Crusty_Crab Posted May 19, 2021 Share Posted May 19, 2021 A member of my monthly bug chat group is trying to figure out what this might be and I offered to post it here to get some ideas. It was dug from a hillside in San Pedro, where clams and crabs were also found. My best guess is the formation is Pleistocene Palos Verdes Sand. They have shown it to the ichthyology sections of the LA County Natural History Museum and seem to have ruled out it came from a fish. My best guess is maybe some sort of coprolite? However, its huge and I also wouldn't rule out some sort of human made artifact. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamieLynn Posted May 19, 2021 Share Posted May 19, 2021 Can you post some closer close ups? www.fossil-quest.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lone Hunter Posted May 19, 2021 Share Posted May 19, 2021 That is wicked cool. Dying to know what the heck it is! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnJ Posted May 19, 2021 Share Posted May 19, 2021 It looks like some kind of extruded material used for industrial or building purposes. 1 The human mind has the ability to believe anything is true. - JJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas.Dodson Posted May 19, 2021 Share Posted May 19, 2021 I'd like to see some closeups but the texture looks like sun bleached/buffered wood. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FranzBernhard Posted May 19, 2021 Share Posted May 19, 2021 Are you able to narrow down the composition a little bit? Thanks! Franz Bernhard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abyssunder Posted May 19, 2021 Share Posted May 19, 2021 Egg case of some sort? Maybe something close to whelk egg case? 1 " We are not separate and independent entities, but like links in a chain, and we could not by any means be what we are without those who went before us and showed us the way. " Thomas Mann My Library Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crusty_Crab Posted May 20, 2021 Author Share Posted May 20, 2021 On 5/18/2021 at 7:17 PM, JamieLynn said: Can you post some closer close ups? On 5/18/2021 at 7:55 PM, Thomas.Dodson said: I'd like to see some closeups but the texture looks like sun bleached/buffered wood. I asked for some higher resolution images which shows the texture a little better: 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crusty_Crab Posted May 20, 2021 Author Share Posted May 20, 2021 On 5/18/2021 at 7:31 PM, JohnJ said: It looks like some kind of extruded material used for industrial or building purposes. That's definitely a possibility, it looked extruded which made me think either coprolite or human made. On 5/18/2021 at 9:45 PM, FranzBernhard said: Are you able to narrow down the composition a little bit? Thanks! Franz Bernhard The close up pictures looks like some sort of stone or concrete, but let me know if it looks different. On 5/19/2021 at 1:33 PM, abyssunder said: Egg case of some sort? Maybe something close to whelk egg case? The size (more than a foot long) seemed to preclude a mollusk, and the ichthyologists eliminated the possibility of originating from a fish. Would it be possible to get an egg case that large? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamieLynn Posted May 21, 2021 Share Posted May 21, 2021 Is it indeed fossilized? Silly question, but it's impossible to tell from pictures. www.fossil-quest.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FranzBernhard Posted May 21, 2021 Share Posted May 21, 2021 5 hours ago, Crusty_Crab said: The close up pictures looks like some sort of stone or concrete, but let me know if it looks different. Thanks! It looks indeed something like extruded. Is it heavy or lightweight for its size? Or "normal" like a common stone? Does it fizz with vinegar / muriatic acid? Does it react to a flame / torch in any way? Thanks! Franz Bernhard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abyssunder Posted May 21, 2021 Share Posted May 21, 2021 8 hours ago, Crusty_Crab said: The size (more than a foot long) seemed to preclude a mollusk, and the ichthyologists eliminated the possibility of originating from a fish. Would it be possible to get an egg case that large? " Whelks lay their eggs in a long, spiral-shaped casing that can reach up to 33 inches in length. " 1 " We are not separate and independent entities, but like links in a chain, and we could not by any means be what we are without those who went before us and showed us the way. " Thomas Mann My Library Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yoda Posted May 21, 2021 Share Posted May 21, 2021 On 5/19/2021 at 3:55 AM, Thomas.Dodson said: I'd like to see some closeups but the texture looks like sun bleached/buffered wood. I agree. L:ooks like some sort of warped driftwood How heavy is it?? MotM August 2023 - Eclectic Collector Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crusty_Crab Posted May 26, 2021 Author Share Posted May 26, 2021 On 5/20/2021 at 8:02 PM, JamieLynn said: Is it indeed fossilized? Silly question, but it's impossible to tell from pictures. Thats a legit question. I'm posting this on behalf of someone else so I don't have it in front of me, but thats one of reasons why I haven't ruled out a human made object. @FranzBernhard and @Yoda Sorry for the delayed response, I had to ask the original finder of this and these are their responses: It is heavy, that was what has made us all think it quite unusual. Almost as heavy as stone. Ive attached a photo of it after applying some white vinegar. Nothing, no fizzing etc That is the same area I applied flame, with not reaction what so ever. On 5/21/2021 at 12:23 AM, abyssunder said: " Whelks lay their eggs in a long, spiral-shaped casing that can reach up to 33 inches in length. " I definitely did not know that, cool! Its a possibility as well. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FranzBernhard Posted May 26, 2021 Share Posted May 26, 2021 (edited) Thanks for the additional info! Sorry, no further idea . Did you see this topic? Franz Bernhard Edited May 26, 2021 by FranzBernhard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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