Important Scientific Fossil Finds in Tasmania
While in Tasmania Joseph and Craig went to a number of fossil sites including one on private property that had not been previously investigated. After receiving permission from the landowner, we found the site and there, Joe made a significant discovery.
Tasmanian paleontologists have confirmed from photo evidence we supplied that the small fossil, about 1cm long, appears to be a bryozoan (lace coral). These are not true corals but have their own Phylum (major group). While these are commonly found in various rocks in Tasmania, they have never been found in rocks considered Cambrian (more than 500 million years old). Indeed, they have only ever been found in these rocks before in the Flinders Range, South Australia and in north and south China.
Importantly, from a Biblical perspective, these rocks are actually sequences of flood deposition and processes and are not indicative of vast time frames. Until recently Bryozoans were not even known from Cambrian rocks causing scientists to wonder why this major group had not evolved in the Cambrian like virtually every other group of organisms. Of great interest is that our find is an example of a creature that we still have alive today showing that even if you want to believe it is over 500 million years old, bryozoans are still bryozoans!
Not to be outdone Craig Hawkins made his own significant find at a different location. An Orthocerid nautiloid is an extinct straight shelled nautiloid in the broader squid/octopus family. They are normally found in Ordovician rocks at limited locations in Tasmania and are “exceptionally rare” in Permian rocks, so it was great to find a near complete one in the latter. Again, this has generated significant interest for Tasmanian paleontologists.
