LIST OF TEXAS COLLEGES OFFERING GEOLOGY COURSES
A.&M. College of Texas, College Station Amarillo College, Amarillo Arlington State College, Arlington Austin College, Sherman Baylor University, Waco Blinn College, Brenham Corpus Christi, University of, Corpus Christi Del Mar College, Corpus Christi East Texas State College, Commerce Hardin-Simmons University, Abilene Henderson County Junior College, Athens Houston, University of, Houston Howard County Junior College, Big Spring Kilgore College, Kilgore Lamar State College of Technology, Beaumont Lee College, Baytown McMurry College, Abilene Midwestern University, Wichita Falls North Texas State College, Denton Odessa College, Odessa Pan American College, Edinburg Rice University, Houston St. Mary’s University, San Antonio San Angelo College, San Angelo San Antonio College, San Antonio Southern Methodist University, Dallas South Texas College, Houston Southwestern University, Georgetown Stephen F. Austin State College, Nacogdoches Sul Ross State College, Alpine Tarleton State College, Stephenville Texarkana College, Texarkana Texas Christian University, Fort Worth Texas College, Tyler Texas College of Arts and Industries, Kingsville Texas Technological College, Lubbock Texas Western College, El Paso The University of Texas, Austin Trinity University, San Antonio Tyler Junior College, Tyler West Texas State College, Canyon
Plate 6
[Fossil] Identification Chart
I [RADIAL SYMMETRY]
A. Tapering, cylindrical cone-shaped fossils 1. Cone-shaped with [longitudinal] partitions or septa[Coral] 2. Fossils with septa or sutures; tapering at one end[Cephalopod] 3. Shell without internal partitions or sutures a. Shell large heavy, external longitudinal ribs. [Cretaceous] only[Rudistid] b. Shell small, tusk-shaped open at both ends. Rare in [Paleozoic] and [Mesozoic][Scaphopod] B. Disc or dome-shaped fossils 1. Star pattern on top[Echinoid] 2. [Subconical] small pits or pores on topBryozoan 3. Small disc-shaped (less than ½ inch)Orbitoid Foraminifera 4. Disc-shaped or button-like, with longitudinal partitions or septaCoral C. Fossils composed of segments or plates 1. Circular discs or chambers; when united form cylinder a. Tapered shellCephalopod b. Not tapered, segments small of uniform thickness, hole in centerCrinoid Stem 2. [Fossil] composed of many-sided plates a. Bud-shaped, 13 wedge-shaped plates[Blastoid] b. Cup-shaped, many curved plates branching armsCrinoid
Plate 7
[Fossil] Identification Chart
II [BILATERAL] [SYMMETRY]
A. [Fossil] coiled in a single plane 1. Shell divided by internal [transverse] partitions or sutures[Cephalopod] 2. Shell without internal partitions or sutures[Gastropod] 3. Shell small, spindle-shaped; resembles wheat grain. [Pennsylvanian] and [Permian]Foraminifera [fusulinid] B. Fossil not coiled 1. Shells or valves similar to clams a. Plane of [symmetry] parallel to hinge; [equivalved][Pelecypod] b. Plane of symmetry almost at right angles to hinge; strongly ribbed; “Scallop-like” with “ears”, [inequivalved]Pelecypod c. Plane of symmetry at right angles to [hinge-line]; without “ears”, not “Scallop-like”; commonly with opening in beak, inequivalved[Brachiopod] 2. Fossil tapering, cylindrical or cone-shaped a. Cone-shaped, internal [longitudinal] partitions or septa[Coral] b. Tapered, internal transverse partitionsCephalopod c. Shell without internal septa or partitions (1.) Shell large heavy, longitudinal ribs. [Cretaceous] only[Rudistid] (2.) Shell small, tusk-shaped, open at both ends, rare in [Paleozoic] and [Mesozoic] rocks[Scaphopod] 3. Fossil heart-shaped, domed or flattened; star pattern on top[Echinoid] 4. Fossil segmented a. Divided into 3 lobes, may be curled up. Paleozoic only[Trilobite] b. Flattened or elongate, resembles shrimpCrustacean
Plate 8
[Fossil] Identification Chart
III NO APPARENT [SYMMETRY]
A. Shell without [transverse] partitions or sutures 1. Shell coiled like ram’s horn, low spired; shell has two valves, smaller flattened [valve] often missing. In Texas exclusively [Cretaceous][Pelecypod] 2. Shell tightly coiled, most have higher spire than 1, shell smaller and not as rough as 1, has only one valve[Gastropod] B. Coiled fossils, coiling not in one plane 1. Shell with transverse internal partitions or sutures a. Partitions always smooth, thick shelled, loosely and irregularly coiled, in Texas exclusively Cretaceous[Caprinid] b. Partitions (sutures) generally wrinkled, regularly and tightly coiled[Cephalopod] 2. Shell without transverse internal partitions or suturesGastropod 3. Solid spiral ridge around central axis, resembles corkscrewBryozoan C. Uncoiled fossils 1. [Fossil] resembles narrow saw blade. [Paleozoic] only[Graptolite] 2. Fossil irregularly cone-shaped, [longitudinal] partitions or septa[Coral] 3. Shell resembles clam or oyster, nonsymmetricalPelecypod (mostly oysters) 4. Branching twig-like fossils a. Covered with minute pores or openingsBryozoa b. With evenly distributed larger openings with septa[Colonial] coral 5. Lace-like fossils, occur as thin sheets or filmsBryozoa 6. Masses of circular or [polygonal] tubes with septaColonial coral 7. Irregular fossils, cylindrical with rough surface a. Large axial opening with thick wall, external longitudinal ribs. Cretaceous only[Rudistid] b. Solid, no opening, small pits or pores. [Pennsylvanian] or [Permian]Sponge