Trace Fossil in Amber with claw stuck inside.

[kakoraptor]

Found this at a Southern Oregon Beach- its a full three-toed-foot print- in amber. One of the claws to whatever stepped in it got stuck in the amber as well- and there is a tiny hole in the amber you can look into and see the end of said claw. I've done a breif search and have found very very little when it comes to amber and trace fossils- and in sense lead me to post this to see other opinions.

 

Edited July 11, 2017 by kakoraptor

[Fossildude19]

Welcome to the Forum.

 

I don't think it is a foot print, or, an imprint of any kind.  

Although most of your pictures are quite blurry, the last one looks like there is texture in the depressions, similar to what you would expect from chunks being broken off. 

Then it was obviously water worn as well. 

I highly doubt there is a claw in the tiny whole, but, ... if you can get pictures from a microscope, that would surely provide better reference Points. 

Regards, 

 

[kakoraptor]

6 minutes ago, Fossildude19 said:

Welcome to the Forum.

 

I don't think it is a foot print, or, an imprint of any kind.  

Although most of your pictures are quite blurry, the last one looks like there is texture in the depressions, similar to what you would expect from chunks being broken off. 

Then it was obviously water worn as well. 

I highly doubt there is a claw in the tiny whole, but, ... if you can get pictures from a microscope, that would surely provide better reference Points. 

Regards, 

 

You sure about that claw?

Edited July 11, 2017 by kakoraptor

[kakoraptor]

Trying to get the best quality. If you want any extra angles or anything just ask.
I usually hunt amber at the beach- and this was by far this closest to a "fossil" I've found.
Clear as day footprint witch all three toes have claw marks where they all should. One just got stuck.
 

Oh yes and thank you for the welcome. ( )

[Gen. et sp. indet.]

Based on the pictures, I doubt it is an amber. I'm not sure it is a rock. It could be a claw, wood, bryozoan, dirt, plastic. Just borrow a cellphone.

[PaleoRon]

It looks like agate.

[fossilized6s]

It doesn't appear to be amber. It is 100% not a foot imprint. And i haven't seen any evidence of a claw. 

 

It does appear to be some sort of agate. 

[ynot]

+1 for a piece of agate and no fossil print or claw.

[Jdeutsch]

 to identify amber

 

http://academic.emporia.edu/abersusa/ident.htm

[kakoraptor]

Im going to attempt to break it open.

[caldigger]

The beaches in Oregon are famous for their agate. I have found boxes full just walking a short distance along the shoreline. Are you sure the "amber" you have been collecting is amber?

[ynot]

25 minutes ago, caldigger said:

The beaches in Oregon are famous for their agate. I have found boxes full just walking a short distance along the shoreline. Are you sure the "amber" you have been collecting is amber?

I agree with this statement (but I have not collected there.)

I have never heard of amber coming from Oregon either.

I simple hardness test will tell.  Amber is very soft for a rock. Can You scratch it with a knife?

[Ludwigia]

+ 1 for weathered and battered agate.

[kakoraptor]

When I put my thumb in the bigpad below (what looks like) the toes and squeeze it feels as if its squishy. Im not squeezing very hard either. 

On the claw- on the other toes u can see claw like damage where said other claws should be in support of the one claw got stuck. Its an obvious paw print.. 

The size overall of (supposed paw print) is almost exactly the size of a cats paw. My cats paw fits it- obviously whatever might of left the print was a tad larger tho.the 

 

[ynot]

11 minutes ago, kakoraptor said:

When I put my thumb in the bigpad below (what looks like) the toes and squeeze it feels as if its squishy. Im not squeezing very hard either. 

On the claw- on the other toes u can see claw like damage where said other claws should be in support of the one claw got stuck. Its an obvious paw print.. 

The size overall of (supposed paw print) is almost exactly the size of a cats paw. My cats paw fits it- obviously whatever might of left the print was a tad larger tho.

 

Take it to a local museum or college and ask them.

[kakoraptor]

[ynot]

I still see a piece of agate.

No amber, no paw print and no claw.

[ynot]

PS Amber is not pliable as it is a rock, so if Your piece is pliable then it is tree sap (recent). But it does not look like tree sap.

[Fossildude19]

29 minutes ago, kakoraptor said:

When I put my thumb in the bigpad below (what looks like) the toes and squeeze it feels as if its squishy. Im not squeezing very hard either. 

On the claw- on the other toes u can see claw like damage where said other claws should be in support of the one claw got stuck. Its an obvious paw print.. 

The size overall of (supposed paw print) is almost exactly the size of a cats paw. My cats paw fits it- obviously whatever might of left the print was a tad larger tho.the 

 

Have you done any of the tests to determine if your item is even amber?  

Can you scratch it with a knife? Does it float in a saltwater solution? Have you held it to a flame to see if it will burn?

 

It really is not an "obvious paw print".  No one here (many with years of fossil collecting experience) has agreed with your statement.

Your paw print idea just isn't really gaining any traction in this community.

 

What creature do you suppose had 3 toes, a pad, and "claws"?

 

Your best bet, at this point, would be to take it to a local museum or college geology/paleontology professor. 

Good luck, and let us know the outcome.  

Regards, 

 

[kakoraptor]

Not meaning to come off arrogant. 

 

Honestly not even worried if its amber or not- I can identify some form of paw print tho and the claw. 

 

Gonna visit a local fossil shop see what they see. 

[doushantuo]

My two cents worth:

 

You don't come across as arrogant,everyone is entitled to his or her opinions.

I don't know if anyone is attempting a largescale biodiversity survey of amber locations worldwide.

The example of Anolis is wellknown,BTW

Like Tim said,there's considerable collecting experience on this forum.

That collective knowledge can only be ignored to your own detriment.

 

 

pnas.201506516.pdf

outtake:

[Fossildude19]

Getting opinions from fossil shop owners/clerks is usually not quite the same as getting a qualified geologist or paleontologist's opinion. (preferably an ichnologist.) 

 

You aren't coming off as arrogant. Maybe a bit close minded to the opinions of experienced fossil hunters, here on the Forum, but not arrogant.  

We look forward to hearing what a qualified scientist can say about this item.  

Good Luck.

[Gen. et sp. indet.]

I think the rock is a flint.

[doushantuo]

a slightly more exhaustive study:

castaneda_sherratt_losos_2014.pdf

outtake:

[ynot]

2 hours ago, Gen. et sp. indet. said:

I think the rock is a flint.

Flint is an opaque cryptocrystalline quartzite, this is translucent- which is a trait of agate (also a cryptocrystalline quartzite,),