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Colorado Prospector - Gem and mineral prospecting and mining forums _ Fossil Finds, Processes, Adventures and Outings _ Colorado Stromatolite Fossils

Posted by: swizz Jan 20 2016, 10:17 AM

Post up your pics here if you've been lucky enough to stumble across any. I have several specimens (none are from the Lykins Formation). All of my finds are from Grand County and at a fairly high elevation in relation to the Lykins Formation. I believe they were encased and preserved by a volcanic event. As the volcanic surface rock (extrusive igneous) erodes they are exposed. My finds have been loose alluvial... or placer in nature, just keeping my eyes peeled and flipping rocks.
This is probably my favorite. It has a bonus.... a druzy pocket on top that is filled with micro crystals. This one probably got pretty hot. Fossil/gem or geode combo I reckon. Kinda ugly but kinda purty.... hey, it has inner beauty. girly.gif

Top
https://flic.kr/p/CnFnCwhttps://flic.kr/p/CnFnCw by https://www.flickr.com/photos/121086004@N07/, on Flickr

Bottom
https://flic.kr/p/CnNrMZhttps://flic.kr/p/CnNrMZ by https://www.flickr.com/photos/121086004@N07/, on Flickr

Side
https://flic.kr/p/DhSGVwhttps://flic.kr/p/DhSGVw by https://www.flickr.com/photos/121086004@N07/, on Flickr

Inside Druzy Pocket (unknown crystallization)
https://flic.kr/p/DaBYbQhttps://flic.kr/p/DaBYbQ by https://www.flickr.com/photos/121086004@N07/, on Flickr

Posted by: swizz Jan 20 2016, 10:22 AM

Colorful Stromatolite fossilization encased in extrusive igneous. This one appears to be more recently exposed and therefore far less eroded than the one I pictured above. I left it in place. Something tells me it's probably pretty gemmy inside also. happy088.gif
https://flic.kr/p/CT2yhEhttps://flic.kr/p/CT2yhE by https://www.flickr.com/photos/121086004@N07/, on Flickr

Posted by: swizz Jan 20 2016, 02:46 PM

This one is different but from the same location. Host rock is Jasper or Chert, waxy.

https://flic.kr/p/CTqJ5jhttps://flic.kr/p/CTqJ5j by https://www.flickr.com/photos/121086004@N07/, on Flickr

https://flic.kr/p/CM3GK4https://flic.kr/p/CM3GK4 by https://www.flickr.com/photos/121086004@N07/, on Flickr

Posted by: Mrs.CP Jan 21 2016, 08:46 AM

Those are fantastic Chris!! smiley-clapping.gif I really like the colorful one encased in extrusive igneous. Looks like a great location for looking for fossils! Thanks for sharing the pics with us. thumbsupsmileyanim.gif

Posted by: Crusty Jan 21 2016, 09:42 AM

Almost as cool as this one I found here in Falcon this morning! ;)


 

Posted by: James and Cyndi Jan 21 2016, 10:22 AM

QUOTE (Crusty @ Jan 21 2016, 08:42 AM) *
Almost as cool as this one I found here in Falcon this morning! ;)


nice glaze

Posted by: Skygazer Jan 21 2016, 01:23 PM

Very nice pic's Chris, the movie you posted named "Life's Rocky Start" talked in detail about Stromatolites and how the single cell Microbes slowly collect the dirt out of the surrounding water and cement the dirt and minerals as layers which are shown very well in the pics you posted. Very cool, nice specimen's. thumbsupsmileyanim.gif

Posted by: Gene Kooper Jan 21 2016, 03:34 PM

Nice fossils swizz!

Here are a two links to photos of stromatolites in the Lykins Formation. The first link is to an outcrop near Colorado Springs.

http://www.paleotrailsproject.org/paleotrails_new_website_1_012.htm

The second link shows several photos in Boulder Valley. The website is run by Steve Wagner, a volunteer at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science (DMNS).

http://www.paleocurrents.com/cert_classes/2003_03_15_4/HTML/img_8138.htm

Many, many years ago I remember a field geology problem where we learned how to measure a stratigraphic section with a Jacob's staff and Brunton. The field area was between Red Rocks Park and I-70. I'm not sure whether the area is still accessible for folks to see the stromatolites or not.

Posted by: swizz Jan 22 2016, 07:48 AM

Thank you Denise, Skygazer and Gene excellent links!
Crusty, your specimen looks delicious. thumbsupsmileyanim.gif

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