Specimen 60391 – myFOSSIL

Beth Alford posted a new specimen in the group What is it? from the myFOSSIL app 3 years, 8 months ago

3 years, 8 months ago

3 years, 8 months ago

Beth Alford has contributed specimen mFeM 60391 to myFOSSIL!
- MacKenzie Smith replied 3 years, 8 months ago
  
  This is a nice Lepidodendron! This is a Carboniferous club moss (lycopod). The diamond shapes are the leaf bases on the stem (area of leaf attachment to the stem).
  - Sam Ocon replied 3 years, 8 months ago
    
    I agree with this! @beth-alford would you be interested in changing the taxonomy to reflect this ID?
- James Woods replied 3 years, 8 months ago
  
  What is the base material. And where was it found?
- Catherine Carr replied 3 years, 7 months ago
  
  If you look up this fossil on google (images), you can find many more images like this.

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- If you are concerned, it is a good idea to post an image in the forum “What is it? And more experienced collectors and professionals can examine the specimen and help you with your identification. You can also look through some online resources. For invertebrate fossils the Digital Atlas of Ancient Life has several projects from different time periods across the continental United States with pictures to help guide you through finding fossil species.
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Why do we need to include phylum, class, order, family, if the species is the important part?
- The Linnaean classification system is used to aid in communication about different groups of life on Earth. There are several organizations such as the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature that provide guidelines for the usage or complications with the naming of animals. Similarly, there is a different organization that has guidelines and rules for the naming of plant life.

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How do I go figuring out the age and name of the rock I was collecting in?
- A starting place would be to ask the group or organization that you went collecting with for information on the outcrop you visited. There are also several apps for your mobile phone or other devices that can help you better estimate where you are in geologic time. Mancos costs $2.99 through the Apple Store and provides you with data on your location including geologic age, the rock formation, description of the rock, what units are above and below, and what sort of fossils you should expect to find in the rock. Rockd is free and available in the Apple Store and on Google Play. Similarly, Rockd tells you where are with latitude and longitude data, elevation, what age, what the rock type is, what rock unit you are on, and the functionality continues. You are able to check in at outcrops, use a compass, examine ancient continent arrangements, and learn about different rock forming minerals within the app.
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How do I get latitude and longitude data?
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- On Apple devices, you can go to the Compass app (comes pre-downloaded on your device) and it has your latitude/longitude and elevation information
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What is the difference between a group, formation, and member?
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- Click here for more information from the British Geological Survey.

What tags are useful for my specimen?
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I’m concerned my specimen is not research grade material, does that matter?
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