Bob Downie

I have an #ichnology question. In Tralee Ireland I came across calcareous flagstones with amazing serpitiform trace fossils. I've never seen anything quite so large with such a form. Individual traces are perhaps up to 50cm long by 2-3cm wide. Has anyone a name for this? The closest I can think of is taenidium serpentium but that shows meniscate backfills, not evident here.

Answers greatfully received.

#sedimentology #ichnofossil #geology

Jun 24 at 9:18pmWeb
Show threadBob Downie1d ago
As I travel up to County Clare I am seeing lots of flagstone all over the place with these large serpentiform trace fossils. At the Cliffs of Moher they have even adopted the form and embossed into the concrete render. Hi @Cormac_McGinley knowing of your association with the area, might you know what this trace fossil is called? Thanks for any thoughts you may have.
Show threadJohn Faithfull 🌍πŸ‡ͺπŸ‡ΊπŸ΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ ΏπŸ§‘βœŠπŸ»βœŠπŸΏ1d ago
@geomannie @Cormac_McGinley Excellent spot! 🀩 πŸ‘
Show threadBrad Rosenheim1d ago

@geomannie Might it be Liscannor flagstone from County Clarke? It seems like Taenidium serpentinum would be too small to be the cause of those burrow trace fossils. This website doesn't give a species though, so it is a bit unsatisfying...

https://www.liscannorflagstone.ie/flagstone-story/

@Cormac_McGinley

Show threadBob Downie18h ago
@Brad_Rosenheim @Cormac_McGinley
Thanks! You have nailed it. Location, description both match. Mystery solved. Thanks a lot. πŸ‘
Show threadbazzargh1d ago
@geomannie https://www.liscannorflagstone.ie/flagstone-story/ apparently called liscannor stone or snakestone - but it's more like wormcast, going by their description, and attributed to Psammichnites plummeri