ROCKS WITH FOSSIL SHELLS

Rocks containing fossil shells are not common in the Southern Appalachian Coal Fields, but they seem to be somewhat more abundant in the Alabama fields than they do further north. In some areas, rocks of this type are useful in establishing correlation of coal seams and their presence should be carefully noted in logging. Fossil shells occur most commonly in limestones and shales and less commonly in sandstones and sandy shales. Most are readily visible on the sides of the core (e.g. 82R and 85L), but some small flat shells (e.g. lower 83R), are not so apparent and require examination of the broken butt ends of the core. If such fossils are essential in establishing correlations, black shales and darker shades of dark gray shale and sandy shale should be examined in this manner. Listed below are the rock types with code numbers in which fossil shells have been found. Also indicated are the pages on which rocks with fossil shells are illustrated.

Massive Fine Grained Limestone with Fossil Shells 994 82L, 82R, and upper right p. 83
Massive Fine Grained Shaley Limestone with Fossil Shells 894 82R
Ironstone with Fossil Shells 079 not illustrated
Black Shale with Fossil Shells 119 84R and lower right p. 83
Dark Gray Shale with Limestone Nodules and Fossil Shells 229 83L
Dark Gray Shale with Fossil Shells 129 not illustrated
Dark Gray Sandy Shale with Fossil Shells 329 84L
Gray Sandstone with Fossil Shells 549 85L and 85R