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Post by agatewhisperer on Jun 2, 2023 13:20:57 GMT -5
RWA3006 by the way, what speaks out to you in that slab that indicates it's poo or not poo? I'm planning to do something with this and want to see if I can highlight some key features
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RWA3006
Cave Dweller
Member since March 2009
Posts: 4,176
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Post by RWA3006 on Jun 3, 2023 10:47:09 GMT -5
RWA3006 by the way, what speaks out to you in that slab that indicates it's poo or not poo? I'm planning to do something with this and want to see if I can highlight some key features That's a good question and many people, including a prominent Utah geologist have expressed skepticism that these are coprolites. In all fairness the professionals I'm aware of who've expressed this view have not actually studied or visited the area to study the topic nor are they familiar with current scientific literature on the subject. There are other experts who hold the view that they are legit and probably the foremost expert on the subject is Karen Chin, University of Colorado, who has made some notable scientific discoveries that mirrored mine, such as crustaceans as part of the hadrosaur diet. The first indicator I consider is the context of where they are found. These come out of the Morrison Formation, Brushy Basin Member horizon within the Jurassic Period. The specific layer these coprolites are found in also contains a fair amount of dino bone and occasional fossilized footprints. The layers above and below this are devoid of coprolites except where gravity and erosion has carried them downhill from the host layer. Another significant sign of legitimacy is within this layer there are no other kinds of agatized material except pet wood, some obvious conglomerate, and a type of seam agate that's easy to distinguish. After spending a lot of time in the area you arrive at the conclusion that almost any agate material you encounter will be coprolite because it's so unlike all the other material in the area. It's almost like picking golf balls off the lawn. I feel compelled to believe the area was some sort of gathering place for feeding, nesting, or something because much of the coprolite distribution is so dense that it reminds me of stock yards where cattle is held. Next, we have the morphology of the actual specimens to consider. Anyone who's been around large animals will instantly recognize the resemblance of the outer shape and the physics of how they got that way from falling upon the turf. Additionally, holes in the surface are indicative of dung beetle activity. The interior of many specimens has revealed abundant dung beetle activity in the form of tunnels and beetle excrement. Semi digested tree limbs are abundant and even the shell remains of crustaceans are found within that indicate some of the diet. Many gastroliths are also present. Pelletized structure is common on the outside and also inside of these specimens which is a dead giveaway because this is common among modern animals that browse more than graze. Anyway, I hope this give some insight. I haven't done any chemical testing for phosphates and am not sure it would help because of the high degree of replacement by silica.
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Post by 1dave on Jun 3, 2023 12:08:34 GMT -5
Yep Yep. Yep! and salts so easily dissolve.
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Post by agatewhisperer on Jun 3, 2023 13:18:32 GMT -5
RWA3006 thanks for the great explanation. That makes a lot of sense. It sounds like a lot of the clues come from the context of where they're found. On a little sliver of what I show in a single slab, there are some visual clues but doesn't tell nearly the whole story. I was going to try to make a pendant out of one of those and for that one will probably try to highlight the pelletized areas.
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RWA3006
Cave Dweller
Member since March 2009
Posts: 4,176
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Post by RWA3006 on Jun 6, 2023 6:59:37 GMT -5
TURD TUESDAY This one is interesting how the pellets absorbed iron oxide coloring agents.
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Post by 1dave on Jun 6, 2023 7:47:46 GMT -5
Buckshot!
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RWA3006
Cave Dweller
Member since March 2009
Posts: 4,176
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Post by RWA3006 on Jun 6, 2023 13:21:35 GMT -5
That reminds me of back in my youth with my buddy blasting cow pies with our shotguns. Juvenile and foolish, but strangely satisfying.
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Post by agatewhisperer on Jun 6, 2023 20:01:58 GMT -5
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Post by Son Of Beach on Jun 6, 2023 20:11:35 GMT -5
I see Mother Teresa in that one
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RWA3006
Cave Dweller
Member since March 2009
Posts: 4,176
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Post by RWA3006 on Jun 13, 2023 7:08:10 GMT -5
TURD TUESDAY I don't feel much like celebrating turd Tuesday today because of recent losses of our community members and also the serious health challenges of others.
Our RTH family has been rocked by this storm and so I'll share some of my most vibrant and unique specimens in their honor. God bless each and every one of these special people....
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RWA3006
Cave Dweller
Member since March 2009
Posts: 4,176
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Post by RWA3006 on Jun 13, 2023 7:08:55 GMT -5
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RWA3006
Cave Dweller
Member since March 2009
Posts: 4,176
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Post by RWA3006 on Jun 13, 2023 7:09:27 GMT -5
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Post by rockjunquie on Jun 13, 2023 8:43:55 GMT -5
Thank you.
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Jun 13, 2023 11:21:21 GMT -5
Thank you, Randy.
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RWA3006
Cave Dweller
Member since March 2009
Posts: 4,176
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Post by RWA3006 on Jun 20, 2023 7:00:11 GMT -5
TURD TUESDAY
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Post by 1dave on Jun 20, 2023 9:22:41 GMT -5
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RWA3006
Cave Dweller
Member since March 2009
Posts: 4,176
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Post by RWA3006 on Jun 20, 2023 13:50:00 GMT -5
Brings new meaning of when we speak of a BS detector.
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RWA3006
Cave Dweller
Member since March 2009
Posts: 4,176
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Post by RWA3006 on Jun 24, 2023 14:51:08 GMT -5
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RWA3006
Cave Dweller
Member since March 2009
Posts: 4,176
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Post by RWA3006 on Jun 27, 2023 6:56:37 GMT -5
TURD TUESDAY Here's some coprolite cabs Alex agatewhisperer sent me. I think they are awesome and the photos don't do justice to the polish he put on them.
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RWA3006
Cave Dweller
Member since March 2009
Posts: 4,176
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Post by RWA3006 on Jun 27, 2023 6:57:24 GMT -5
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