nikkisixx Posted November 17, 2020 Share Posted November 17, 2020 Found in my backyard in southern california. Hard to get a good pic of it, but the center of it is a cone shape. Circular and wide at the top, with the pointy part towards the inner/center. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockwood Posted November 17, 2020 Share Posted November 17, 2020 Chunkosaur ! Piece of fossil bone. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nikkisixx Posted November 17, 2020 Author Share Posted November 17, 2020 My first bone! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockwood Posted November 17, 2020 Share Posted November 17, 2020 The odds may tilt slightly toward it being from a cetacean. There is likely no way to be certain though. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
val horn Posted November 17, 2020 Share Posted November 17, 2020 it looks like bone to me as well. Next question is it a fossil or more recent. A burn test will answer that. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockwood Posted November 17, 2020 Share Posted November 17, 2020 7 minutes ago, 10313horn said: it looks like bone to me as well. Next question is it a fossil or more recent. A burn test will answer that. Quite true. Modern bone seems unlikely to end up shaped like this however. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
val horn Posted November 17, 2020 Share Posted November 17, 2020 the darker area makes me think of the presence of biological material which is why I suggested a burn test. That and the fact that it isnt going to harm a fossil makes it seem reasonable to me. I had not really thought about how you would get that shaped chunk in a recent bone-- maybe chew toy ?? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nikkisixx Posted November 18, 2020 Author Share Posted November 18, 2020 I held it exactly like this with the flame to the corner, it burned the porous part and there was a very light scent. But really, really light, and had to be tested twice to be sure it was a burning hair smell, and not just the dirt I was probably inhaling from having to put it directly to my nose to catch any scent. But it didn't char, or seem to change the integrity of the bone. Just the color. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LabRatKing Posted November 18, 2020 Share Posted November 18, 2020 On 11/17/2020 at 4:17 PM, Rockwood said: Chunkosaur ! Piece of fossil bone. I disagree. It's Chiplodocus. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
val horn Posted November 19, 2020 Share Posted November 19, 2020 A true fossil does not char or smell. . Is there something in between fossil and fresh maybe. I have a bone from Nebraska that is very heavy, but didnt pass the burn test light char, light smell-- from my gas stove I am keeping it hoping that it is very late pleistocene bone and partially fossilized. It isn't in my display case , but not in the garage junk pile either. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockwood Posted November 19, 2020 Share Posted November 19, 2020 1 hour ago, 10313horn said: A true fossil does not char or smell. There are exceptions, and the smell can take a bit of tuning. I'd keep it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockwood Posted November 19, 2020 Share Posted November 19, 2020 You might try a tap test. Tap it lightly with a spoon. The pitch of the sound it makes will either match that made by a stone or a modern bone. You can experiment to get your ear tuned in. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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