Possible vertebra?

[Sinestia]

I have a little over 60 acres here in Southern New Mexico so I find some great specimens almost daily, unfortunately my knowledge in this field is minimal at best so I am grateful to read your comments and very eager to learn. 

[caterpillar]

Looks like stalactite

[Lone Hunter]

Could stalactite be so straight? Last picture made me think bacculite but  never looked at stalactite close up.

[caterpillar]

A stalactite is often straight since it falls towards the ground and gravity makes it straight. It is often made of calcite like here. It is formed by the flow of infiltration water. We can see the hole that corresponds to the passage of water

[Sinestia]

I like your theory however why the visible cracking on the surface? Is this common?

[Sinestia]

[Lone Hunter]

Maybe it's just me but looks like suture marks/pattern on outside.

[Sinestia]

28 minutes ago, caterpillar said:

A stalactite is often straight since it falls towards the ground and gravity makes it straight. It is often made of calcite like here. It is formed by the flow of infiltration water. We can see the hole that corresponds to the passage of water

Would suggest that stalactites are hollow to a degree correct?

[Fossildude19]

Yes. 

This is definitely some type of flowstone. 

I see nothing resembling Baculite sutures on this item.   

[Sinestia]

4 hours ago, Fossildude19 said:

Yes. 

This is definitely some type of flowstone. 

I see nothing resembling Baculite sutures on this item.   

Could it possibly be something like a "soda straw"  stalactite?

[Fossildude19]

9 minutes ago, Sinestia said:

Could it possibly be something like a "soda straw"  stalactite?

 

Possibly. 

 

 

From THIS PDF.

[JohnJ]

Definitely some type of calcite based speleotherm.  The "cracks" are the cleavage lines in and between the calcite crystals.

[Sinestia]

4 hours ago, JohnJ said:

Definitely some type of calcite based speleotherm.  The "cracks" are the cleavage lines in and between the calcite crystals.

 

4 hours ago, Fossildude19 said:

 

Possibly. 

 

 

From THIS PDF.

That's good enough for me. Really appreciate the help. One more question and likely an ignorant one but how does this beautiful piece turn up on the surface of a desert in Southern New Mexico? 

[Fossildude19]

23 minutes ago, Sinestia said:

 

That's good enough for me. Really appreciate the help. One more question and likely an ignorant one but how does this beautiful piece turn up on the surface of a desert in Southern New Mexico? 

Flooding through caves, would be my guess.

Maybe human intervention? 

Anything is possible.