Hmmmm????

[Architeuthoceras]

With those dessication cracks it looks like this stuff formed recently, that is long after the limestone formed, and probably after the quarry operation.

 

[DWhatley]

Kevin, does that mean drying mud (that was my first impression )?

 

[Architeuthoceras]

Kevin, does that mean drying mud (that was my first impression )?

That's what it looks like to me...

 

[Terri]

With those dessication cracks it looks like this stuff formed recently, that is long after the limestone formed, and probably after the quarry operation.

The quarry was worked about eight years ago, something like this can form in 8 years? Now I can't wait to go back and look at the encrusted limestone. Rain for the next two days though. I've been browsing all evening
to see if I can find anything similiar, no luck though.

 

[Architeuthoceras]

There is some mineral in there that makes it form the botryoidal texture, so it is probably coming from a single bed. I have never seen anything like it...

 

[Terri]

So we know this stuff has a botryoidal habit and the specimen in this link is barite, I'm pretty sure mine is not barite...What Is a Mineral Habit?...

 

[Terri]

Here are a few pics. of where I found these...

 

[Architeuthoceras]

Is this what they were quarrying?

 

[Terri]

No, they were just busting up the rock for gravel that went under the road leading back to this property.

 

[Terri]

Hmm, mud balls, algal balls or algal/mud balls, botryoidal habits...searched everything I know to search and I just dunno. I've found shell bits in some, a tiny fossil or two in others, one that looks like it formed around a small bit of rock and one that looks like it formed around a decently sized brachiopod, so hmm...there's enough of it to be interesting, frustrating not to be able to find anything definitive.

 

[Architeuthoceras]

Some unknown mineral in a thin shale bed that gets wet when exposed and dries in a weird way.

Maybe spectral analysis could help.

 

[Terri]

Maybe spectral analysis could help.

Very funny, especially since I had to look it up so I would know what you were talking about (still not sure).

Some unknown mineral in a thin shale bed that gets wet when exposed and dries in a weird way.

Like this much better!

 

[DWhatley]

I think that means to use light reflection/absorbtion to determine the chemical properties (I don't think the sniff test from high school chem would be of much use)

 

[Architeuthoceras]

http://speclab.cr.usgs.gov/PAPERS.refl-mrs/refl4.html

It is scary

 

[Terri]

eeesh! I suppose that would do the trick! Now to convince NASA to come out and analyze my little fossil site.