LurkingGargoyle Posted May 12, 2021 Share Posted May 12, 2021 Sorry, I hope this isn't making multiple posts. I'm having trouble submitting (I was previously pasting images inline instead of using the "choose files" function). We were exploring a creek outside of Denver, Colorado USA. There was a newly exposed bank about 2.5 meters (8 ft) high. At the bottom was about 1/2 meter (2 ft) of grey clay. We pulled a large clump of clay out and dissolved it in the water. Inside were two possible fossils. We have no idea what we're looking at and have zero experience identifying fossils. Any help is appreciated. Item #1: This looks like a bone, we're not even sure if it is fossilized. It is light, not heavy like a rock; I don't know how significant this is. The shape is odd; it's not like a long bone. There is a flat part on one side and a smooth groove on the other side. The "marrow" is exposed which makes me think it is worn/broken. Is it even possible to preserve the trabeculae like this as a fossil? Its dimensions are about 7 x 6 x 5 cm. Item #2: This feels heavy like a rock but it has a shape and texture that seemed like fossilized wood. Again, we have no experience identifying these things. Photos: These photos were taken over a 1 cm x 1 cm grid. Item #1: The flat part is on the right, groove is on the left. Photo 1: Photo 2: rotated 90 degrees away from the viewer (compared with the first) Photo 3: rotated 180 degrees away from the viewer (compared with the first) Photo 4: rotated 270 degrees away from the viewer (compared with the first) Photo 5: Groove on left Photo 6: Close up of the trabeculae on the back side of the flat part on the right Item #2: Photo 1: Photo 2: close up, right side Photo 3: close up left side Photo 4: rotated 180 degrees away from the viewer Thank you for your help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lone Hunter Posted May 12, 2021 Share Posted May 12, 2021 First one is bone, you can try the burn test to see if it's fossil, hold a flame to it if it smells nasty it's modern. Second one is hard to tell from pictures, doesn't appear to be wood, more sedimentary I think. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpc Posted May 12, 2021 Share Posted May 12, 2021 I imagine the bone is modern, or at best Pleistocene. Fossil bones from the Denver area will look more fossilized. It might be a piece of vertebra. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockwood Posted May 12, 2021 Share Posted May 12, 2021 A second test is the tap test. Tap it lightly with something like a spoon or butter knife. A mineralized fossil will make a distinctively higher pitched sound. The fly in that ointment could be that Pleistocene possibility though. Both tests will help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LurkingGargoyle Posted May 13, 2021 Author Share Posted May 13, 2021 Thank you all for replying. It does sound more like a tap than a ting when hit with metal. I'll have to decide if I should break a piece off to burn it for another test. I like the suggestion that it could be a vertebra. I'll do more research and report back if I ever come to a conclusion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lone Hunter Posted May 13, 2021 Share Posted May 13, 2021 You don't have to break off a peice, it's not like it will catch fire, just 10 sec with flame on tip, it won't even turn black if it's fossil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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