Brachiopods - Mineral Wells, Palo Pinto Co., TX

Kingdom: Animalia, Phylum: Brachiopoda,

This Pennsylvanian Formation from 300 million years ago contains many fossils.  

The park as it exists today is a result of 20 years of erosion of the old City of Mineral Wells landfill's borrow pit, which was closed in the early 1990s. The erosion of the borrow pit has revealed fossils documenting ancient sea species of crinoids (sea lilies), echinoids (urchins), brachiopods, pelecypods (clams and oysters), bryozoans, corals, trilobites (arthropods), plants and even primitive sharks. The Dallas Paleontological Society in conjunction with the city and county officials worked to get the area designated as a state park, called the Mineral Wells Fossil Park (www.mineralwellsfossilpark.com), and now is available for fossil enthusiasts to come and collect fossils.  

In recent years, the borrow pit has become a mecca for the avid fossil hunter, the amateur and professional paleontologist, and various fossil, paleontological, gem and mineral groups and societies in Texas and the surrounding states.

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Brachiopods - Bridgeport, Wise Co., TX

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Kingdom: Animalia, Phylum: Brachiopoda,

This formation in Bridgeport, TX and is exposed as a result of the city excavation near the spillway of the lake in Bridgeport.   project that eventually exposed the layers containing fossils. Area road cuts are loaded with crinoids and the brachiopods from the Pennsylvanian Era that are shown below.