coral
Mississippian
Fern Glen Formation
Jefferson, County
St. Louis County, Missouri
Originally described as a Sponge:
Sphenopoterium obtusum, M. and W. Oct. 1860
Geological Survey of Illinois Volume II Paleontology 1866
They are corals, not sponges. Granted, they are problematical
corals, but the current consensus is they are NOT sponges.
Alan Goldstein
Special thanks to:
Alan Goldstein for properly identifying this specimen.
The Fern Glen formation is noted for it's dark pink color.
When dry the fossils appear to be the same color as
the matrix. However, when wet (after a rain) they stand
out as white against the dark pink matrix. Much easier
and more fun to hunt the Fern Glen formation after a rain.
There is a "white" Fern Glen also. I really
don't know the
reason for the two colors.
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