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Keith Schmidt posted a new specimen in the group
What is it? from the myFOSSIL app 4 years, 9 months ago 4 years, 9 months ago4 years, 9 months agoKeith Schmidt has contributed a new specimen to myFOSSIL!
Keith Schmidt posted a new specimen in the group What is it? from the myFOSSIL app 4 years, 9 months ago
Keith Schmidt has contributed a new specimen to myFOSSIL!
Hi @keith-schmidt – are you finding these in Michigan? Are they rocks? They look like sponges to me.
My uncle passed away and he was a geologist so we have a massive rock mineral and as you see fossil collection. These are very dense and very heavy. This one weighs 50+ lbs. We do not know where they came from or have any information on them. I have Michigan State University and the University of Michigan looking at them and confirmed a few of them are Palms but we have some that do not match anything in their collections or references. I am on a scavenger hunt and it is fun!
Hm, most of these look like sponges but it really depends on where you are finding them. I’ll be joining the University of Michigan Museum of Paleontology in the fall, maybe we can meet up so I can see them in person. @mackenzie-smith do you have any idea about if these could be palms? the structures look sponge like to me but information is limited.
Peter Rose at UofM thinks they may be Palms.
@keith-schmidt @jbauer Yes these are definitely palms. Now that it’s zoomed in and I can see a little of the cross section it is more clear. That scattered, unorganized vascular patter is characteristic of monocots (palms) and in the living ones you can even see it from their “bark” (and on this specimen). Kelly Matsunaga (who was at the University of Michigan but is now, or is now transitioning to the University of Kansas) is the palm expert. I don’t know how much taxonomic resolution you can get from palm stems (fruit are the best) but she would be the best person to ask.
Great thank you MacKenzie! Starting to make some progress! I appreciate your help!