Weird fossil update

[Ken Kinman]

Update,
     The consensus seems to be that it is a nodule/concretion.  But the
question remains whether this is just a septarian nodule of minerals (and
perhaps some organic muddy mush), or whether there are any macroscopic
fossil remains here.
     Those who think the latter seem to believe that it is probably plant
matter.  Una (in the usenet forum) thought there might be the impression of
an angiosperm leaf in there, but I have trouble seeing it.
     So I guess I am pretty much alone in seeing what might be animal
remains.  I've sent an e-mail to Alex Ritchie (who wrote an in-depth paper
on Ainiktozoon in 1985) whether this could possibly be an Ainiktozoon-like
animal.  If anyone should know, it would be him.  We shall see.
      ---------- Cheers,
                  Ken Kinman
P.S.  By the way, Ainiktozoon is sometimes found in nodules.   I just wish
there were some good photographs of Ainiktozoon on the internet.  A very
neglected form and still very problematic with its weird morphology.
******************************************
>Dear All,
>     Below is a link to a close-up photograph of a "mystery" fossil found
>in Utah.  Perhaps it is wishful thinking, but to me it looks like a
>specimen of Ainiktozoon, which is presently regarded as an arthropod
>(perhaps a thylacocephalan crustacean).  Others see only "plant material"
>or just a conglomerate non-fossil in this photo.
>     Anyway, if it is an Ainiktozoon, the "eye" structure is on the lower
>right side of this photograph (so you have to look at it upside down to see
>the similarity to Ainiktozoon).  I hope I'm not just seeing things (like
>seeing a "Madonna" on a stained wall), but if this is an Ainiktozoon it
>would be quite an important find.  If it is not a fossil at all, I'll be
>very embarrassed, but here it is for what's it worth:
>   http://www.udink.org/fossils/rock4.jpg
>             ----- Cheers,   Ken
>
>


_________________________________________________________________
Send and receive Hotmail on your mobile device: http://mobile.msn.com