fosssilfan Posted May 16, 2020 Share Posted May 16, 2020 Hello! I am new to the forum, and this is my first time posting. Today I was at Moolack Beach on the Oregon Coast (part of the Astoria formation, I think), and I found something I hadn’t seen before. I found it in the surf. Attached are multiple photographs. Please forgive the zoom/occasional blurriness. The fossil seems to be about 10cm (~4in) long, and 5.5cm (~2in) wide at the wider end. Thank you for checking it out! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeschWhat Posted May 16, 2020 Share Posted May 16, 2020 Welcome to the forum! Could you please post higher resolution photos of the sides? The photos are too small and I can't tell if I am looking at mineral or fossil. Lori www.areallycrappystory.com/fossils www.facebook.com/fossilpoo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fosssilfan Posted May 17, 2020 Author Share Posted May 17, 2020 Hi GeschWhat, thank you for taking the time to look at my post! I’ll post a few side photographs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fosssilfan Posted May 17, 2020 Author Share Posted May 17, 2020 Here is another side photo: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeschWhat Posted May 17, 2020 Share Posted May 17, 2020 Okay, I'm seeing bone structure. It looks like a concretion that formed around bone and was weathered. Cool! 2 1 Lori www.areallycrappystory.com/fossils www.facebook.com/fossilpoo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeschWhat Posted May 17, 2020 Share Posted May 17, 2020 Lori www.areallycrappystory.com/fossils www.facebook.com/fossilpoo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeschWhat Posted May 17, 2020 Share Posted May 17, 2020 Just curious, can you post a higher resolution photo of this area? This piece is so weird. I'm trying to visualize what (what part of a skeleton) it is from. Maybe someone else will know. Lori www.areallycrappystory.com/fossils www.facebook.com/fossilpoo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted May 17, 2020 Share Posted May 17, 2020 Looks like a chunk of bone in a concretion, to me. Tim - VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER VFOTM --- APRIL - 2015 __________________________________________________ "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." John Muir ~ ~ ~ ~ ><))))( *> About Me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fosssilfan Posted May 17, 2020 Author Share Posted May 17, 2020 Thank you Fossildude19 for taking a look at it! GeschWhat, here are two photos in different angles of that same spot, with better lighting: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fosssilfan Posted May 17, 2020 Author Share Posted May 17, 2020 Here’s a second top picture: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fosssilfan Posted May 17, 2020 Author Share Posted May 17, 2020 Here’s a slight angle variation from the first one: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeschWhat Posted May 17, 2020 Share Posted May 17, 2020 Hmm, must have just been the angle and lighting. I was trying to see what the circular object was, but it looks like there isn't one. Thanks for indulging me. Lori www.areallycrappystory.com/fossils www.facebook.com/fossilpoo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oregon1955 Posted July 12, 2020 Share Posted July 12, 2020 fosssilfan, welcome to the forum. definitely fossilized bone in a worn concretion typical of the Astoria formation. it's so worn identifying it is challenging. if I had it in hand and had some time to contemplate it I might grok it. the cell structure appears to be mammalian as opposed to the large fish species found in the Astoria. one of the more common vertebrate fossils found at moolack are cetacean vertebrae. my best guess is it's a highly worn whale vertebrae sans the body with only bits of processes remaining. the thin cross section of bone, the size, and hints of thicker associated or connected bone kind of narrows it down to, vertebrae with their transverse processes and neural spines, skulls, and maybe scapula. the size indicates it's too big for dolphins and pinnipeds. that leaves rare desmostylians, even rarer terrestrial mammals, or cetaceans. really a wag on my part and i could be completely wrong. I'm not a paleontologist but I've done field work along that stretch of beach with some very accomplished ones. hope that helps. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boesse Posted July 13, 2020 Share Posted July 13, 2020 Another possibility is that this is a sliver of baleen whale rostrum, not an infrequent discovery in the Astoria Fm. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oregon1955 Posted July 14, 2020 Share Posted July 14, 2020 good catch. a definite possibility. i have even seen highly worn examples of fossilized baleen from the formation. a lot of mysticete material along that stretch of beach. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now