Fossil or not?

[Valett Burrous]

Found in an old railyard. 

I don’t know much about fossils, I just pick up cool rocks. 

[mkspsa]

Looks like a concretion.  I would say not a fossil.

[Valett Burrous]

Thank you mkspsa. 

[Rockwood]

I agree that it is a concretion. It may not be that simple though. If you give a better location. (It need not be precise.) Someone may be able to give better odds that it formed around a fossil. It happens.

[fifbrindacier]

I agree it's a nodule concretion, but i wonder about that clearer thing that can be seen in the center. Maybe could you crack it open to see if there is something fossil in there or no.

Regards.

Sophie.

[Valett Burrous]

Found in central Illinois. Yailyard is surrounded by corn/bean fields. 

 

The center isn’t clear. It’s just different in color. More yellow tones, less grey. 

[ynot]

Welcome to TFF!

Looks like a concretion to Me.

[Rockwood]

12 minutes ago, Valett Burrous said:

Found in central Illinois

Getting warmer. Could be good.

[Valett Burrous]

What is the next step I should take with this?  Crack it, cut it, toss it in the rock pile?

[coled18]

@Valett Burrous I would say to polish it, it looks like a neat display piece. There are tons of ways to polish rocks and minerals, just look it up on the internet. 

 

PS when you see an informative post, be sure to hit the shark tooth button in the lower right hand corner. 

[ynot]

5 minutes ago, Valett Burrous said:

What is the next step I should take with this?  Crack it, cut it, toss it in the rock pile?

Does not look right for a fossil bearing concretion to Me, but You never know unless You look. Crack it open with a hammer.

[Rockwood]

Wait

4 minutes ago, Valett Burrous said:

What is the next step I should take with this?  Crack it, cut it, toss it in the rock pile?

I would say wait. Someone who knows the Mason Creek concretions should be along before too long.

Tony: no offense if you know them. Your post wasn't up yet.

[ynot]

1 minute ago, Rockwood said:

Wait

I would say wait. Someone who knows the Mason Creek concretions should be along before too long.

I think it is too light in color for mazon creek nodules.

[Valett Burrous]

Waiting

[Fossildude19]

Doesn't look like the typical Mazon nodules posted here.  

I would try the Freeze/Thaw method however. 

[Valett Burrous]

It was very brittle so I used a hammer with light blows. Here is the inside. Keep going?

 

[Rockwood]

Not with a hammer unless you just want to see broken fossils.

These are Mason Creek fossils like I said.

Wait for it. 

[Valett Burrous]

Ok. Freezer method it is. 

[Rockwood]

7 minutes ago, Valett Burrous said:

Ok. Freezer method it is. 

I doubt it will help. These are fossils, but not the kind famous as the Mazon Creek fossils. These are common from all ages and more three dimensional. You may be able to prepare them some way, but I can't advise further. 

s/z joking If there is a Mason Creek it's a coincidence. 

[Valett Burrous]

Thanks for your help guys!  Awesome response to a new comers post. I’ll be on here reading more often. 

[Rockwood]

11 minutes ago, Valett Burrous said:

Thanks for your help guys!  Awesome response to a new comers post. I’ll be on here reading more often. 

Hope you don't get stuck with a joker next time. 

[Rob Russell]

I would soak it in water for a day, and then freeze it solid submerged in water.  Not much. Just enough to cover it with water, and freeze solid.  Thaw it a day or two later.  See if it splits naturally on its own. If there's a fossil inside it may split on the plain of the fossil.  

If you strike it with a hammer you may smash it to bits.  

Good luck. 

 

PS.  If it doesn't split the first time repeat freeze/thaw process several times if necessary. 

 

[Rob Russell]

2 hours ago, Fossildude19 said:

Doesn't look like the typical Mazon nodules posted here.  

I would try the Freeze/Thaw method however. 

Actually, it does resemble nodules I've found in the braidwood biota. (Terrestrial sediments). Perhaps a glacial erratic?   Not out of the realm I suppose.  Actually, there are areas in central and southern Illinois where Pennsylvania aged plant fossils can be found.  Other coal mines.  

[Rockwood]

8 hours ago, Rob Russell said:

If there's a fossil inside

Fossils have already been exposed. It's hard to tell for sure, but they don't look plantlike or terrestrial to me.