ericabelle
spending too much on rocks
Instagram acct: @erica_shoots_everything
Member since April 2021
Posts: 482
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Post by ericabelle on Aug 10, 2021 13:49:37 GMT -5
I was not expecting to find fossils on our recent trip to Oshkosh, WI to the EAA AirVenture. But we took a day and went to Door County, and I found these a little off the road in Gills Rock! I'm not sure how many different types of coral I have here - let me know if you have ideas. First, I think this is honeycomb coral - the best part of these pieces is each hole is full of crystals! Too bad it's hard to photograph sparkle. #1 #2 #3 #4 I'm thinking this one is a syringopora?? #5 I'm not sure about this one - it may be more weathered than the others, and it is covered in crystals #6 I have three pieces like these, but I cannot find anything online that looks like it. #7 And this one has the tiniest cavities and the most crystals #8
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ericabelle
spending too much on rocks
Instagram acct: @erica_shoots_everything
Member since April 2021
Posts: 482
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Post by ericabelle on Aug 10, 2021 13:54:57 GMT -5
I also wanted to ask if it was ok to soak these in a dilute bleach solution to kill the moss. The coral itself seems pretty hard, and it appears to be in limestone. The only thing I've done to them so far is brushed the dirt off with a pedicure brush and water, then I soaked them for 24 hours in 3% hydrogen peroxide. They fizzed like crazy and a lot of dirt came off in the hydrogen peroxide.
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Post by jasoninsd on Aug 10, 2021 19:19:39 GMT -5
I wish I had some ID help or some advice on your bleach question... I will say those are spectacular specimens! I think if I found those, I'd be thinking really hard about getting an aquarium! I think they'd look spectacular in that type of setting. (Just my immediate thoughts...no pressure! )
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ericabelle
spending too much on rocks
Instagram acct: @erica_shoots_everything
Member since April 2021
Posts: 482
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Post by ericabelle on Aug 10, 2021 19:29:04 GMT -5
I wish I had some ID help or some advice on your bleach question... I will say those are spectacular specimens! I think if I found those, I'd be thinking really hard about getting an aquarium! I think they'd look spectacular in that type of setting. (Just my immediate thoughts...no pressure! ) Thank you so much! I actually do have three aquariums. I wish I could put something like this in them, but the limestone will raise the pH too much. I do have some pretty cool rocks in them, though!
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Post by jasoninsd on Aug 10, 2021 19:31:43 GMT -5
I wish I had some ID help or some advice on your bleach question... I will say those are spectacular specimens! I think if I found those, I'd be thinking really hard about getting an aquarium! I think they'd look spectacular in that type of setting. (Just my immediate thoughts...no pressure! ) Thank you so much! I actually do have three aquariums. I wish I could put something like this in them, but the limestone will raise the pH too much. I do have some pretty cool rocks in them, though! Wait...so my fish aren't supposed to be floating upside-down? LOL See, that's why I'm not allowed to have pet fish...I'd just have an empty aquarium with a castle making bubbles...and some wickedly high pH producing fossils! LOL
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Post by perkins17 on Aug 10, 2021 21:39:37 GMT -5
ericabelle, great finds! My vacation is ending with a couple of agates ( I think) so you definitely beat me!
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Post by fernwood on Aug 11, 2021 5:22:52 GMT -5
You did great. Yes, coral can be found in WI. More often in the SW part of the state than Door county. You have some great examples.
I have cleaned coral with a vinegar/baking soda solution.
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ericabelle
spending too much on rocks
Instagram acct: @erica_shoots_everything
Member since April 2021
Posts: 482
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Post by ericabelle on Aug 11, 2021 6:51:22 GMT -5
Thank you so much! I actually do have three aquariums. I wish I could put something like this in them, but the limestone will raise the pH too much. I do have some pretty cool rocks in them, though! Wait...so my fish aren't supposed to be floating upside-down? LOL See, that's why I'm not allowed to have pet fish...I'd just have an empty aquarium with a castle making bubbles...and some wickedly high pH producing fossils! LOL LOL - yes that's why your fish can't have nice things!
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ericabelle
spending too much on rocks
Instagram acct: @erica_shoots_everything
Member since April 2021
Posts: 482
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Post by ericabelle on Aug 11, 2021 6:52:16 GMT -5
ericabelle , great finds! My vacation is ending with a couple of agates ( I think) so you definitely beat me! Agates are amazing! So that is a win in my book! I hope to find some agates next month in Oregon.
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ericabelle
spending too much on rocks
Instagram acct: @erica_shoots_everything
Member since April 2021
Posts: 482
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Post by ericabelle on Aug 11, 2021 6:53:28 GMT -5
You did great. Yes, coral can be found in WI. More often in the SW part of the state than Door county. You have some great examples. I have cleaned coral with a vinegar/baking soda solution. Thanks, fernwood - so, is that a solution you soak them in, or do you scrub them with it?
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Post by fernwood on Aug 11, 2021 9:52:19 GMT -5
I soak them. Then use a soft toothbrush to remove loose gunk. Some that I find have crystal pockets and lots of gunk.
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agatemaggot
Cave Dweller
Member since August 2006
Posts: 2,195
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Post by agatemaggot on Aug 11, 2021 11:27:43 GMT -5
I found a cheap used vibra sonic cleaning unit on E-_Bay, it will do an hour's worth of scrubbing in about 30 seconds . I use it for everything from fossils to metal detecting finds. It will float the gunk out of the tiniest crevices ! You can mix the solution used to match the job at hand , simply try a sample to see how it goes ! Using 50/50 toilet bowl cleaner / water will clean fossils quite well by removing the lime off the surface of a shell and exposing the actual shell with no apparent damage !
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ericabelle
spending too much on rocks
Instagram acct: @erica_shoots_everything
Member since April 2021
Posts: 482
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Post by ericabelle on Aug 11, 2021 13:29:23 GMT -5
I found a cheap used vibra sonic cleaning unit on E-_Bay, it will do an hour's worth of scrubbing in about 30 seconds . I use it for everything from fossils to metal detecting finds. It will float the gunk out of the tiniest crevices ! You can mix the solution used to match the job at hand , simply try a sample to see how it goes ! Using 50/50 toilet bowl cleaner / water will clean fossils quite well by removing the lime off the surface of a shell and exposing the actual shell with no apparent damage ! Nice! I'll have to find one of those!
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Post by youp50 on Aug 28, 2021 13:45:13 GMT -5
Last one resembles favosite
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Post by stephan on Aug 31, 2021 0:01:39 GMT -5
Don’t take this as an ID, but #7 reminds me of little sea anemones
Very cool finds
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quartzilla
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2020
Posts: 1,214
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Post by quartzilla on Aug 31, 2021 7:42:09 GMT -5
Those are neat! The first ones look like fossilized beehives or wasp nests!
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Post by fernwood on Sept 1, 2021 0:03:07 GMT -5
ericabelle These are MI fossils, but many of the same are in WI. Thought you might like to see this.
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ericabelle
spending too much on rocks
Instagram acct: @erica_shoots_everything
Member since April 2021
Posts: 482
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Post by ericabelle on Sept 1, 2021 8:42:49 GMT -5
fernwood - that's a really helpful photo! Thanks for sharing.
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ericabelle
spending too much on rocks
Instagram acct: @erica_shoots_everything
Member since April 2021
Posts: 482
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Post by ericabelle on Sept 1, 2021 8:44:49 GMT -5
Last one resembles favosite Yeah! I think I have at least a couple different favosites here - the honeycomb coral was just the easiest to ID by far.
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ericabelle
spending too much on rocks
Instagram acct: @erica_shoots_everything
Member since April 2021
Posts: 482
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Post by ericabelle on Sept 1, 2021 8:45:15 GMT -5
Don’t take this as an ID, but #7 reminds me of little sea anemones Very cool finds Thank you!
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