Arizona Posted December 14, 2020 Share Posted December 14, 2020 Found in sandy wash in North Phoenix desert after rainfall. Please identify, and if more pictures needed let me know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brett Breakin' Rocks Posted December 14, 2020 Share Posted December 14, 2020 Hi there, Welcome to the forum. 31 minutes ago, Arizona said: Please identify, and if more pictures needed let me know. This is geological in origin, and most likely, from a formation that is showing fractures or weak points in the rock created when the rock cooled when it was formed. Basalt is famous for similar columns formed when cooling. Usually hexagonal in shape. This image is an example of the process on a much larger scale. Cheers, Brett 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sjfriend Posted December 14, 2020 Share Posted December 14, 2020 As Brett Breakin Rocks stated, your rock is igneous (cold lava) Phoenix (and most of Central- Southern AZ) is covered in that stuff! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LabRatKing Posted December 14, 2020 Share Posted December 14, 2020 I agree with the others, that's some beautiful basalt. It also has some of the nicest looking "desert varnish" on it. Very interesting specimen. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arizona Posted December 14, 2020 Author Share Posted December 14, 2020 (edited) Thank you for the quick reply, saved me from endless digging to find the rest of an ancient beast which would not be there... Edited December 14, 2020 by Arizona 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LabRatKing Posted December 14, 2020 Share Posted December 14, 2020 This basic guide may help you in future endeavors since much of the southwest has lots of igneous (and therefor non fossil bearing) rocks laying around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DPS Ammonite Posted December 14, 2020 Share Posted December 14, 2020 1 hour ago, Arizona said: Thank you for the quick reply, saved me from endless digging to find the rest of an ancient beast which would not be there... Greetings from Scottsdale. Check our two local groups that have trips to collect fossils: The Southwest Paleontological Society http://swpaleosociety.com and the Mineralogical Society of Arizona https://www.msaaz.org Fossils are rare in the Phoenix area. There are isolated Pleistocene vertebrates in the alluvium, plants in the Miocene redbeds in Tempe and isolated plants and vertebrates in the Miocene volcaniclastics and lacustrine sediments north of Phoenix. 1 My goal is to leave no stone or fossil unturned. See my Arizona Paleontology Guide link The best single resource for Arizona paleontology anywhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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