Ended 2025 and Began 2026 in the Mississippian of NW Alabama

We tend to always visit the Mississippian-aged rocks of North Alabama during the winter months, this year was no different. What was different is that we visited in December and in February! We visited multiple locations on each trip. The diversity of marine fossils from these locations always makes for a little something for everyone. The wintertime makes for quiet fossil collecting as well - what a joy!

Here is just a sampling of the fossils from the various locales:

Brachiopods:

Large inflated brachiods both loose and in the matrix, also a trace fossil, and unusual crinoid stem.

Crinoids:

Many varieties of crinoids can be found in the Mississippian rocks of N. Alabama.

Sponge:

This is the impression of a type of "glass" sponge captured by the fine layers of sediment. A cross-hatch pattern indicative of one of these sponges.

Trace Fossils:

Lots of variety of trace fossils (ichnofossils) can be seen in the rocks.

Cephalopod:

This happens to be a coiled type!

Echinoid:

Definitely NOT a common fossil from these sites.

Trilobite:

Tails or Pygidiums are fairly common in certain areas, heads or cephalons a little less though and they are all generally small. This head is about as big as I have seen in these rocks! Unfortunately it is missing the cheeks (and the entire backend!!!).

Teeth:

Teeth are not terribly common, however there is a huge diversity.

Coral:

Large coral heads!

Jim Braswell

APS President