Fossil Bi-valve Plate, Ohio

Description

This is a nice hand sized plate of brachiopods from Ohio.  It was formed on an ancient ocean floor that was abundant with life. The entire piece is made up of fossils with a little bit of matrix. It was formed when these organisms died and fell to the ocean floor where the were buried by other organisms and sediment. Over time they were lithified and preserved as fossils. As time passed, this ancient marine environment was exposed in the rock beds in Ohio where this piece was collected.
Thanks for looking.