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Bone Fossil Eastern, Pa


bucky

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I found this bone along a creek bed in the Saucon Valley area of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

Thanks for any help! I'm new at this.

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It resembles a bone but looks like a suggestive piece of weathered limestone. I'm not familiar with material from your locale, I could be mistaken. I'll watch for the veterans to weigh in...and welcome to the Forum!

Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.
-Albert Einstein

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Sure does look like a bone doesn't it. File this under pseudofossil. :)

mikey

Many times I've wondered how much there is to know.  
led zeppelin

 

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I can go into any stream bed around here and pick up a bushel of rocks that look like bones. But just because they look like a bone doesn't mean they are a bone. There are many more characteristics of fossil bone handy for accurate identification than the outward appearance. Actually, the outward appearance is usually the least likely characteristic to determine if a find is a bone or not.

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That's nice jpevahouse and I can do the same but bucky is a newbie and needs our help to get her on the right track in fossil collecting. All she did was ask and we (advanced members) are here to assist and guide someone like her not point out the obvious. Keep looking bucky and in time you will find something amazing from your neck of the woods.

mikey

Many times I've wondered how much there is to know.  
led zeppelin

 

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Wow....that is a really tough one. Looking closely, the end looks like it has the porosity of a worn bone. I've been hunting more than 40 years and I would have given that one a very, very close look.

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No insult intended, just emphasizing the point often overlooked by novice collectors that there are other characteristics of bone more important than external appearance which are important to use for identifying fossil bones.

I've been and still get fooled by the countless nodules found in the stream beds around here. I bring anything home which looks like bone and give it a thorough looking over. I have a pile of rock bones in the back yard.

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Hi everyone,

Thanks for all your input. I see that I have a lot to learn. Any good resources on how to spot a fossil? I have been looking at tons of photos on the internet but i dont think that is enough. I was told that my are is not good for bones.

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Hi everyone,

Thanks for all your input. I see that I have a lot to learn. Any good resources on how to spot a fossil? I have been looking at tons of photos on the internet but i dont think that is enough. I was told that my are is not good for bones.

The best way to learn to ID fossils is to see the real thing, look at it carefully, notice details like texture and hardness. I don't display many of my fossils. I see them as a learning tool because I am most interested in learning about prehistory, particularly early mammals. The internet offers opportunities to buy samples cheaply. There's a lot of great fossils very affordable. There's also a lot of information on line about fossils and of course plenty of pictures. Pictures however are not as good as examining the real thing.

Then, there's this forum with some users who are professionals and experts willing to share their knowlege.

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Bucky - the best way by far is to join a local club. Do some internet searching and see if you can find one. They usually have field trips, and you can get to know some of the knowledgeable "locals" that would love to help you out. Good luck!

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Bucky - the best way by far is to join a local club...

And hang out here! :)

"There has been an alarming increase in the number of things I know nothing about." - Ashleigh Ellwood Brilliant

“Try to learn something about everything and everything about something.” - Thomas Henry Huxley

>Paleontology is an evolving science.

>May your wonders never cease!

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get a copy of "Fossil Collecting in Pennsylvania" and join DVPS in Philly, am sure you've already googled "Bethlehem PA fossils" or such, lots of info available, good luck!

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  • 1 month later...

It even looks like it has porosity.... maybe take a cross section of it to get some fresh material to view?

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