Bone with flint?

[Cairns]

Hi, my daughter found this on our beach in Kitsap County.  (Washington)  The tongue taste test says it’s bone, it sure looks like embedded flint. I realize how very improbable this is, so suspect it’s something tame and obvious but I can’t figure it out. 
Perhaps someone out there can?

  

   

 

[Lone Hunter]

Tooth maybe?

[Harry Pristis]

I'm certain that the people who live in Kitsap County think of it as the center of the universe, but there may be a few of us who don't know where Kitsap County lies. 

 

That said, I think this object is geological, rather than biological in origin.  Flint, or some other SiO2 variety, is a reasonable guess.

[Cairns]

Washington state which yes, is the center of all

 

oh, flint formed inside a “rock”? Ok

[Rockwood]

4 hours ago, Cairns said:

Washington state which yes, is the center of all

 

oh, flint formed inside a “rock”? Ok

I think it is either a clast that was included in the sediment, or possibly just an area of the rock that remains unweathered.

[jacob86795]

It seems to be a part of root, most likely from a whale. the tooth itself has broken off although, in one of the pictures it looks as if a bit of the tooth stayed attached. Definitely something to get checked out at your local museum or palaeontologist.

[Fossildude19]

There is no enamel - so no tooth. 

It's definitely geological in nature, rather than biological. 

Geology produces some weird stuff. 

[Rockwood]

There could be cementum seen on the root end of a tooth. This does not look like cementum however.

Edited May 18, 2021 by Rockwood

[Plax]

Is that gray spot a hole?

[jacob86795]

I thought it could be a root to a whale tooth. as it has a very similar shape and size as the picture above. I could be wrong as it was just a guess but they do look alike

 

[Top Trilo]

Agree with geologic, but it does look like a primitive pencil. (It's nor really a pencil but kinda looks like one)

[Myrmica]

I agree that this is geological, based upon its morphology, which does not resemble a tooth, and especially the location.  The sedimentary rocks in Kitsap county are not noted for fossils like this, nor are rocks to the north which could have been a source for glacial movement.  

[Mahnmut]

Hi Cairns and welcome to the forum!

Flint is often covered by a chalky layer, while at the center of the flint there is often a fossil, like sponges, echinoids or other animal parts. The decaying animal changes the pH of the sediment around it which makes solved silicate less soluble, creating a flint nodule (or sometimes pyrite) around the fossil. The chalky layer is often quite absorbent, just like the porous structure of bone, thus "faking" the tongue test. So flint could explain most of your finds properties. It really resembles a whale tooths root , I am just not sure it is one though.

Best Regards,

J

 

 

[Plax]

3 hours ago, Plax said:

Is that gray spot a hole?

Quoting myself for clarity of my initial remark. I think if the gray area is a hole I see spiral ribbing in it.

[Rockwood]

24 minutes ago, Plax said:

Quoting myself for clarity of my initial remark. I think if the gray area is a hole I see spiral ribbing in it.

Next to last view. Pretty sure it's a fracture pattern. Flint like I think.

[Harry Pristis]

12 hours ago, Cairns said:

Washington state which yes, is the center of all

 

oh, flint formed inside a “rock”? Ok

 

Thank you.

Inside a "rock" (limestone) is the only place where flint is formed.  Flint, chert, and other SiO2 varieties are, after all, sedimentary rocks.

[Rockwood]

Good point. The substance would sit there a long time on the surface.

[Cairns]

7 hours ago, Mahnmut said:

Hi Cairns and welcome to the forum!

Flint is often covered by a chalky layer, while at the center of the flint there is often a fossil, like sponges, echinoids or other animal parts. The decaying animal changes the pH of the sediment around it which makes solved silicate less soluble, creating a flint nodule (or sometimes pyrite) around the fossil. The chalky layer is often quite absorbent, just like the porous structure of bone, thus "faking" the tongue test. So flint could explain most of your finds properties. It really resembles a whale tooths root , I am just not sure it is one though.

Best Regards,

J

 

 

Ah ok thanks for information on limestone and porous point…

[Cairns]

5 hours ago, Harry Pristis said:

 

Thank you.

Inside a "rock" (limestone) is the only place where flint is formed.  Flint, chert, and other SiO2 varieties are, after all, sedimentary rocks.

Thanks. Most of the flint I find is free range and I don’t pick up much limestone. Now I know

Thanks for edification…

 

sounds like consensus is limestone with flint

 

I may get out my lapidary tools if it’s nothing exciting…to see what shape the flint is. It’s a strange object compared to most of our finds

7 hours ago, Myrmica said:

I agree that this is geological, based upon its morphology, which does not resemble a tooth, and especially the location.  The sedimentary rocks in Kitsap county are not noted for fossils like this, nor are rocks to the north which could have been a source for glacial movement.  

Ok thanks for the insights 

[Plax]

So is the gray spot a hole or conchoidal fracture?

[Top Trilo]

1 hour ago, Plax said:

So is the gray spot a hole or conchoidal fracture?

not a hole, the second to last picture shows it best