Hands On! Scientists believe the site was formed by an underground limestone cave that collapsed and created a sinkhole. Location County State/Province Directions,Notes Age Formation Fossils Comments Reference Lat-Long--TN: As the "spokesfossil" for Tennessee, Ptero is working hard to promote greater awareness of and respect for the entire state's geologic resources. Discovery Center at Gray Fossil Site The pearl, (CaCO3 - Calcium Carbonate,) taken from mussels in the fresh water rivers of the state, is the official state gem, as designated by 1979 Public Chapter 192 of the 91st General Assembly.. Tennessee river pearls are taken from mussels in the fresh water rivers and come … With the supportive sponsorship of State Senator Roy Herron (D-Dresden), Ptero was named State Fossil in 1998 by the Tennessee legislature. Pterorigonia is an extinct genus of marine molluscs, marine bivalve mollusks in the family Megatrigoniidae. Most American states have made a state fossil designation, in many cases during the 1980s. It is common to designate one species in which fossilization has occurred, rather than a single specimen, or a category of fossils not limited to a single species. Fossils of this extinct prehistoric creature are found in the Coon Creek Formation of West Tennessee. Oct 14, 2015 - Find the Tennessee State Fossil, the Bivalve Mollusc (Pterotrigonia thoracica), includes description and picture. Recommended Book: Congratulations to Marcy Davis for finally completing her long awaited addition to the Mountain Books Roadside Geology series! Tennessee State Fossil Fossil: Bivalve Mollusc (Pterotrigonia thoracica) Age: Cretaceous Year Designated: 1998 Pterorigonia is an extinct genus of that is a common fossil in the Cretaceous aged rocks in West Tennessee. All State Fossils. This left a vast fossil deposit that dates back approximately 5 million years ago. Pterotrigonia … The fossil comes from a 40-foot long, carnivorous dinosaur from the Jurassic Period. In 1998, Tennessee designated an official State Fossil, the bivalve Pterotrigonia (Scabrotrigonia) thoracica from the Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) age Coon Creek Formation. The Gray Fossil Site is a place where visitors can view and learn about an active Pliocene-era fossil dig site. Tennessee State Gemstone or Gem Tennessee Pearl (CaCO3 - Calcium Carbonate) Adopted in 1979. Species in this genus was the optional mobile set the ability of organisms-filter feeders. Courtesy of the ETSU Department of Geosciences. The state of Tennessee is known for its incredible natural history, and there’s nothing like the Gray Fossil Site & Museum when it comes to ancient education. Oh, I sure love the state I'm in: The great state of Tennessee!" Gray Fossil Site - Facebook The active dig site is perhaps one of the most well-known in the state. Between 1996 and 1998, GeoClub members and geology professor Michael A. Gibson worked on determining a suitable nominee for state fossilhood and laying the groundwork for legislative action. I'll still take Tennessee! State fossils or state dinosaurs have been named by 42 of the 50 states. In 1998, Tennessee designated an official State Fossil, the bivalve mollusc, (Pterotrigonia thoracica,) from the Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) age Coon Creek Formation. Stem sections, or cemented crinoidal hash locally referred to as crinoidal plates, can be collected along the shoreline or just below the water line. - Pterotrigonia #2: Tennessee State Fossil - Download Free 3D model by Gray Fossil Site & Museum (@ETMNH) [3d84c07] "Ptero" (thankfully it has a nickname) was a bivalve of the Cretaceous Age (a modern-day bivalve creates the state gem - Tennessee river pearl). Version 0810 current as of OCT 2008. Pterotrigonia was a shallow-burrowing suspension feeder that inhabited the ocean floor of West Tennessee 70 million years ago. You can find even more on fossil sites listed in this earth science pamphlet published by the state. Hands On! Hotels near (TYS) Mc Ghee Tyson Airport; Hotels near (TRI) Tri-Cities Regional; All things to do in Gray; Things to do near Gray Fossil Site. In 1998, the Tennessee state legislature adopted Pterotrigonia thoracica, a saltwater clam, as its state fossil. Fossil Hunting Locations in Middle Tennessee. The Pterotrigonia thoracica pelecypod is the official state fossil of Tennessee. "Ptero" (thankfully it has a nickname) was a bivalve of the Cretaceous Age (a modern-day bivalve creates the state gem - Tennessee  river pearl). Tapiridae: Tapirus polkensis: Tapirs, now found only in the tropics, were the first animals to be identified at the Gray Fossil Site. 5 out of 5 stars (929) 929 reviews. From shop MOUNTAINPOODLE. Hoteles cerca de Gray Fossil Site; Hoteles cerca de East Tennessee State University and General Shale Natural History Museum; Cerca de aeropuertos. "Ptero," as it is affectionately known, inhabited the floor of an ocean that covered West Tennessee about 70 million years ago. "Ptero," as it is affectionately known, inhabited the floor of an ocean that covered West Tennessee about 70 million years ago. T. hicksii, a hippopotamus-like rhinoceros. It has since become the largest accumulation of fossil tapirs known in the world, and individuals of all life stages have been found. The Gray Fossil Site is an Early Pliocene assemblage of fossils dating between 4.5 and 4.9 million years old, located near the town of Gray in Washington County, Tennessee.The site was discovered during road construction in May 2000, after which local officials decided to preserve the site for research and education. Coon Creek Formation, TN. East Tennessee State University and General Shale Natural History Museum, Gray: Hours, Address, East Tennessee State University and General Shale Natural History Museum Reviews: 5/5. The Gray Fossil Site is located in Gray, Tennessee, and is known for its role as an active archeological dig site that puts ancient fossil finds on display. Tennessee State Fossil In 1998, Tennessee designated an official State Fossil, the bivalve Pterotrigonia (Scabrotrigonia) thoracica from the Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) age Coon Creek Formation. Back to States INDEX. The campaign to have Ptero named as the State Fossil began in 1996 at The University of Tennessee at Martin. In 1998, the club’s choice, Pterotrigonia thoracica, was named the official state fossil by the Tennessee legislature. Tennessee designated Pterotrigonia (Scabrotrigonia) thoracica as the official state fossil in 1998. Box 70267, Johnson City, TN, 37614, USA b Department of Geosciences, East Tennessee State … This fossil was found in McNairy County, Tennessee (Coon Creek Formation). The fossil shells of Pterotrigonia are abundant and easily recognized by collectors. Research paper Palynology of Neogene sediments at the Gray Fossil Site, Tennessee, USA Floristic implications Diana Ochoa a,⁎, Michael Whitelaw b, Yu Sheng (Christopher) Liu a, Michael Zavada a a Department of Biological Sciences, East Tennessee State University, P.O. Hoteles cerca del (TYS) Aeropuerto de McGhee Tyson; Hoteles cerca del (TRI) Aeropuerto Regional de Tri-Cities; Todo lo que se puede hacer en Gray; Cosas que hacer cerca de Gray Fossil Site. About 70 million years ago, much of Tennessee … This genus known in the fossil record Jurassic period Ticona age to the period of Chalk of Maastrichtian age. A gap in the local rock … Rhinocerotidae: Teleoceras cf. Indeed, the many formations found in the state have attracted many of the world's most influential scientists over the years. US And Canadian Fossil Sites -- Data for TENNESSEE. Source | Reference Links | Additional Resources, Tennessee Symbols & Honors: Tennessee Blue Book, 70-75 Million Year Old Fossils Still hold Some Original Color. Pterotrigonia thoracica (Bivalvia). Official State Fossil of Tennessee Tennessee designated Pterotrigonia (Scabrotrigonia) thoracica as the official state fossil in 1998. Pterotrigonia fossil; photo by Internet Archive Book Images on Flickr (no known copyright restrictions). In 1996, a geological and geographical club at the University of Tennessee at Martin began a campaign to nominate a suitable fossil to represent the state’s geology and paleontology. On Ptero's agenda are the following issues: Geographic Information Systems Certification, Land Surveying and Geomatics Certification, Undergraduate Programs in Agricultural Business, Undergraduate Programs in Natural Resources, Graduate Programs in Agriculture and Natural Resources, AGRICULTURE, GEOSCIENCES, & NATURAL RESOURCES, Increasing public awareness of geology and paleontology, Increasing public awareness that fossils represent important natural resources that must be carefully protected and preserved. ... Next to many of them are questions -- and answers provided when you pull out a drawer (usually containing a fossil). Oklahoma is home to other fossils too, including 10,000-year-old mammoth relics of tusk and teeth found at Quartz Mountain State Park. Members of the campus GeoClub, led by Professor of Geology, Dr. Martin A. Gibson, worked from 1996 on the project, determining criteria and a … It existed during the Cretaceous Period (about 70 million years ago). Here, you’ll have the chance to experience the natural world of the state before humans were even a blip on the radar. Pictured above: The official State fossil of Tennessee: Pterotrigonia thoracica, from Coon Creek, Cretaceous, 70 million years ago. Adopted in 1996 as the Official Bicentennial Rap song to provide a fun and easy way for citizens and students to learn and retain some of our great state’s history. During the mid-to-late Carboniferous, the state became a swampy environment, home to a rich variety of plants including ferns and scale trees. Click here for Fossil Puzzle Solutions. Pterotrigonia was a shallow-burrowing suspension feeder that inhabited the ocean floor of West Tennessee 70 million years ago. The type species of the genus Pterotrigonia cristata. Access Tennessee state symbols. Click on a push pin to get directions from your address and find out more about the fossil collecting site. Tennessee State Fossil: Bivalve Mollusc Large FOSSIL CRINOID STEMS from Tennessee*320 Million years old*For Protection of the Home MOUNTAINPOODLE. Fossil hunting along the shorelines of the Tennessee and Kentucky lakes is best when the water level is lowest in late fall and crinoid fossil remnants can be collected by the bucket full. Tennessee is one of the best sources of Early Devonian fossils in North America. The efforts to name an official state fossil for the State of Tennessee began at the University of Tennessee at Martin. East Tennessee State University Electronic Theses and Dissertations 12-2011 Using Geographical Information Systems to Investigate Spatial Patterns in Fossils of Tapirus polkenis from the Gray Fossil Site, lived during late Miocene to early Pliocene time in eastern Tennessee. A Tennessee Bicentennial Rap: 1796-1996. Oklahoma’s state fossil—a Saurophaganax Maximus skull—was discovered in the 1930s in Cimarron County. Back to MAIN PAGE. Hotels near Gray Fossil Site; Hotels near East Tennessee State University and General Shale Natural History Museum; Near Airports. "Ptero," as it is affectionately known, inhabited the floor of an ocean that covered West Tennessee about 70 million years ago. Spearheading the effort was UT Martin's GeoClub , a student organization dedicated to geological and geographic studies. Maryland, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Wyoming have named one of each, while Kansas has named both an official marine and flying fossil. Three states (Georgia, Oregon, and Vermont) have fossils of now-extinct species. This fossil is found exclusively in West Tennessee in the 70-million year old Coon Creek Formation. Pterotrigonia (Scabrotrigonia) thoracica is just one small part of Tennessee' rich geological history. With one of the US' first geologic survey offices and having produced one of the first state geologic maps, Tennessee has been a leader in the study of geologic phenomena. 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