to the superbly preserved gastropod, Phragmolites dyeri the slab holds a bryozoan which (unusually) still has it's base (this would have been attached to a piece of rock or similar). There is a nice articulate brachiopod, Strophomena planumbona. There are also bits of trilobites and crinoids ... and various other ancient sea bed detritus.

Nikon D80 with 105mm VR macro lens.
ISO 100 +0.67 exp.comp
0.5s at f/16
stack of 3 frames using CombineZM

Bruce

Slab is 45mm square (1.75ins sq)

[Mike B in OKlahoma]

Very cool Bruce, and informative with the key. I'd like to take more geological-type shots, though I don't really have the knowledge for it. This is inspirational for that!

[beetleman]

I just love these kinds of fossils. And to have a key to the species is simply awesome. Love it Bruce

[Ken Ramos]

Indeed an interesting bit of photography there Bruce. I too would like to do stuff like this but unless the ark is stuck somewhere here in the Appalachians I don't think so.

[Wim van Egmond]

That is amazing Bruce.

Would this be prepared by acid? Or with a dentist drill?

Wim

[Bruce Williams]

Thanks for your comments guys - Jerry's work is amazing isn't!

Wim - I've dropped Jerry an email asking for details on his methods of preparation and will post his reply with some more close-up pics.

I've added another in-close image below which shows a lot more detail on the main two bryozoans.

Bruce

[Wim van Egmond]

Looking forward to see more. If I hadn't lived in this wet fossil poor country I would have been a fossil collector!

Wim