PaleIO Posted March 31, 2017 Share Posted March 31, 2017 I stumbled across this today on a hike in SE Colorado. At first I wrote this off as just a neat natural shape in the rock but after closer inspection it has my curiosity peaked. the darker yellow area around it is also raised about 1/4 in. What do you all think? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FossilDudeCO Posted March 31, 2017 Share Posted March 31, 2017 I have seen shapes like these from small concretions that have weathered from the rock. Any idea of what formation or the age of the rocks you were in? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaleIO Posted March 31, 2017 Author Share Posted March 31, 2017 it was in the sandstone but I will have to find a better computer and look at maps for the area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockwood Posted March 31, 2017 Share Posted March 31, 2017 I strongly suspect the shape was originally a cube of pyrite. They are often surrounded by a concretion of the mineral that didn't quite coalesce. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockwood Posted March 31, 2017 Share Posted March 31, 2017 It may have looked something like this to begin with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted March 31, 2017 Share Posted March 31, 2017 I agree - not a print, and for the reasons noted here: Regards, 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...
EMP Posted March 31, 2017 Share Posted March 31, 2017 6 minutes ago, Fossildude19 said: I agree - not a print, and for the reasons noted here: To be fair there are plenty of instances where only one track would be preserved. and the lack of clear toe imprints doesn't negate the possibility of it being a track either. Sandstone isn't the best substrate for footprints. Also, the mineral staining doesn't indicate much of anything. A lot of the local rocks around here that have dinosaur footprints are ironstones that often have a lot of staining like that. For it's size it is rather odd there's only one imprint, however. Judging by the shape it'd have to be dinosaurian or at least reptilian, but it's so small that it would most likely have left other imprints on the rock. I think we should wait until we find out what formation is nearby and then make a call. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted March 31, 2017 Share Posted March 31, 2017 44 minutes ago, EMP said: To be fair there are plenty of instances where only one track would be preserved. and the lack of clear toe imprints doesn't negate the possibility of it being a track either. Sandstone isn't the best substrate for footprints. Also, the mineral staining doesn't indicate much of anything. A lot of the local rocks around here that have dinosaur footprints are ironstones that often have a lot of staining like that. For it's size it is rather odd there's only one imprint, however. Judging by the shape it'd have to be dinosaurian or at least reptilian, but it's so small that it would most likely have left other imprints on the rock. I think we should wait until we find out what formation is nearby and then make a call. To be fair, I agree, we should see if the OP ever comes back with a more precise location other than South East Colorado. There is some Mesozoic strata throughout there. The indistinct toe impressions are not, by themselves, evidence of much, I agree. But I find it odd that the rest of the print should be so distinct. I understand the mechanics of footprints, and that it could just be breakage, or evidence of deeper mud, ... but combined with the mineral staining that seems to center around the imprint itself, and the lack of other prints, I will have to remain in the skeptical "it's not a footprint" camp. To be honest, the only time I have ever seen a single footprint is when it was out of context, and had been removed from it's place of origin. I would expect that the only way a single footprint could be left, would be if the mud was soft in one area, and dry right nearby. It could happen, but then, I think you might see signs of cracking or shrinkage or some sort of differentiation in the matrix. I'm gonna stick with my original analysis. 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...
LordTrilobite Posted March 31, 2017 Share Posted March 31, 2017 I dunno. This is more distinctive than some actual footprints. Butt the lack of other prints on the slab does seem a bit weird if it was an actual footprint. Olof Moleman AKA Lord Trilobite Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaleIO Posted March 31, 2017 Author Share Posted March 31, 2017 please forgive my ignorance but I am trying to learn all I can and it's alot to take in! after looking some maps over this is in Dakota Sandstone Formation. I agree with the idea that more tracks should be in the area but it has very broken structure with loose rock scattered all over. when I make it back I will look around more closely. Thanks to everyone for the input it's greatly appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kane Posted March 31, 2017 Share Posted March 31, 2017 Hm... It does seem to suggest mineral weathering. Or, given that it is just a single print, it could be the famed monopod ...How to Philosophize with a Hammer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ptychodus04 Posted March 31, 2017 Share Posted March 31, 2017 1 hour ago, Kane said: Hm... It does seem to suggest mineral weathering. Or, given that it is just a single print, it could be the famed monopod The human variety are well documented in "The Voyage of The Dawn Treader" by C.S. Lewis. I tend towards the camp of It's nothing special unless you can prove it is with some certainty. There's not enough evidence here from one photo without geological context to make a determination. IMHO. Of course, this also means it's not not a track either. Regards, Kris Global Paleo Services, LLC https://globalpaleoservices.com http://instagram.com/globalpaleoservices http://instagram.com/kris.howe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaleIO Posted March 31, 2017 Author Share Posted March 31, 2017 I think this track from the nearby OK panhandle is why the shape caught my attention but the size difference is HUGE! Now i think I'm going with the monopod pig theory... haha! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted March 31, 2017 Share Posted March 31, 2017 2 minutes ago, Ptychodus04 said: Of course, this also means it's not not a track either. Ooohhh, ... a double negative, out in the wild. 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...
Rockwood Posted March 31, 2017 Share Posted March 31, 2017 One of a kind Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ptychodus04 Posted March 31, 2017 Share Posted March 31, 2017 2 minutes ago, Fossildude19 said: Ooohhh, ... a double negative, out in the wild. I'm positive. Regards, Kris Global Paleo Services, LLC https://globalpaleoservices.com http://instagram.com/globalpaleoservices http://instagram.com/kris.howe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kane Posted March 31, 2017 Share Posted March 31, 2017 2 minutes ago, Ptychodus04 said: I'm positive. With a double negative, arithmetically that is certain! ...How to Philosophize with a Hammer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ynot Posted March 31, 2017 Share Posted March 31, 2017 Got Y'All beat! I am negative and positive, dependant on what time it is. Darwin said: " Man sprang from monkeys." Will Rogers said: " Some of them didn't spring far enough." My Fossil collection - My Mineral collection My favorite thread on TFF. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kane Posted March 31, 2017 Share Posted March 31, 2017 But I'm the square root of two! I have you beat, Tony... although I can't invert to become Ynot like you can ...How to Philosophize with a Hammer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ynot Posted March 31, 2017 Share Posted March 31, 2017 8 minutes ago, Kane said: But I'm the square root of two! I have you beat, Tony... although I can't invert to become Ynot like you can Darwin said: " Man sprang from monkeys." Will Rogers said: " Some of them didn't spring far enough." My Fossil collection - My Mineral collection My favorite thread on TFF. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ptychodus04 Posted March 31, 2017 Share Posted March 31, 2017 9 minutes ago, Kane said: But I'm the square root of two! I have you beat, Tony... although I can't invert to become Ynot like you can I'd rather be pie (yes pie, not pi). I'm positive I would go well with vanilla ice cream. @ynot scares me. I don't know how Tony lives with him... brave man. Regards, Kris Global Paleo Services, LLC https://globalpaleoservices.com http://instagram.com/globalpaleoservices http://instagram.com/kris.howe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ynot Posted March 31, 2017 Share Posted March 31, 2017 4 minutes ago, Ptychodus04 said: I'd rather be pie (yes pie, not pi). I'm positive I would go well with vanilla ice cream. @ynot scares me. I don't know how Tony lives with him... brave man. Pie is good! (even alamode). Ynot is a pussycat, no need to fear Him, it is Onty that has the mean streak. Darwin said: " Man sprang from monkeys." Will Rogers said: " Some of them didn't spring far enough." My Fossil collection - My Mineral collection My favorite thread on TFF. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ptychodus04 Posted March 31, 2017 Share Posted March 31, 2017 5 minutes ago, ynot said: Pie is good! (even alamode). Ynot is a pussycat, no need to fear Him, it is Onty that has the mean streak. Who's Onty? Regards, Kris Global Paleo Services, LLC https://globalpaleoservices.com http://instagram.com/globalpaleoservices http://instagram.com/kris.howe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kane Posted March 31, 2017 Share Posted March 31, 2017 Tony's personalities are bifurcating at an increasing rate! What have we to fear from this new one, Onty? ...How to Philosophize with a Hammer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ynot Posted March 31, 2017 Share Posted March 31, 2017 3 minutes ago, Ptychodus04 said: Who's Onty? 1 minute ago, Kane said: Tony's personalities are bifurcating at an increasing rate! What have we to fear from this new one, Onty? One of the hundreds of critters in My head. I only let Ynot out because of His love of fossils, the others are under lockdown most of the time. There have been no new additions to the hoard for many years now. Darwin said: " Man sprang from monkeys." Will Rogers said: " Some of them didn't spring far enough." My Fossil collection - My Mineral collection My favorite thread on TFF. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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