abeski02 Posted October 26, 2020 Share Posted October 26, 2020 My dad found this rock in the Vermillion River in Illinois last weekend during a camping trip. While my dad insists it's a petrified toe or a toe that was possibly covered in mud then compressed (or something of the like???? I'm not quite sure...), I personally think it's just a rock. Can someone please help officially determine what exactly it is? Thank you! -Abby Link to post Share on other sites
Thomas.Dodson Posted October 26, 2020 Share Posted October 26, 2020 Hi Abby, Based on what I can see I suspect this to be an iron oxide concretion (just a rock). They are fairly abundant in the Vermillion River Basin from what I've seen and sometimes form very odd and symmetrical shapes. There are many fossils found in the Vermillion River but are usually marine invertebrate fossils from the paleozoic era, things like corals, crinoids, and brachiopods (a shelled animal). I have found shark teeth and trilobites on the Salt Fork Vermillion River before. 2 Link to post Share on other sites
Paleostoric Posted October 26, 2020 Share Posted October 26, 2020 Agree looks geologic in origin. Link to post Share on other sites
Ludwigia Posted October 26, 2020 Share Posted October 26, 2020 I can understand why your father believes that this is a petrified toe, since it looks like my big toe after a long downhill hike. However, the chances that something like that could be preserved are over a zillion to one. Therefore I'll go along with the concretion suggestion, also since the appearance of the reverse side gives it away. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
minnbuckeye Posted October 26, 2020 Share Posted October 26, 2020 GREAT Rock!!!!!!! I have a rock, actually a fossil, that is a spitting image of the male anatomy. When friends see that on my shelf, it is often the first thing that is brought up. Make up some wild story about your toe to tell people about. It is a fun way of bringing interest to simply "a rock"!!!!! Mike 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites
dinosaur man Posted October 26, 2020 Share Posted October 26, 2020 14 hours ago, abeski02 said: My dad found this rock in the Vermillion River in Illinois last weekend during a camping trip. While my dad insists it's a petrified toe or a toe that was possibly covered in mud then compressed (or something of the like???? I'm not quite sure...), I personally think it's just a rock. Can someone please help officially determine what exactly it is? Thank you! -Abby Seems to be just a rock Link to post Share on other sites
jforbes Posted February 25 Share Posted February 25 On 10/25/2020 at 9:44 PM, Thomas.Dodson said: Hi Abby, Based on what I can see I suspect this to be an iron oxide concretion (just a rock). They are fairly abundant in the Vermillion River Basin from what I've seen and sometimes form very odd and symmetrical shapes. There are many fossils found in the Vermillion River but are usually marine invertebrate fossils from the paleozoic era, things like corals, crinoids, and brachiopods (a shelled animal). I have found shark teeth and trilobites on the Salt Fork Vermillion River before. Are you familiar with what species your shark teeth are from the salt fork? Ive never been on this river but I live fairly close. Link to post Share on other sites
Thomas.Dodson Posted February 25 Share Posted February 25 (edited) 1 hour ago, jforbes said: Are you familiar with what species your shark teeth are from the salt fork? Ive never been on this river but I live fairly close. To be absolutely specific it is a petalodont shark, or rather a holocephalan. It is Peripristis semicircularis. Edited February 25 by Thomas.Dodson 2 Link to post Share on other sites
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