Hello Conchlers,

This list is a GREAT help to those in need of assistance.  I have heard from
another gentleman, Neil Ross, in London, and he requires some urgent help in
IDing a couple of  fossils.  His mystery fossils are located at:
http://www.manandmollusc.net/mystery_fossil_neil.html  which in turn is now
connected to the new Man and Mollusc Page, that of Mystery Shells at:
http://www.manandmollusc.net/id_help.html.

As Neil is not as yet a Conch-L member, he has given me permission to
forward his letter to myself to this list in hopes that he will get some
much needed help.  His letter follows:

<"These fossils were taken from a site on the southern coast of Spain (Near
Nerja), and are from a loess/fluvial deposit radiocarbon dated at the base
to 26,450+/-100yrs BP. The shells are approximately 20mm long. Admittedly
preservation is not ideal, and I have had difficulty removing carbonate
coatings from them.

All the experts seem stumped due to the poor preservation and carbonate
coating, but seem to think it might be fresh water in origin. It will
certainly involve a little bit of a rewrite between now and next
Thursday if this is true, as it tends to suggest that the deposit is a
fluvially redeposited loess (this had been suspected due to a few gravel
lenses in the sequence but I had interpreted these as more localised
channelisation).

I need them to be identified for a dissertation that I am completing. I must
stress that I have left this rather late in the day and that my dissertation
is to be submitted on August the 30th (Next Thursday). I would therefore
very much appreciate as rapid an identification as is possible.

Should you require any further information please do not hesitate to contact
me.

Mr Neil Ross
MSc Quaternary Science
Department of Geography
Royal Holloway College
University of London
Egham
TW20 0EX
Tel no: (07967) 821376
Email: [log in to unmask]
   [log in to unmask] " >

I would like to thank each and everyone that has taken the time in the past
to help me find answers for the many questions and or requests for help that
I have not been able to answer personally.  Man and Mollusc generates many
queries and as I am but an amateur, I often have to rely on your help.  This
is so appreciated!  I think that slowly, we are gaining on educating the
public as to how important and interesting the molluscan critters are and
how they have and will continue to influence the world we live in.

My best regards to everyone,

Avril Bourquin
P.O.Box 366
Invermere, British Columbia
Canada
V0A 1K0

Phone: (250) 342-7224
EMail:  [log in to unmask]
URL:  www.manandmollusc.net