? any suggestions

found near scotland in a riverbed 25yrs ago!

Hi Jen

I'm no expert on Scotland, let alone its fossils but these look like worms . My guess would be Cornulites serpularius or Tentaculites ornatus both Silurian. But I could be completely wrong. Where in Scotland did they come from? It might help pin them down!
Cheers
Steve

*Quick edit: These are not worms. British Palaeozoic Fossils (BM (NH)) lists these as "Class Uncertain", with a Range from Ordovician- Devonian for the former (noted elsewhere as a cricoconarid) and from Ordovician - Silurian for the other.

I don't know Steve, I would guess south east Scotland, I vividly remember finding it..... But I was 7 so not sure where exactly!

crinoid stem imprints maybe?

I haven't a clue,.I've seen loads of crinoids in the north of England so location may fit, but I've never seen any like this!

I've not a clue, a quick Google and I can't see any similarities between that and the worms though. Could be trace fossils, perhaps a burrow/walking trace from an echinoid or something. If I get a chance I'll try and ask a lecturer at uni

I've added a quick edit to my first post. Cricoconarida not worms. Always difficult when the bedrock is unknown but Jen, try posting also on the http://www.discussfossils.com forum, where there are a lot of other experts who might help.

ah, thanks guys...... the mystery is unravelling...

A quick look at a geological map of Scotland reveals mostly sedimentary rocks in the south , ranging from Carboniferous sandstones, mudstones and limestones, through Devonian sandstones to Silurian and Ordovician sanstones and mudstones (in the Southern Uplands region).

So, rocks-wise, your specimen fits. It looks like a sandstone from South East Scotland! Make sure to keep us in the loop when/if you get full verification

thanks steve, im relying on someone here to work it out but your info is great.... thank you

I've attached a scan of Plate 17 from British Palaeozoic Fossils. It's Nos. 3-5 which caught my eye, particularly No.5 Cornulites serpularius

I'm probably way off but worth a good debate!

Yep, see what you mean..... excuse my ignorance but Where they like shells?

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think Steve is right

Jen, you are quite right. Cricoconarida are of Palaeozoic age and (apparently) are now considered to be a class of Mollusca.
My old handbook was dated 1964, so I expect it's been updated since! I'd never heard of Cricoconarida until now- that's the beauty of these forums, you're always learning! Cricoconarida are defined by having conical calcareous shells with ring-like sculptures.

More at http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=dNvnxWJnxtgC&pg=PA537&lpg=PA537&dq=Cricoconarida&source=bl&ots=aX6IH2IFjj&sig=HCDptgz2uMYUNpCFjyffzfwjEX4&hl=en&sa=X&ei=xThbUbmlJYW7O83jgNAL&ved=0CDMQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false

Thats one heck of a URL!

I think Steve is close on his guess but why would the shell be so contorted without sign of cracks? or is it maybe the imprint left after one or 2 get dragged along the bottom of the seabed causing the weird shapes? I don't know but i'm just suggesting.

2 of the ? Imprints seem to be joined together at the base too ?

jenb wrote:2 of the ? Imprints seem to be joined together at the base too ?

yeah I meant the 1 or 2 as meaning a "couple" and I'm probably wrong