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Showing results for tags 'test'.
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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
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Hi all! I found this tiny fossil today. It is a bit under half a cm long at its longest point. I can only imagine this is an echinoid but some confirmation would be great! Found in some very fossiliferous rock on the UW Madison campus in Dane County Wisconsin, known for being late Cambrian - early Ordovician. No clue where this rock was quarried. Thanks so much!
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Hello, I acquired these pieces of "Burmese amber" of Myanmar on an auction site: shipping from China. They have irregular, natural-looking inclusions such as tiny Diptera flies, wasps etc., and feel very lightweight and relatively warm to the touch. However, that fact that they ship from China made me nervous so I did some tests, and I think I'm down to Amber vs. Polystyrene for the following reasons: 1. I did the saltwater test. These pieces float in saturated saltwater, which to my understanding narrows it down to amber, copal and polystyrene. 2. I did the acetone test. Placed a drop on each, let them dry, placed another drop and wiped. They all seemed impervious, no tackiness. Afaik this rules out copal. Unless it also rules out polystyrene? I read that acetone dissolves styrofoam which has polystyrene (https://www.google.com/amp/s/astrocampschool.org/recycling/amp/), but I'm not sure if that applies here as this isn't exactly styrofoam. So now I'm down to amber and polystyrene, which is a pretty specific comparison. I didn't do the hot needle+smell test as I don't want to potentially breathe in harmful material. If acetone doesn't rule out polystyrene does anyone know of a easy test to distinguish these two? Thanks!
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Hi guys, I'm new here! I just wanted to ask if the burn test is always reliable. A year ago I found a tooth near a creek, it's certainly bovid but I still can't understand if it's a modern one or prehistoric/Pleistocene. I've burnt it and it doesn't smell like burnt hair, but at the same time it kinda smells weird. So does the burn test always says the truth?
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I made this chart about the Greenriver formation, and I was making sure I had everything right. I know I am missing 3 fish, but I could find no evidence of predation or them preying on any other fish. My conclusion was that Amia was the super predator!
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The Nerdiest Christmas Cards Ever May Be These Microscope Slides Composed of Shells The unusual holiday exchange, which lasted decades during the early 20th-century, hints at the drama between the two colleagues Smithsonian By Allison C. Meier, December 17, 2018 https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/two-scientists-exchanged-christmas-greetings-microscope-slides-180971049/ A century ago, two scientists exchanged fantastic microscope slides as Christmas cards https://boingboing.net/2018/12/17/a-century-ago-two-scientists.html Yours, Paul H.
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The Nerdiest Christmas Cards Ever May Be These Microscope Slides Composed of Shells The unusual holiday exchange, which lasted decades during the early 20th-century, hints at the drama between the two colleagues Smithsonian By Allison C. Meier, December 17, 2018 https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/two-scientists-exchanged-christmas-greetings-microscope-slides-180971049/ A century ago, two scientists exchanged fantastic microscope slides as Christmas cards https://boingboing.net/2018/12/17/a-century-ago-two-scientists.html Merry Christmas everybody, Paul H.
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Using mohs hardness scale test for selecting blasting media?
Scuter posted a topic in Questions & Answers
I had received a rock hardness tester kit and was not shore what to do with it. Through some research I was able to find that the testing was known as a mohs test, and this test classifies rock in a 1 to 10 scale. This is nominally used for minerals, but what I was cureus about is using this scale for matrix uncovering fossil prep. If this is possible I wish to use this identification poses for selecting a blasting media. Duos anyone know if this is possible?
