Jump to content

Could this be a coprolite?


Garry

Recommended Posts

Hi, I hope everyone is well.

I was out walking at a location close to Darwen in the UK, north of England on a moor. Happened to come across a small stream the banks very eroded and collapsing so decided to walk the stream and check rocks for fossils and other artifacts and came across a large heavy oval shaped rock under the bank which had collapsed hidden from view I had to reach in and under to get it. It stuck out like a sore thumb from all other rocks, is unusually very heavy for size of the rock. Strange colours and has a gloss effect to it and one side is smoother than the other that may have been exposed to droplets from under the bank side. It wasn't in the stream. Does anybody know what it is? Object is about 6.5 inches long.IMG_20220422_155423.thumb.jpg.f3be16e375aa97ebf920ad1020819618.jpg

 

 

IMG_20220422_155426.jpg

IMG_20220422_155442.jpg

IMG_20220422_155451.jpg

IMG_20220422_155524.jpg

IMG_20220423_085412.jpg

IMG_20220423_085425.jpg

  • Enjoyed 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Now that's interesting! I can see why you picked it up.  I would have as well.

 

 It doesn't appear to be a fossil of any sorts.  

 

The highly polished nature is likely due to stream tumbling but...  there is something that makes me wonder if it is a prehistoric lithic tool of some sorts (hammer, pestle, etc). I can't put my finger on it...call it a gut feeling

 

I'd keep it

'Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.'

George Santayana

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yes exactly it stuck out from everything else along the stream and isn't like anything I've come across before stone wise.

 

Interesting what you say there is evidence of early human activity across this area, 5 miles west approx. there is a bronze age burial mound.

 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noon_Hill_(North_West_England)

 

Walking along the stream, there was evidence other people had done similar, dog walkers etc. Except I spent some time searching the stream banks etc. So obviously been missed by others as it was underneath a partial bank collapse. It's quite a remote area also.

 

A very strange rock indeed. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Does it react to acid (vinegar or muriatic / hydrochloric acid)?

 

3 hours ago, Garry said:

unusually very heavy for size of the rock

You may try to compare directly with a similar sized "normal" rock. If it is really, really heavy*, it could be baryte. Or less likely celestite.

 

*Edit: Dolomite or magnesite are also somewhat heavier than "normal" rocks. A quick acid test would be negative, but these minerals will dissolve in hot muriatic acid, especially when powdered.

 

Franz Bernhard

Edited by FranzBernhard
Link to comment
Share on other sites

it is very pretty,  My fall back position is take it to a local museum, in this case an archeology department to evaluate it as an human artifact.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thank you for the comments so far, it is quite a lot heavier than a rock of the same size. It didn't react to vinegar either when I put it on with a pipette at two locations on the rock and left it. I can't find any other images online of the same type of rock, when searching chert, celestite, dolomite, magnesite, and baryte. I will keep looking though to see if I can find a similar rock example online. 

 

I will email Manchester history museum the closest museum to me, they have a large section on rocks, fossils and crystals etc. Can anyone recommend an expert to contact also, via email?

 

I am going to head back to the remote stream location on the moor also next week to have another look, see what else I can find and will photograph the location which I didn't do last time. 

 

I did also find further down the stream quarter of a mile away evidence of human activity, some broken black glazed clay pot vessel pieces but I suspect this isn't that old perhaps a few hundred years it was just lying there requiring no removing of rocks/debris in the stream. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

just a guess...

not sure what's the English for the Italian "breccia con struttura (incipiente) a coccarda"; maybe "cockade breccia"? (at an early stage).

ciao

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't think it's a breccia con struttura, I don't know of this kind of rock being found around these parts but I will look into this also.

 

Could it be coprolite? Attached examples from Google. 

 

 

IMG_20220425_155940.jpg

IMG_20220425_155957.jpg

IMG_20220425_160011.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi, I found this under a collapsed stream bank; already exposed underneath the edge of the collapse hidden from the eye though. Very smooth, and very heavy compared to a rock of similar size. The edge that is the smoothest was exposed to droplets from the underside of the stream bank, slightly rougher side facing down. Could it be a coprolite weathered by water? 

IMG_20220423_085425.jpg

IMG_20220423_085412.jpg

IMG_20220422_155524.jpg

IMG_20220422_155423.jpg

IMG_20220422_155426.jpg

IMG_20220422_155416.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

@Garry

It is best for conversational continuity and to limit duplication in response that all inquiries about the same object remain in one topic.  I have merged your latest question about this piece.  ;)

The human mind has the ability to believe anything is true.  -  JJ

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...