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As the title states, I have a few questions regarding the burn test. We hunt glacial deposits in eastern Kansas, and find many bones, some obviously not fossil (we chuck these) and some that are definitely fossil. I do understand that the river tends to darken bones, and give the appearance of fossil. However, we have found several bones that have the right color to be fossil, are exceptionally heavy for their size, and 'feel' right to be a fossil. Strangely though, when I do the burn test on them, they will not char or burn but give off a more subtle 'burnt hair' smell. Of course, on definite non-fossil bones, they smell badly and tend to usually char/burn. SO, my question: Is the burn test a definite decider on whether a bone is fossil or not? I have heard of Bison Latifrons bones not passing the burn test, yet they are without question 'fossils'. Also, I know it doesn't really apply to this, but I have also heard of collagen being preserved even in dinosaur bones; at least in small amounts. Could some collagen be preserved in some of our bones? So, is the burn test definitive? Or should I toss bones that char and burn, but ones that smell but do not burn, keep? Hopefully y'all understand what I'm getting at here. Thank you so much in advance

I know what it looks like however that could be imagination so hoping someone could help out.

I found this in the banks of the Yukon River in Alaska yesterday. this spring it flooded and 20ish feet of riverbank was washed away. this was in the washed-out area. it seems to be hard like petrified. At first i thought it was part of an antler but asking around here people did not think it was from a moose because it was to flat and has a knob and not the right shape. so maybe another horned mammal or a bone. Any ideas? it is hard and cannot scratch it it is 7 inches long and 4 inches at the widest part

Please help me determine if this is a fossil. My dog had it in its mouth, but is mineralized and heavy. It was found in Fairfax County Virginia. Thanks!

I have found a burned petrified and opalized tree buried under a hundred feet of basalt with plenty of mineralization. I am trying to find out where i can have it identified and appraised. Thank you for your help. This was found in the northwest United States in the Colombia river gorge in Oregon.

Long time no post for me. So is this bone or antler? It is heavy for it's size so mineralization is present. Normally I am finding what I believe is Cretaceous pet wood in this area and I have found a few bits of turtle shell and what are two possible bits of bird bone also. I suspect the bone/antler is not as old as Cretaceous though I might be wrong. Thanks Robert

I found this bone in central Virginia, just west of Richmond. I'm having no luck in identifying it, so any help would be appreciated. It seems to be fossilized / mineralized, but not absolutely sure. Thanks for any input!