051821

 

More pictures of the Mississippian microbial reef in North Alabama.  

 

A busy part of the reef, consisting of microbial thrombolitr (originally nonlaminated lime mud, which is commonly clotted or pelletal). B=fragment of a bryozoan, A="Problematicum A," a tubular fossil, S=a cement-filled shelter void (note semicircular single-chambered foraminiferan on the roof, left of "S"), lower arrow=multiple microfossils encrusting the bryozoan, left arrow=more on the top side, upper left arrow=a former void now filled with miscellaneous very fine particles (there's another on the lower right). Scale 0.5 millimeters. The reef grew in shallow warm marine water close to the shoreline, perhaps in a lagoon.

090720b

 

 

 

 Coral (large area at bottom is part of its wall) encrusted by two microorganisms: (1) large flattened cells, and (2) dark micropelletal carbonate with variably shaped vesicles (white). Mississippian, image area 1 mm wide.

013020c

I will be helping to lead a hands-on field workshop for K-12 science teachers on the subject of paleontology in West Alabama this coming October (see above). The subject this year is "Palaeoecology and Extreme Events." Participation is limited to 26.

Reviews of Footprints in Stone

https://muse.jhu.edu/book/44885

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/footprints-in-stone-ronald-j-buta-phd/1123112917 and a low price on the Nook version

https://www.bibliovault.org/BV.titles.epl?tquery=Paleontology -- a short review

2 reviews on Amazon


If you read the book, please review it.


Barnes & Noble in Tuscaloosa has signed copies.