I think it's a vertebra/ fossil , but i'm not quite sure. Help!

[Joe Salande]

Greetings guys/ gals:

This is something that I found in the desert out of Del Rio , Texas. I'm pretty sure it's a vertebrae, but looks odd, sort of like a vertebra with a compression fracture.

It's definitely bone, I can see the trabeculization pattern. I'm puzzled because it's heavier then actual bone, but a bit litter then a solid rock.

It is a heavy lime stone area which could account for the lighter weight .

So, any thoughts would be greatly helpful. Thanks in advance.

Joe

 

[facehugger]

Sorry - but I'm gonna go with odd-shaped rock on this one. Others more eloquent will cast their stones soon enough.

[Nanosaurus]

More photos from different angles if possible would help. This reminds me of a mammal astragalus (ankle bone).

[Rockwood]

1 hour ago, Joe Salande said:

It is a heavy lime stone area

That spells modern I think. I agree with mammal astragalus. Looks pretty horsey to me.

[Lorne Ledger]

Looks horsey to me as well - pretty small astagalus to be from a modern horse I would think.   If it feels heavy and passes the burn test, I would say it is fossil.  I also feel it is necessary to keep pointing out that just because your geologic age in an area is cretaceous doesnt meant there weren't plenty of opportunities for later ages of animals to be present in erosional layers above the older limestone.  If it is fossil, I would explore Plio-Pleistocene horses for some comparison.  

[jpc]

perissodactyl astragalus, so it could be horse.  I am not sure how big a modern horse astragalus would be, but it could be a youngster as well.  

(Perissodactyls are odd toed ungulates... horses, rhinos and tapirs... and some fossil forms that are related to them  )

 

[Joe Salande]

Well thanks guys!

At least that leads me in a direction. 

I tried the burn test, but didn't smell anything at all.

So I guess that/s a pass for a fossil, but still not sure.

Anyhoo , thanks for the input.

Joe