Modiolus-Septimyalina decalcified bivalve pavement in mudshale (crinkle bed) (Hinton or Bluefield Formation, Upper Mississippian; Oakvale School outcrop - Rt. 112 roadcut through Divide Ridge, Mercer County, West Virginia, USA) 1

Description:

Description: English: Fossiliferous mudshale from the Mississippian of West Virginia, USA. (field of view ~12 cm across; high-angle illumination) The term "crinkle bed" has been used to refer to some bivalve shell pavements. The bedding plane shown above is a good example. This is a weathered, friable mudshale derived from the Mississippian-aged Hinton or Bluefield Formation of West Virginia. The surface is packed with decalcified clam shell fossils (molds) that appear to be consistent with Modiolus (Mollusca, Bivalvia, Pteriomorphia, Mytiloida, Mytilidae) and Septimyalina (Mollusca, Bivalvia, Pteriomorphia, Pterioida, Pteriina, Myalinidae). Low-diversity, high-abundance fossil surfaces such as this are often inferred to be from marginal marine facies. Stratigraphy: Hinton Formation or upper Bluefield Formation, Upper Mississippian Locality: Oakvale School Outcrop - roadcut through Divide Ridge on the western side of Rt. 112, across from Oakvale School, immediately south of Rt. 460, far-southeastern Mercer County, far-southern West Virginia, USA (37º 20' 22.84" North latitude, 80º 57' 20.49" West longitude) Some info. from: Hoare (1993) - Journal of Paleontology 67(3). Vance et al. (2006) - Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs 38(7): 67. Date: 8 August 2007, 14:47:14. Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/47445767@N05/15042999508/. Author: James St. John.