CraigHyatt Posted May 11, 2016 Share Posted May 11, 2016 Found lying on the ground near Eagle Pass, Texas. At first, I didn't think these were bones because of the weird shapes and lack of joint ends (e.g. rounded or concave). I also didn't see any differentiation between the outer hard layers and the inner softer layers. However, I was thumbing through a fossil book over the weekend and saw some similar shapes, so now I am rethinking these specimens. Any thoughts? Info: Craig Hyatt, retired software/electrical engineer Experience: Beginner, fossil hunting less than a year Location: Eagle Pass, TX USA on the border with Mexico, hot dry desert Formation: Escondido, Marine, Upper Cretaceous Materials: Sandstone, Mudstone, Shale, Chert, Chalk Typical: Thalassinoides, Sphenodiscus, Exogyra, Inoceramus Reference: http://txfossils.com/Txfossils.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted May 11, 2016 Share Posted May 11, 2016 I'm thinking oddly shaped limestone or chert on these items. Not seeing any bone texture/structure to these. Regards, 1 Tim - VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER VFOTM --- APRIL - 2015 __________________________________________________ "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." John Muir ~ ~ ~ ~ ><))))( *> About Me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fossilized6s Posted May 11, 2016 Share Posted May 11, 2016 I agree with Tim. I see more limestone than bone. 1 ~Charlie~ "There are those that look at things the way they are, and ask why.....i dream of things that never were, and ask why not?" ~RFK ->Get your Mosasaur print ->How to spot a fake Trilobite ->How to identify a CONCRETION from a DINOSAUR EGG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abyssunder Posted May 11, 2016 Share Posted May 11, 2016 Unfortunately, I don't see bone structure in your specimens, but infilled burrows. They look like ichnofossils, Thalassinoides maybe. https://www.google.com/search?q=thalassinoides&biw=1360&bih=612&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&sqi=2&ved=0ahUKEwjl3_T57dLMAhWnJMAKHbJHDLoQ_AUIBigB 3 " 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...
CraigHyatt Posted May 11, 2016 Author Share Posted May 11, 2016 Thanks so much. To be a successful fossil hunter, you first have to learn what rocks look like. Info: Craig Hyatt, retired software/electrical engineer Experience: Beginner, fossil hunting less than a year Location: Eagle Pass, TX USA on the border with Mexico, hot dry desert Formation: Escondido, Marine, Upper Cretaceous Materials: Sandstone, Mudstone, Shale, Chert, Chalk Typical: Thalassinoides, Sphenodiscus, Exogyra, Inoceramus Reference: http://txfossils.com/Txfossils.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caldigger Posted May 11, 2016 Share Posted May 11, 2016 Oops, they beat me to it! Looks like burrows, I agree. Get very similar items at Shark Tooth Hill if you dig too deep below the bone layer. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CraigHyatt Posted May 12, 2016 Author Share Posted May 12, 2016 Unfortunately, I don't see bone structure in your specimens, but infilled burrows. They look like ichnofossils, Thalassinoides maybe. https://www.google.com/search?q=thalassinoides&biw=1360&bih=612&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&sqi=2&ved=0ahUKEwjl3_T57dLMAhWnJMAKHbJHDLoQ_AUIBigB You nailed it! I browsed the Google images you linked, and I see both the casts I posted as well as the "reddish sticks" I see everywhere around here. Info: Craig Hyatt, retired software/electrical engineer Experience: Beginner, fossil hunting less than a year Location: Eagle Pass, TX USA on the border with Mexico, hot dry desert Formation: Escondido, Marine, Upper Cretaceous Materials: Sandstone, Mudstone, Shale, Chert, Chalk Typical: Thalassinoides, Sphenodiscus, Exogyra, Inoceramus Reference: http://txfossils.com/Txfossils.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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