handyman richard Posted April 16, 2017 Share Posted April 16, 2017 I saw this and it struck me as dino poop. I was in st thomas us virgin islands. The spheres were about 1.5 to 2 inches in diameter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnBrewer Posted April 16, 2017 Share Posted April 16, 2017 Hi Richard, welcome to the forum. I totally see where you're coming from! I'm sure it's geological but I'm far from an expert in coprolite (poop/poo). However I do know someone who is @GeschWhat will confirm or otherwise. John Map of UK fossil sites Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troodon Posted April 16, 2017 Share Posted April 16, 2017 Welcome to the forum Is it possible they are just growths in the tree. Hard to see how something that large would be carried up the tree. Galls,Tumors and Burls, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peat Burns Posted April 16, 2017 Share Posted April 16, 2017 5 minutes ago, Troodon said: Welcome to the forum Is it possible they are just growths in the tree. Hard to see how something that large would be carried up the tree. Galls,Tumors and Burls, At first glance, I thought it was a tree also, but I think it's actually a rock exposure (?) that has globular inclusions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westcoast Posted April 16, 2017 Share Posted April 16, 2017 8 minutes ago, Troodon said: Welcome to the forum Is it possible they are just growths in the tree. Hard to see how something that large would be carried up the tree. Galls,Tumors and Burls, I think that's rock, not a tree. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abyssunder Posted April 16, 2017 Share Posted April 16, 2017 Just geological, in my opinion. " 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...
handyman richard Posted April 16, 2017 Author Share Posted April 16, 2017 Here is a third pic I took. I wish i took a pic of the rock this was embedded in. It looked very similar to the cover pic of this forum. It had many parallel fissure cracks with some at random angles 15 degrees or so that crossed the parallel lines. The odd thing was that where they crossed there was no sign of offset cracks. meaning each piece came to a sharp point and the points touched each other. It could have been a mud flat long ago and the cracks were a result of drying out and then getting wet again. once again it looked very similar to the picture this forum uses as wall paper. You can see two of the cracks I am talking about just to the left of the two globules. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darktooth Posted April 16, 2017 Share Posted April 16, 2017 I think they are nodules of some sort. I like Trilo-butts and I cannot lie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeschWhat Posted April 17, 2017 Share Posted April 17, 2017 If I were to see them, my first though would be coprolite as well. It is so hard to say without knowing anything about the geology of the region. There are many, many rocks with geological origin and some fossils that very much look like coprolites. The first you need to know if are there body (bones/teeth/etc.) or trace fossils (like footprints/nests) of creatures in that area that would have been capable of making fecal extrusions of that size. If the answer is yes, then I would look at the over all shape. Next I would look for inclusions. Generally, only carnivore coprolites make it through the fossilization process. This is because they contain a lot of calcium phosphate - the same mineral found in our bones. Therefore, undigested bits of bone, scales, teeth and other hard body part of their prey are sometimes preserved within them. There are some creatures (such as crocodilians) that have very acidic digestive systems. Coprolites from those animals are usually very homogeneous, and generally lack inclusions. Another thing to look at is grain size. If they are granular, they are usually not coprolites. However, sometimes it is hard to tell if they are granular unless you can see them under magnification. Without knowing more about the area, I'm going to say geological as well. I hope this helps! Welcome to the forum. Anyone who sees poop rocks is at the top of my pile! Good to see you back @JohnBrewer! Lori www.areallycrappystory.com/fossils www.facebook.com/fossilpoo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supertramp Posted April 17, 2017 Share Posted April 17, 2017 Hi richard, any chance that’s a volcanic rock (maybe basalt) outcrop? The “globular shape” reminds me of a weathering pattern frequently occuring in such rocks https://www.google.it/search?q=onion+skin+weathering&rlz=1C1PRFI_enIT740IT740&espv=2&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwja5YS79KrTAhUC_ywKHS-BDT4Q_AUIBigB&biw=1366&bih=638#imgrc=_ ciao Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
handyman richard Posted April 18, 2017 Author Share Posted April 18, 2017 I can't say with certainty that it is volcanic. My feeling then was that it was not volcanic. This rock appears to be composed of layers although their color seamed consistent. An area that had a relatively new exposed surface was smooth compared to the photos where the rock was etched from ocean water. Once again I was intrigued by all the apparent cracks that were kind of parallel and the intersecting cracks all of which showed no sign of slippage also the rock was pretty solid as one unit and not coming apart. I believe the rocks behind it were metamorphic I could see their stratification on uplifted angles. The sample rock probably fell down from somewhere up the mountain. St Thomas is rather mountainy. Well I am just a stumbling amature and the answer can only be found by someone that knows what they are doing. If you should go to St Thomas for a vacation the coprolite(??) is located at Magens Bay on the Beach all the way to the south end or just turn left down the beach. It's really hard to miss. I have certainly learned some good stuff. btw Magens Bay Beach makes some outrageous bushwacker drinks. Thanks, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fifbrindacier Posted April 18, 2017 Share Posted April 18, 2017 On 17/04/2017 at 0:38 AM, JohnBrewer said: Hi Richard, welcome to the forum. I totally see where you're coming from! I'm sure it's geological but I'm far from an expert in coprolite (poop/poo). However I do know someone who is @GeschWhat will confirm or otherwise. Hi, John, that's been a long time since i saw you posting. Those nodules make me think about earth poops. "On ne voit bien que par le coeur, l'essentiel est invisible pour les yeux." (Antoine de Saint-Exupéry) "We only well see with the heart, the essential is invisible for the eyes." In memory of Doren Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ynot Posted April 18, 2017 Share Posted April 18, 2017 From the US geologic survey.... "The rocks of St. John, which is located near the eastern end of the Greater Antilles and near the northeastern corner of the Caribbean plate, consist of Cretaceous basalt, andesite, keratophyre, their volcaniclastic and hypabyssal intrusive equivalents, and minor calcareous rocks and chert. " I think they are volcanic in origins. Not sedimentary or fossil of any kind. 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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