Name:
Orophocrinus stelliformis Age: Mississippian Formation: Burlington Formation Location: Ralls County, Missouri Size: Blastoid is 1.3 inches across! This specimen is not for sale Click here for similar specimens that are for sale
This is a very unusual specimen of two different blastoids from the Mississippian of Missouri. In the middle of the plate is a HUGE example of Orophocrinus stelliformis. This beautiful, star-shaped blastoid is highly prized by the local collectors - it is a lucky day indeed when one of these blastoids is unearthed! On the both sides of the slab are examples of Cryptoblastus melo, a very different type of blastoid. These melon-shaped echinoderms are robust and exhibit good plate structure. The off-white colored fossils contrast nicely with the orangish-brown matrix. They are all well positioned on the dome-shaped plate of limestone that is loaded with other echinoderm fragments. This is a true collector specimen of two different blastoids from the Lower Burlington Formation.