Possible Fossil Bone Find?

[Retired ATC]

Greetings,

Please review the attached photographs to determine whether this specimens is actual bone (versus rock).

- Location: San Antonio, TX (may not be helpful in identification since the specimen was found in landscape rock). Same landscape rock where I previously found part of a mammoth tooth.  Local construction supervisor was unsure of landscape rock source. 

- Description: Sponge-like formations throughout. Appears to be marrow on two ends. Brought home and rinsed with water and dried.

- Scale is in inches

- Weight is 557 grams.

[Retired ATC]

Greetings,

This post has been up for a few days without one reply, but over 70 views.  I must have missed something in the description.  Please let me know what would help determine whether this is a fossilized bone fragment, or something else. Should I take this to a local museum?  Thank you. 
 

Description:

- Found in landscape rock

- Weight: 1.23 pounds

- Appears to have trabecular bone throughout

- Possible bone marrow indicators

- Similar to other fossil bone pictures posted on the site. 
 

 

 

[Harry Pristis]

Despite your good images, no viewers, including me, have a good notion of what this may be.  There are no diagnostic features other than what you call "trabecular bone."  If it is bone, it would be part of a very large animal.  If pressed, I would guess it is not bone.

[Brandy Cole]

I agree with Harry that your pictures are very good, and I see the characteristics that appear at least superficially similar to trabecular bone.  But its general shape appears inconsistent with bone to me.

 

I'm inclined to think it's a very suggestive piece of limestone.  Someone who holds it in hand may very well have a different opinion.

 

You might want to apply vinegar to a portion and see if it fizzes.  That may indicate limestone.

Edited June 10, 2023 by Brandy Cole
Spelling correction

[JohnJ]

Some finds display ambiguous clues as to their identity.  So, they are not easily discerned from photos.  However, in Central Texas the aquifers can create strange looking rock.  Your first and third photos show a darker, dense band split by a light, thin band.  This feature and the random porosity suggest a karst type rock found in the area.

[Brandy Cole]

@JohnJ I always forget about karst since we don't have much over here!

[val horn]

i too am uncertain because of the odd way the trabeculation lines up or fails to line up.  The idea of taking it in person to an expert is always a good choice.

[Retired ATC]

Thank you all for your responses. I’ll try the vinegar test on a small portion and report back, hopefully with pictures.