Jay Wright, Kentucky Miner, Finds 300-Million-Year-Old Shark Fossil

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- A miner has found a fossil from a shark jawbone deep in a central Kentucky mine and now it is on display at the University of Kentucky.

The fossil was found in February in Webster County, Ky., where 25-year-old miner Jay Wright was working to bolt a roof 700 feet underground. The 300-million-year-old black jawbone is believed to be from a shark from the Edestus genus that once swam the seas over what is now Kentucky.

Wright said in an interview Friday with The Lexington Herald Leader that his first thought was "Gosh, what is this thing?"

Jerry Weisenfluh, associate director of the Kentucky Geological Survey in Lexington, said a fossil this large is rare. It's now on display in the lobby of UK's Mines and Minerals building.

Comments

[MadamRoma]

09:15 AM on 04/16/2011

In Kentucky, are you sure it wasn't a giant loan shark.

[JeZeus]

11:09 PM on 04/14/2011

A 300 million old shark fossil in Kentucky? There is no such thing. It must have been planted there by Satan.

[Milstar]

04:53 PM on 04/15/2011

No, fossils are just something that the Jews buried in 1924.

[Libby123]

09:38 AM on 04/17/2011

My goodness, they are crafty!

[DMure]

02:26 PM on 04/14/2011

Jesus invented sharks to terrorize non believing seafarers

[johnminehan]

10:30 AM on 04/14/2011

Sharks: kill and eat things and make baby sharks. Repeat for all eternity.

[drp103]

09:30 AM on 04/14/2011

Correction: the article should have read 300 million minutes ago.

[JOHNMEDLIN]

09:15 AM on 04/14/2011

OMG I must immediately call a Republican to see what's going on. According to them the earth is only 5000 years old. Someone must have planted that "fossil" to shake our faith in God. Huh?Whadda ya think?

[drp103]

08:49 AM on 04/14/2011

Soon it will be on display at the Christan Theme Park, where it will be shown being ridden by a resident of Atlantis

[Natalie Longurl]

07:37 AM on 04/14/2011

They found the GOP's heritage at last! How about that box of Kleenex still clutched in the hands of John Bohner's ancestors known as the Weepys. Hope the past isn't a prophetic glimpse of our future.

[Imagine 39]

12:44 PM on 04/15/2011

Sadly it is a omen of our future. Boehner wants us to join his clan of the weepys after they gut our countries economy and cause global financial collapse.

[American in Exile]

03:07 AM on 04/14/2011

Impossible. The earth is only 6,000 years old... or don't they teach "rightly" in Kentucky?

[cybolt]

02:54 AM on 04/14/2011

Truly exceptional find. And for the most part... truly odorous comments.

[haaaaha]

12:31 AM on 04/14/2011

Screw that fossil. I need the power to run my stereo tonight. Just throw it in with the rest of the coal and light'er up. I'm sure it will burn reeeel niiiice.

[altosax]

11:19 PM on 04/13/2011

How can this fossil be 300 million years old? Four out of ten Americans, who are all allowed to vote, drive a car and reproduce, believe that the Earth is only six thousand years old.

[wiseirishwoman]

10:16 PM on 04/13/2011

This article is about a man finding a 300-year-old-million shark fossil. It is NOT about politics or religion. It is not about Liberals, Conservatives or Progressives. Not everything has to be about politics or religion OR does it to some of you posting childish and ignorant comments? Grow up and get a life.

[Isenki]

12:59 AM on 04/14/2011

You don't want to talk about religion? Are you some sort of New Age secularist?

/troll

[wiseirishwoman]

01:17 AM on 04/14/2011

No, I'm a Catholic, /Troll

[NuttieButter]

05:13 AM on 04/14/2011

right on man!

[Skip Chalker]

09:56 PM on 04/13/2011

Wow, I thought all of the fossils in Kentucky were invertebrates, like Mitch McConnell.

[Isenki]

01:02 AM on 04/14/2011

How dare you! Turtles have spines!

[random100]

01:49 AM on 04/14/2011

Funny

[winniecm]

09:12 AM on 04/14/2011

What's Jan Brewer doing in Kentucky?

[Allen Reed Jensen]

09:11 PM on 04/13/2011

I think this is an awesome discovery. Whatever you do don't tell Ken Ham!