Description
Here is an amazingly well preserved Mazon Creek Mazonema Fossil Clam. It is from the famous Lagerstatte of Central Illinois. There are several species of Clams found in the fossil record there.
A Lagerstatte is a German word meaning storage place and we have used it to describe this area that is a “storehouse” of exceptionally preserved flora and fauna. The Carboniferous Period of Illinois was mostly a hot steamy jungle and swamps. The plants and animals were buried in sediment without much Oxygen and began to fossilize.
The Mazonema Fossil Clam was found within an “Ironstone” nodule. These nodules when broken open display these exceptionally preserved fossils.
This Mazon Creek clam is beautifully displayed in this black collectors case. Because the fossils and ironstone nodules are so brittle they are protected in this case. Often the “Freeze-thaw” method is used to break them open but the natural cycle of freeze thaw outside also works. They are soaked in water because that allows allows water to infiltrate the rock along the line of the fossil. But then freezing water expands and breaks it open along that line. If that doesn’t work after a while, a gentle whack with a hammer can help.
The central part of Illinois is famous for these nodules with fossils inside. Because of coal mining activity they were brought to the surface. They discarded the nodules because they had no useful purpose. It is in these nodules that Mazonema Fossil Clam may be found.
This Fossil in in a round Ironstone nodule and comes in this handsome 4 1/4 by 5 1/4 inch glass topped leatherette collectors case.
