snolly50 Posted September 13, 2015 Share Posted September 13, 2015 I am in the middle of prep on a rooted Globidens anterior, rooted tooth. The root surface is seen at the upper right portion of the photo. The matrix is full of pinhead to pea sized bone fragments. This larger and unusually textured fragment is the exception. The exposed portion of the carbide needle, shown for scale, is 1". The fragment is a little better than 1mm thick. Given the rugose surface, does anyone have an idea what structure it may be a fragment of. Thanks for looking. Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, also are remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so. - Douglas Adams, Last Chance to See Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caldigger Posted September 13, 2015 Share Posted September 13, 2015 I'm thinking something along the line of shell fragment, perhaps oyster? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rustdee Posted September 13, 2015 Share Posted September 13, 2015 That certainly looks like an oyster fragment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snolly50 Posted September 13, 2015 Author Share Posted September 13, 2015 You are both of course correct. It is strongly suggestive in appearance of shell. However, it flakes like fossil bone. But since I have no experience in prepping out fossil shell; I don't know if that's Dx or not. I guess a further question at this point would then be; Are fossil shells with this surface found in the Moroccan Mosasaur beds? Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, also are remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so. - Douglas Adams, Last Chance to See Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspex Posted September 13, 2015 Share Posted September 13, 2015 I sure does look like carbonate shell material, especially the translucence revealed in the areas of fine cracks: Orts from a Globidens repast, perhaps... "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! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caldigger Posted September 13, 2015 Share Posted September 13, 2015 Hum, of all the phosphate chunks I have had, none have had any shell material that I have ever seen. Not to say there wouldn't be any. Didn't know this was a Moroccan piece. I hope you find your answer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snolly50 Posted September 13, 2015 Author Share Posted September 13, 2015 Good spot Auspex. In the blow-up the material does look even more shelly. Perhaps it is from the final repast of the round toothed sea king. Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, also are remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so. - Douglas Adams, Last Chance to See Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dinosaur Hunter Posted September 13, 2015 Share Posted September 13, 2015 I think turtle carapace, probably Solemys sp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plax Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 croc scute to me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abyssunder Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 It is very interesting. A possibility (in my mind) is that maybe the "scute fragment" could be a plate of the scleral ring around the eye of the same specimen of Globidens (just an idea). (?) http://oceansofkansas.com/Marsh72c.html " We are not separate and independent entities, but like links in a chain, and we could not by any means be what we are without those who went before us and showed us the way. " Thomas Mann My Library Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnJ Posted September 15, 2015 Share Posted September 15, 2015 To me, this has all the characteristics of shell. I think something similar to a Plicatula species would be a good match. The human mind has the ability to believe anything is true. - JJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plax Posted September 15, 2015 Share Posted September 15, 2015 I think the color is influencing the shell faction, texture looks like croc scute (could be wrong as always ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troodon Posted September 15, 2015 Share Posted September 15, 2015 Interesting variety of guesses. For me it looks shelly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnJ Posted September 16, 2015 Share Posted September 16, 2015 Good spot Auspex. In the blow-up the material does look even more shelly. Perhaps it is from the final repast of the round toothed sea king. John, do you have any images of the other side or edge? (Really, I'm just looking for a reason to see more of your excellent photography. ) The human mind has the ability to believe anything is true. - JJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snolly50 Posted September 17, 2015 Author Share Posted September 17, 2015 John, do you have any images of the other side or edge? (Really, I'm just looking for a reason to see more of your excellent photography. ) Thanks for the photo compliment. I dashed these off when I got home from traveling. That's my excuse, if they're not stellar. Also my original post was not factual. The thickness is decidedly greater than 1mm. It's closer to 3.5mm. The pictures don't show it as much as naked eye viewing, but the "top" shell looking layer appears much whiter than the light tan underlayer. The first shot is a side view of the object, the second shows the lower margin. Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, also are remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so. - Douglas Adams, Last Chance to See Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnJ Posted September 18, 2015 Share Posted September 18, 2015 The cross-section looks like shell material I see in the Cretaceous all the time. Thanks for taking the additional pics. Any plans to prep the opposite 'face'? The human mind has the ability to believe anything is true. - JJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snolly50 Posted September 18, 2015 Author Share Posted September 18, 2015 The cross-section looks like shell material I see in the Cretaceous all the time. Thanks for taking the additional pics. Any plans to prep the opposite 'face'? Many thanks to everyone who looked this over and offered an opinion. Shell seems the most logically applied label. Now, I have only to invent a story to embellish the piece. Something along the lines; that the fearsome reptile was locked in mortal combat with a deadly, gigantic, killer mollusk and both expired during the titanic battle. Such a backstory, liberally and colorfully applied, can only serve to inflate the value and prestige of the piece! OK, seriously, thanks for the help. At this time I plan to leave the shell piece sitting on its little matrix shelf. My prep plan calls for the tooth to remain partially in matrix and I am uncovering other small shards in the matrix to add to the "fossilly" look of with display in mind. To this end I have squared off one face so the chunk can rest in an optimal display position. If I don't wreck it, I will post a picture of the finished fossil. Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, also are remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so. - Douglas Adams, Last Chance to See Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carl Posted September 18, 2015 Share Posted September 18, 2015 I've been lurking here all along and certainly see how this could be a shell. But I have also seen a good amount of bone preserved very much like this, particularly Triassic bone. I know that temporally, that doesn't help here but I'm still on the fence. More prep might help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caldigger Posted September 18, 2015 Share Posted September 18, 2015 You know, I have a couple of phosphate matrix pieces that have bone of some sort (not really recognizable as anything) showing. I might try to prep some of it out to see if there is something else better within the chunk. Might be something good then again, maybe not. It's not going to hurt to find out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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