Rare Opalised fossils

[Andre Pterosaur]

Hi Guys 

i am a collector of opalised fossils for 50 years.

i have some very interesting and rare  opalised fossils .

 

these are some opalised fossils I have in my collection.

 

 

 

[Ludwigia]

Welcome to the forum. Very interesting. Could you please describe for us in some detail what you are showing in each photo and perhaps the general area and stratigraphy where these were found?

[Fossildude19]

Welcome.

[Andre Pterosaur]

11 hours ago, Ludwigia said:

Welcome to the forum. Very interesting. Could you please describe for us in some detail what you are showing in each photo and perhaps the general area and stratigraphy where these were found?

As you can see they’re hollow bones , they were replaced with opal ( Silica ).They could be a Tibia / Fibula and a tooth of a Pterosaur.

they are from North Queensland Opal field.

the internal decaying bones structures preserved in translucent precious crystal opal , it’s just incredible .

 

[Andre Pterosaur]

That tooth is still embedded in the sandstone rock, it’s opalised as well.

[Andre Pterosaur]

On the opalised bones we can see the Fibula has been separated from the Tibia, I think from an animal attack .

Anatomically they’re fused together.

 

[JohnJ]

24 minutes ago, Andre Pterosaur said:

As you can see they’re hollow bones , they were replaced with opal ( Silica ).They could be a Tibia / Fibula and a tooth of a Pterosaur.

 

The opal is stunningly beautiful.  However, it is not easy to see what you are calling what.  Can you isolate and name the different parts?  Could you also point out the distinguishing characteristics that support your identifications?  

 

It would be great to educate members about the details... because the colors are blinding.  

[Andre Pterosaur]

You can see that Pterosaur Tibia Fibula from the museum in America the bones are fused together .

along the Fibula head we can see the crest along the bone, and the nutrient foramen hole suffusing the bone with blood and oxygen.

Preserved on the opalised Fibula head you can see the crest along the bone and the nutrient foramen hole suffusing the bone with blood and oxygen .

under the Fibula head it looks like a part of the lower jaw of the pterosaur, they’re more fossils into the rock, I removed an opalised tooth and bone tissues.

it took me over 10 Years to reveal what that rock contained as it’s a hard sandstone boulder 

 

 

[Andre Pterosaur]

That opalised tooth was attached to the bone, so I think it was a part of the upper jaw of the pterosaur 

[Andre Pterosaur]

At the back of the boulder rock there’s un imprint mold body fossil it could’ve been a wing phalanx of the pterosaur,

and next to it there’s it look like part of the wing skin preserved.

[Andre Pterosaur]

[Andre Pterosaur]

That opalised tooth was attached to the bone, so I think it was a part of the upper jaw of the pterosaur 

at the Fibula head on the left the crest along the bone , at the right the suffusing foramen hole .

at the extremity we can see the bone as been crashed by what ever events

( animal attack )?

we can see as well another suffusing foramen hole preserved in the opal 

[Andre Pterosaur]

Inside the opalised Tibia hollow bone we can see the a part of the cortical bone

lay on the the top of the decaying bones preserved.

[Andre Pterosaur]

These  parts of the pterosaur bones and teeth were buried very quickly , after millions of years of compaction they are not distorted.

[JohnJ]

Andre, pardon my skeptical approach, but has any Australian paleontologist confirmed your identifications?  

 

Have other pterosaur remains been found where these pieces were discovered?

 

As I understand things, confirmed pterosaur bones are uncommon finds...so, associated, opalised pterosaur bones probably tip the scales of rarity.  Rare enough to have a pterosaur paleontologist review them for the possibility of an article.  To be fair the old adage is true, 'great claims require great evidence'.

[Andre Pterosaur]

Near the extremity of the Fibula we can see a foramen hole , it may have a sharp-clawed toes attached to the fibula .

[Andre Pterosaur]

Now a few size of these bones 

 

[Andre Pterosaur]

When I started to clean a blue pine fire with my tooth brush and the blue colour was so beautiful and on the side it looked like a bone , I started to take pictures.

it’s so rare to find any opalised see though fossils with internal structures and tissues preserved, but hollow bones it’s just a miracle.

[Andre Pterosaur]

The black spots on the fibula bone could be blood cells, 

and the Tibia head still has bone tissues preserved.

[JohnJ]

1 hour ago, JohnJ said:

Andre, pardon my skeptical approach, but has any Australian paleontologist confirmed your identifications?  

 

Have other pterosaur remains been found where these pieces were discovered?

 

As I understand things, confirmed pterosaur bones are uncommon finds...so, associated, opalised pterosaur bones probably tip the scales of rarity.  Rare enough to have a pterosaur paleontologist review them for the possibility of an article.  To be fair the old adage is true, 'great claims require great evidence'.

 

[Ludwigia]

@Andre Pterosaur This is all quite fascinating and the opal itself is stupendous, but I think that a lot of us would be happy to hear from you, as JohnJ is asking, if your pieces have been studied by a recognized specialist for opalized fossils and particularly for pterosaurs. If not, I would suggest you get in touch with one as soon as possible, since this could prove to be an important scientific discovery if your assumption is correct. I myself have no expertise in either field, so I'm in no position to judge. I'm just enjoying the colors

[doushantuo]

Where's the stuff from, Lightning Ridge?

[JohnJ]

On 4/18/2023 at 11:13 PM, JohnJ said:

Andre, pardon my skeptical approach, but has any Australian paleontologist confirmed your identifications?  

 

Have other pterosaur remains been found where these pieces were discovered?

 

As I understand things, confirmed pterosaur bones are uncommon finds...so, associated, opalised pterosaur bones probably tip the scales of rarity.  Rare enough to have a pterosaur paleontologist review them for the possibility of an article.  To be fair the old adage is true, 'great claims require great evidence'.

 

I'll try again.  With respect to your 50 years of fossil collecting, @Andre Pterosaur, could you please respond to the quoted inquiries?  Thank you, Sir.  

[Brandy Cole]

On 4/19/2023 at 12:18 AM, Andre Pterosaur said:

it’s so rare to find any opalised see though fossils with internal structures and tissues preserved, but hollow bones it’s just a miracle.

I think any find that I make that I consider miraculous would be worth attempting to verify with paleontologists who specialize in that specific type of fossil.  

 

My general rule of thumb is that the more excited about a rare find that I am, the more skeptical I try to force myself to be.  Sometimes I learn that I was right.  Sometimes I learn that I was wrong.  Either way, I learn.

 

I agree with John that I'm curious whether you've checked these pieces out with verified experts in the field.  I know nothing about opal fossils, but if you yourself consider the finds to be unheard of and miraculous, it's worth getting a second look from experts, and we could all learn from what you find out.

[doushantuo]

see my remark above: Lightning Ridge is famous for well-preserved opalized vertebrate  fossils....

edit: just noticed Andre posted some other opalized fossils,with provenance this time

Edited April 21, 2023 by doushantuo