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Post by sparkles on Nov 22, 2008 12:29:40 GMT -5
Hiya Rock Buddies, While on a recent trip to North Wales, I spent some time scouring the local beaches for interesting rocks amongst the shingle pebbles. I had a fairly successful time and found numerous stones of interest including this specimen, which was recovered from the beach at Rhyl. ( maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&ll=53.320441,-3.506827&spn=0.013125,0.027637&t=k&z=15&lci=lmc:panoramio&msid=102629522987148583942.00045c4a4722ec389d547) After much research and a great deal of head scratching, I have identified the specimen as a fossiliferous limestone containing silcified corals. It has obviously spent some time in the sea and shingle as the softer limestone has weathered away from the replacment material in the coral fossils, leaving an intriguing texture on the surface of the cobble. I have taken a number of slabs from the sample as the cobble was about 2lbs in weight and I wanted to share it with my rock buddies, the resulting heel is about 4 inches across. After cutting the best of the material for slabs, I polished the exposed face to show the detail inside more clearly. The entire Denbighshire area of Wales is choc-full of fossil packed limestone. Mainly Brachiopods and Corals with occasional layers of Crinoid varieties. Examples can be recovered from the beach and surrounding hillside outcroppings with ease, so although this specimen is not particularly rare, the texture and fossils made this a particularly enjoyable specimen to add to my collection. Cheers, ;D Sparkles.
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adrian65
Cave Dweller
Arch to golden memories and to great friends.
Member since February 2007
Posts: 10,775
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Post by adrian65 on Nov 22, 2008 15:11:12 GMT -5
You found an amazing specimen, and you outlined the best the fosiliferous patterns inside the rock. Is the dark matrix harder than the corals?
Adrian
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Post by texaswoodie on Nov 22, 2008 16:57:47 GMT -5
Wow! Excellent find Sparky!
Curt
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,456
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Post by Sabre52 on Nov 22, 2008 19:21:10 GMT -5
Wow Sparky, awesome discovery. Really good polyp replacement and I like the way you cut it to show the innards.....Mel
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Post by Bejewelme on Nov 22, 2008 20:40:10 GMT -5
Wow, that is really cool, you did an excellent job with the cutting, it looks great! I wish we could find cool stuff like that here in PA.
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Post by frane on Nov 22, 2008 22:46:33 GMT -5
That one has a fantastic fossil pattern to it. I can see why you are taken by it! I think it was a great find! Fran
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DeanW
has rocks in the head
Member since December 2007
Posts: 721
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Post by DeanW on Nov 22, 2008 23:35:49 GMT -5
Wow, cool find. I also like how you've shown the fossils with the cut and polish.
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Post by sparkles on Nov 23, 2008 10:04:56 GMT -5
Hi Folks, I'm glad you found it interesting, your kind comments are an inspiration ( and I need a bit - it's minus 3 outside at the moment and the heatings broken down! so no rock saw today - my fingers are blue before I start!!! he he he! ) I must say that when I spotted this rock nestling amongst the cobbles on the beach, I just had to bring it home, that weird surface texture alone made it a "must have". It was a challenge to identify the type of stone, and after a lot of research and comparison, I'm quite confident of the ID, it made it all the more special. Adrian :- Hi Buddy! The dark matrix Limestone is quite a bit softer than the fossil material, and although the rock took a reasonable shine, it isn't in the "glassy gloss" category that I'm used to seeing from your efforts! But I was happy with it anyway he he he! Cheers Adrian! Mel :- Hiya Mate! That was the word I was looking for! Polyp!!! There seem to be more than one mineral replacing the corals, some is quite crystalline and almost frosty looking, and other parts are really transparent, I just love those cool details on the polished side. Thanks Sir! Amber :- Hi Mate! I've found rocks of interest in all sorts of places, and there are very few areas that don't have something worth picking up and polishing. Just remember that because you see stuff all the time, they might be "rare and interesting" in other parts of the Country, I'm surrounded by Flint which is quite "boring" to me - it's everywhere - but other folks like to see it and polish it too. Keep your eyes open! ;D Cheers Bud! Thanks everyone - have fun with your rocks! Cheers, Sparkles.
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Post by beefjello on Nov 23, 2008 20:40:46 GMT -5
That's a cool rock Harry
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erbojones
has rocks in the head
Member since October 2006
Posts: 659
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Post by erbojones on Nov 24, 2008 18:41:36 GMT -5
It looks kind of alien doesn't it? Or, like a petri dish full of bacteria.........
I am fortunate enough to own a slice of the above specimen and I love its weirdness. Must polish it up and put it on display!
Thanks for the slab Sparky - you're a tip-top bloke!!
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