Paleocene Fossil Pelecypod and Gastropod Assemblage from Texas

Paleocene rocks are dating beyond 50 million years old are actually relatively less common. This marine sedimentary limestone, however, is packed with Cardium pelecypods and Turritella gastropods. Cardium pelecypods were able to contract their muscles so quickly that they actually could jump forward, rather than just pull themselves along like most other clams. Turritella belong to a group called Neogastropods, which first appeared in the Cretaceous and quickly become dominant, a dominance continues to this day. This is a very different fossil plate than usually seen or represented in fossil collections.

One side of this plate has been cut and polished, and the other side is natural and covered in Cardium pelecypods.