Is this a fossil?

[Backintheusa]

I found this in my backyard when planting a garden.  I live in Eastern Long Island, on the South Fork.  The fossil/rock is heavy with an irregular surface that makes me suspect it is a fossil rather than a rock.  A previous owner of the property had a rock garden, so it is possible that this came from them.  It was also right next to a recently constructed garage, so it might have been unearthed when the garage foundations was being built.  Any help identifying it will be be appreciated.

 

Jim

[Muffinsaurus]

I think it's a rock. It looks like the odd shaped rocks I pull out of the creek behind my house, but I'm no expert. So I'd wait for someone else to chime in on it.

[hadrosauridae]

No, I think its fossil.  Its certainly strange looking, but I see a lot of elements of bone in that.  I would certainly stop and pay attention to it if I found that while scouting a dino site!  In fact, it looks way more like a fossil than the piece of triceratops frill I just found.

Edited September 1, 2022 by hadrosauridae

[Fossildude19]

Looks like rock to me as well. 

 

[FranzBernhard]

Welcome to TFF from Austria!

 

Strange!

 

First thought was slag.

Second thought was bone.

Third thought was - First and second thoughts are nonsense .

 

I really have no idea. More data are needed:

- Close-up of the broken area in pic #4.

- Is it magnetic?

- Whats the specific gravity / density? Can you make a specific gravity determination. All that is needed is kitchen scale to 1 g, a fine string and a beaker.

 

Edit: Ok, I am seeing a grainy texture in the 4th pic and some curvature to the fabric. Preliminary hypothesis is, that this is a fine grained, folded metamorph rock (gneiss) with a dark patina.

Franz Bernhard

Edited September 1, 2022 by FranzBernhard

[Ludwigia]

As far as I understand it, no dinosaurs have ever been found on Long Island, so I wouldn't get my hopes up there. This thing is so mysterious to me that I doubt it's possible to come to a final conclusion about its identity unless a real expert can make any sense out of it here. I would suggest taking it to your nearest Natural History Museum for analysis.

[Brandy Cole]

I agree with @Ludwigia. I think you're going to need someone to hold it in hand to give you a positive ID.

 

But it does have some elements that resemble fossil more than rock to me.  And I think Pleistocene fossil material has been found around long island, although they may just be marine, which I know nothing about.

Almost reminds me of a worn osteoderm from the turtle family.

 

 

Edited September 1, 2022 by Brandy Cole
Left out important description

[fifbrindacier]

So do i.

Besides, welcome.

[Backintheusa]

Thanks, everyone.  I am happy to at least know that, at the very least, this is intriguing to those who know more than me.  I am not home at the moment but will take some more photos and measure the specific gravity when I return next week.  Beyond that, I think the general consensus is correct that this needs to be seen by an expert.  I suspect that will require taking it into Manhattan, but I will also check closer to home.  Manhattan is a three hour trip, so I'll probably have to wait for another reason to head to the city.

 

More to follow...