Something is fishy, about this "fossil" fish....

[Fossildude19]

So, I came upon this supposed "Sturgeon fossil" from China, while looking at a well known auction site.

I am not convinced of it's authenticity, due to the fact that it is preserved 3-Dimensionally.

Also the lack of distinction around the margin of the fish is questionably, as well.

 

The sturgeon fossils from China that I have seen are usually compression fossils, preserved 2-dimensionally.

See this thread here on the Forum.

It also looks more like a modern sturgeon, as well.

It looks like either a skillful carving of a sturgeon, that has been adhered to the matrix, or even possibly a dried out fish that has been cemented to the matrix.

Either way, I wouldn't pay what they are asking for it.

I think many uniformed collectors might actually fall for this kind of fakery.

The more you know,...

Buyer beware.

Regards,

[Auspex]

I would not be surprised to see lots of identical copies of this: it looks cast.

[LordTrilobite]

Looks like a clear cast to me. The colouring is just way too monotone. All the pits and grooves are light and all the parts that stick out are a darker "worn" colour. Which you'd expect from a cast.

[Troodon]

If you look at his completed listings he's sold similiar looking ones (one was flipped) during January. He also has butterflies, turtles, dragonflies in that same monotone grey color. Unfortunately lots of collectors have fallen for this junk.

[oilshale]

I would suggest to send a "report item" message to this "well known auction site" (the button is on the right side just above the "item number" and in the same row as "description" and "shipping and payments").

You can choose between different reasons - I would suggest "listing practices" , then "fraudulent listing activities". Not excactly correct, but I think that is the best you can choose.

At least that's what I did - I did send a "report item" message.

It won't stop the seller for ever, but if there are several complaints, the seller might have to answer some unpleasant questions.

Let's try it all together - I think this is the best we can do !!!

Thomas

[jhw]

To my eye, a casting from an actual (severely dried out) fish seems like a possibility.

I think maybe this part of the description probably tells the story "A unique piece of cutting shape." Ha, ha

Edited February 3, 2016 by jhw

[lolman1c]

HAHAHHAAAA! Wow... I'm not expert but that just screams fake to me. XD

[RJB]

Just WOW!!!

RB