Name:
Orophocrinus stelliformis
Age: Mississippian
Formation: Lower Burlington Formation
Location: Ralls County, Missouri
Size: Plate is 3.6 inches across
This is a very interesting specimen of two different blastoids from the Mississippian of Missouri. In the center of the plate is a wonderful example of Orophocrinus stelliformis. This beautiful, star-shaped blastoid is highly prized by the local collectors - it is a lucky day for the collector when one of these blastoids is found. Next to the Orophocrinus is a complete example of Cryptoblastus melo, a different type of blastoid. This melon-shaped echinoderm is very robust and exhibits good plate structure. The white fossils contrast nicely with the orangish-brown matrix. The echinoderms are well positioned on the natural plate of limestone that contains many other fossil fragments. This is a very fine specimen of two different blastoids from the Lower Burlington Formation.
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