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Coprolite Or Not?


TinTexas

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I found this in a dry wash area near a stream. It caught my eye because it's shiny (a grey/silver metallic luster on one side).

post-4286-027732400 1287791644_thumb.jpg

I picked it up and the first thing that came to mind was that it looked like a piece of poop, but mineralized. So, I looked up some pictures of coprolites and saw some with similar features to what I found. But, I'm very, very new at hunting for/collecting fossils so I'd like a second opinion. Here are some more details:

Location where found: Alluvium deposit in a very rural area in Ellis County, Texas (pic of location provided)

Geological Age: Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary | Holocene (source USGS.gov)

Close up pics are provided, including one of the non-shiny side. Let me know if I should provide additional angles.

Thank you!

post-4286-037670200 1287791690_thumb.jpg post-4286-018996200 1287791712_thumb.jpg post-4286-089423400 1287791728_thumb.jpg

post-4286-059261900 1287791877_thumb.jpg post-4286-098148700 1287791961_thumb.jpg

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Is it heavy or can you tell if it's metal like? It kind of looks like melted metal to me.

Fossils are simply one of the coolest things on earth--discovering them is just marvelous! Makes you all giddy inside!

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I found this in a dry wash area near a stream. It caught my eye because it's shiny (a grey/silver metallic luster on one side).

post-4286-027732400 1287791644_thumb.jpg

I picked it up and the first thing that came to mind was that it looked like a piece of poop, but mineralized. So, I looked up some pictures of coprolites and saw some with similar features to what I found. But, I'm very, very new at hunting for/collecting fossils so I'd like a second opinion. Here are some more details:

Location where found: Alluvium deposit in a very rural area in Ellis County, Texas (pic of location provided)

Geological Age: Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary | Holocene (source USGS.gov)

Close up pics are provided, including one of the non-shiny side. Let me know if I should provide additional angles.

Thank you!

post-4286-037670200 1287791690_thumb.jpg post-4286-018996200 1287791712_thumb.jpg post-4286-089423400 1287791728_thumb.jpg

post-4286-059261900 1287791877_thumb.jpg post-4286-098148700 1287791961_thumb.jpg

My initial thought is a piece of slag. How heavy is it? I think we can rule out meteorite... :P

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Hematite? (i spelled it wrong most likly) Its a mineral thats basicly "grown up rust." its rust but the crystals have had the time to get bigger when polished it will have a silvery steel shine to it.

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that's melted lead

I agree that it could be melted lead or metal.

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

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Oxidized iron is my guess.

If it was oxidized iorn it would be a redish or orangish brown, and have a mat or even "soft" look to it. And it wouldnt be shiny.

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