Palo Pinto County, Texas
Aug. 12, 2007

The next day me and Roz visited some Pennsylvanian age sites in Mineral Wells, Possum Kingdom, and spots southeast of Graham, Tx.   See also the Jan. 27, 2007 and Oct. 13, 2007 fieldtrips.  Photos updated 15 Mar 2010.
First stop was the famous Mineral Wells city dumpsite west of town.  This strata is the Mineral Wells Formation, Salesville Shale member.  The age is Late Pennsylvanian Period circa 305-306 mya.  The ground is literally carpeted with crinoids columns and brachiopods.
		Roz
Petalodus sp. shark tooth	Panoramic view
Neospirifer sp. brachiopod:	Neospirifer sp. brachiopod: (inside)	crinoid columnal
Unknown crinoid columnal	Unknown crinoid columnal	Crinoid calyx basal plates
Goniasma sp. gastropod	Petalodus sp. shark tooth

Next was a site that overlooks Lake Possum Kingdom.   (Update: this site has now been buried under a new house)
Pic by Roz	Pic by Roz	Crinoid bits carpet the ground Pic by Roz
Pic by Roz

Next was a great exposure in Young County.  We had to get permission to hunt the exposure behind the fence.  This site is abundant in small gastropods of various species, echinoid plates, and fusulinids.
Entering the south side Pic by Roz	The gray shale is the abundant layer Pic by Roz	Photographing echinoid plates Pic by Roz
echinoid plate	crinoid cup plate	Fossils found here
Goniasma lasallensis	Stegocoelia (Hypergonia) sp. ?	unknown
Sphaerodoma sp.?	Phyllocarid sp. mandible.

Next was a VERY steep exposure along the highway to Graham.  Last time I was here I found a single Orodus shark tooth at the very top.  Not much was found this time.
Pic by Roz	Looking down from top.

Final stop near home are some animals raised for petting zoos.  They love peanuts in the shell.