7 Geoscience Education (Posters)

Thursday, 27 March 2008
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM

FOSSILS OF THE UTICA SHALE: A TEACHING MODULE AND REFERENCE COLLECTION

Paper number: 7-3
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Authors

Abstract

A collection was made of the fossils of the Middle Ordovician Utica Shale. This rock unit has been the subject of various geologic studies for over 150 years. The specimens for this collection come from the talus slopes of the Little Falls NYS Thruway exchange.

The fossils collected were cleaned, sorted, and identified as well as preservation permitted. The two most dominant groups (in order of abundance) were the graptolites and trilobites. Also present (again in order of abundance) were inarticulate brachiopods, straight nautiloid cephalopods, crinoid columnals, gastropods, bryozoa, ostracodes, articulate brachiopods, pelecypods, and a sponge.

The collection will be used for both teaching and reference purposes. The identified specimens can be used by students in class as well as by the general public when they bring fossils to the college for identification.