dmbozeman Posted July 25, 2017 Share Posted July 25, 2017 I apologize if this is a dumb question, but I inherited this large fossil years ago from my late grandfather. Any info you may have regarding origin, value, etc Woild be greatly appreciated!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ynot Posted July 25, 2017 Share Posted July 25, 2017 Welcome to TFF! It is a large stingray from the Green River formation in SW Wyoming. It is eocene in age. TFF does not allow appraisals. 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...
dmbozeman Posted July 25, 2017 Author Share Posted July 25, 2017 Thanks for the info! I've always loved it, and it seems (to my untrained eye at least) to be a very nice example. I just have never known what to do with it, where to hang it, etc. I don't want to sound dumb when people ask about it I were to ever display it. It currently resides in a closet in the spare bedroom. LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miocene_Mason Posted July 25, 2017 Share Posted July 25, 2017 It's beautiful fossil, I'd hang it proudly wherever it would be seen, but I love a pretty chondrichyian. As has already been stated, it's from the 18 inch layer of the green river formation. These fossils are known as Lagerstätte, and exhibit amazing preservation, stingrays are made of cartilage which doesn't usually preserve, and normally spoil within a short period of time (which is why you don't normally see stingray on the menu). It's been prepped with an airscribe. These are valuable, although I cannot give you an appraisal. “...whilst this planet has gone cycling on according to the fixed law of gravity, from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been and are being evolved.” ~ Charles Darwin Happy hunting, Mason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FossilDudeCO Posted July 25, 2017 Share Posted July 25, 2017 This is a midway decent stingray from the Split fish or sandwich layers that appears to have been inlaid into another piece of rock. I say that because the rock does appear to be 18-inch layer from your photos but the stingray itself exhibits all the features of the split fish or sandwich layers. This may be the negative of a specimen seeing as there are actually no vertebrates still attached and only barb tips. Even with all of that being said, stingrays are highly sought after fish. Also, the tag on your frame is outdated. XIPHOTRYGON is an old term for this stingray. It is now known as a Heliobatus sp. I would leave the tag in place though, it gives it a history if you will. @ynot is correct about Formation: Green River Formation Age: 52myo (Eocene) Location: Lincoln County, Wyoming That should just about cover everything you need to know to look smart for your friends! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmbozeman Posted July 25, 2017 Author Share Posted July 25, 2017 46 minutes ago, WhodamanHD said: It's beautiful fossil, I'd hang it proudly wherever it would be seen, but I love a pretty chondrichyian. As has already been stated, it's from the 18 inch layer of the green river formation. These fossils are known as Lagerstätte, and exhibit amazing preservation, stingrays are made of cartilage which doesn't usually preserve, and normally spoil within a short period of time (which is why you don't normally see stingray on the menu). It's been prepped with an airscribe. These are valuable, although I cannot give you an appraisal. Thank you for the info! My grandfather was more into very fine gemstones and large geodes than items like this, but I did inherit a few fossils. this one is just a bit large, and I'm honestly debating on keeping it or selling it. I almost think it'd be more appreciated with someone else. I do have several much smaller examples that are displayed, but this one has always been that "lone ranger" that never found it's spot on the wall for several reasons, mostly because I feel like it's too valuable to be possibly damaged. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmbozeman Posted July 25, 2017 Author Share Posted July 25, 2017 9 minutes ago, FossilDudeCO said: This is a midway decent stingray from the Split fish or sandwich layers that appears to have been inlaid into another piece of rock. I say that because the rock does appear to be 18-inch layer from your photos but the stingray itself exhibits all the features of the split fish or sandwich layers. This may be the negative of a specimen seeing as there are actually no vertebrates still attached and only barb tips. Even with all of that being said, stingrays are highly sought after fish. Also, the tag on your frame is outdated. XIPHOTRYGON is an old term for this stingray. It is now known as a Heliobatus sp. I would leave the tag in place though, it gives it a history if you will. @ynot is correct about Formation: Green River Formation Age: 52myo (Eocene) Location: Lincoln County, Wyoming That should just about cover everything you need to know to look smart for your friends! Thank You! Although you may have gone a bit too far with the whole "look smart for my friends thing". LOL. They know me way too well for all that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miocene_Mason Posted July 25, 2017 Share Posted July 25, 2017 14 minutes ago, dmbozeman said: Thank you for the info! My grandfather was more into very fine gemstones and large geodes than items like this, but I did inherit a few fossils. this one is just a bit large, and I'm honestly debating on keeping it or selling it. I almost think it'd be more appreciated with someone else. I do have several much smaller examples that are displayed, but this one has always been that "lone ranger" that never found it's spot on the wall for several reasons, mostly because I feel like it's too valuable to be possibly damaged. Well, if you ever need to get it out of the house, I'll take it free of charge Good luck on finding it a home, whether it be on your wall, or in a buyers! “...whilst this planet has gone cycling on according to the fixed law of gravity, from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been and are being evolved.” ~ Charles Darwin Happy hunting, Mason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caldigger Posted July 25, 2017 Share Posted July 25, 2017 I'll start the bidding at $1.00! Oh and the auction ends in two seconds! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmbozeman Posted July 25, 2017 Author Share Posted July 25, 2017 39 minutes ago, caldigger said: I'll start the bidding at $1.00! Oh and the auction ends in two seconds! WINNER WINNER! LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fossiling Posted July 25, 2017 Share Posted July 25, 2017 Beautiful heliobatis you got there! I love it! I suggest you keep it. It'll look nice among your grandfather's gems! Keep looking! They're everywhere! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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