gregmolrocks Posted April 25, 2018 Share Posted April 25, 2018 Hello, I recently found an extremely suggestive rock that mirrors a skull with a round object fused to it's jaw. I took it to a geologist from University of Georgia, Dr. Garrison. He estimated that it was approximately 250 million years old. He also said that it was a cast of a creature that died in sediment. The sediment filled in the organic parts and created a cast. Definition of cast fossils: http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/paleo/fossilsarchive/casmol.html I will attach some photos. Also, Here is the direct link to a YouTube video of it: https://youtu.be/01M7u7E84Dw I really appreciate your time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DevonianDigger Posted April 25, 2018 Share Posted April 25, 2018 I'm confused, are you trying to identify what species the cast would be from? (I don't personally see a cast here, and I'm not sure what features would lead someone to confirm that it was one, but I will leave that judgement to the vert. folks to weigh in on.) 1 Jay A. Wollin Lead Fossil Educator - Penn Dixie Fossil Park and Nature Reserve Hamburg, New York, USA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caldigger Posted April 25, 2018 Share Posted April 25, 2018 It might faintly resemble a very worn cranium cast (interior of brain chamber), but faintly resemble and is are two different things. It's just not my expertise area to say which. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fruitbat Posted April 25, 2018 Share Posted April 25, 2018 gregmolrocks... Welcome to The Fossil Forum! Like DevonianDigger, I'm not seeing anything that would indicate that this is a fossil cast...and I'm definitely not seeing jaws, a nose or eye sockets at the places you've indicated on your picture. I would love to know what Dr. Garrison based the diagnosis on. -Joe 1 Illigitimati non carborundum Fruitbat's PDF Library Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herb Posted April 25, 2018 Share Posted April 25, 2018 it's a suggestively shaped rock "Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence"_ Carl Sagen No trees were killed in this posting......however, many innocent electrons were diverted from where they originally intended to go. " I think, therefore I collect fossils." _ Me "When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth."__S. Holmes "can't we all just get along?" Jack Nicholson from Mars Attacks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Macrophyseter Posted April 25, 2018 Share Posted April 25, 2018 Welcome to the forum greg! Unfortunately, in my perspective, I think the item in question is simply a coincidentally shaped rock. When a cast fossil is formed, it does not form simply a statue-like brittle rock similar to the statues of Pompeii victims back in the Roman Empire days. Minerals found in the burial site elegantly replaces all preserved organic material really well, replacing every single nook and cranny. Therefore, it is able to and will preserve everything that has not decomposed before the process from exact bone material, enamel, even feathers and internal organs. Your item in question shows no sign of bone material, but just clumps of sediment or rock. It also possesses no solid pattern and is very porous. As for what you suspect are specific skull parts, the item only resembles the parts, and the entire thing is completely asymmetrical. What you suspect as the jaw is too anatomically incorrect to be one, and the "lower jaw" part is literally part of the rest of the object. Even if we say that this object is simply an extremely worn skull, it would still not be porous, brittle, and sediment-like as it is. Again, I unfortunately think that this is simply a coincidentally shaped rock. But no worries, seeing that you live in Georgia, you might want to know that the state is among the greatest fossil sites for Oligocene-Miocene shark teeth, and has a ton of megalodon teeth in store! If you really want a fossil in your hands, then take a trip to Savannah River and maybe you might find an actual tooth from the largest predator to ever live! 1 If you're a fossil nut from Palos Verdes, San Pedro, Redondo Beach, or Torrance, feel free to shoot me a PM! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tidgy's Dad Posted April 25, 2018 Share Posted April 25, 2018 It seems to be an igneous rock with gas vesicles, perhaps a scoria. Was it just the age of the rock that was dated to 250 million years by the geologist? The image of a skull you show in your example is Oligocene, so only approximately 23 to 34 million years old. 1 Life's Good! Tortoise Friend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bcfossilcollector Posted April 25, 2018 Share Posted April 25, 2018 I’m not seeing anything other than a rock that is marginally suggestive of a skull. Geologic but interesting as such. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troodon Posted April 25, 2018 Share Posted April 25, 2018 Ageee with all the others just dont see any symmetry. Its a suggestive stone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doushantuo Posted April 25, 2018 Share Posted April 25, 2018 I does bear at least some resemblance to a degraded("weathered)" endocast of Kowingasaurus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bone2stone Posted April 25, 2018 Share Posted April 25, 2018 I replied on (You Tube) about this rock before as follows......... It's a wok used for fwoing at wabbits. Simplified reply: It is a specimen of rock. Don't know you Geologist but I have to say Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plax Posted April 25, 2018 Share Posted April 25, 2018 If someone identified this as a cast they may have been referring to the darker round object within the rock. If this is porous limestone the darker round object may be a cast of a mollusk. Perhaps we could get Dr. Garrison to give his evaluation? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted April 25, 2018 Share Posted April 25, 2018 I agree that the "round object" is more likely the cast than the other part of it. Did the geologist say specifically that it was a brain cast or skull cast? 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...
Auspex Posted April 25, 2018 Share Posted April 25, 2018 To me, it is a lump of tufa. It is certainly not an endocast, and it has no connection to an organism of any sort. "There has been an alarming increase in the number of things I know nothing about." - Ashleigh Ellwood Brilliant “Try to learn something about everything and everything about something.” - Thomas Henry Huxley >Paleontology is an evolving science. >May your wonders never cease! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gregmolrocks Posted April 25, 2018 Author Share Posted April 25, 2018 Okay guys. I went back and collected the host rock which has a mold impression of the specimen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted April 25, 2018 Share Posted April 25, 2018 I'm still not seeing it. Sorry, but I think this isn't any kind of fossil, cast or otherwise. 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...
Auspex Posted April 25, 2018 Share Posted April 25, 2018 Sorry gregmolrocks, this is pareidolia at work. Vaguely suggestive shapes do not evidence make. 1 "There has been an alarming increase in the number of things I know nothing about." - Ashleigh Ellwood Brilliant “Try to learn something about everything and everything about something.” - Thomas Henry Huxley >Paleontology is an evolving science. >May your wonders never cease! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobby Rico Posted April 25, 2018 Share Posted April 25, 2018 I really think you need to get a second professional opinion because all the very knowledgeable members of TFF that have answered your post , think it is a suggestive shaped rock. Very sorry but I agree with the rest. Thanks for sharing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gregmolrocks Posted April 25, 2018 Author Share Posted April 25, 2018 To have a mold, there must be a cast. True? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DevonianDigger Posted April 25, 2018 Share Posted April 25, 2018 1 hour ago, gregmolrocks said: Okay guys. I went back and collected the host rock which has a mold impression of the specimen. If there is a rock with a mold impression of it, how would it also be an internal cast? Wouldn't that make it the internal cast of the rock that had the mold impression and not a skull? 1 Jay A. Wollin Lead Fossil Educator - Penn Dixie Fossil Park and Nature Reserve Hamburg, New York, USA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xiphactinus Posted April 25, 2018 Share Posted April 25, 2018 Agree with the others.....just a rock. Lots of good fossils in Georgia, though! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doushantuo Posted April 26, 2018 Share Posted April 26, 2018 Gregmolrocks: why does Garrison think it might be an anomodontian "endocast"? I agree with the others that it is slightly indistinct Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bone2stone Posted April 26, 2018 Share Posted April 26, 2018 22 hours ago, bone2stone said: I replied on (You Tube) about this rock before as follows......... It's a wok used for fwoing at wabbits. Simplified reply: It is a specimen of rock. Don't know you Geologist but I have to say . ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Your geologist friend may be an expert on the sedimentation process but he may know little of the fossil specimens contained therein. Take it to a PALEONTOLOGIST. Some of the brightest paleo minds can be found here on this forum and they have responded with sound information. Everyone of the members, who bothered to try and help you, know a great deal more about the fossilization process than I. Continued insistence on your part will not make your rock anything other than a rock. We do not bully others here but we will not sugar coat the truth either. I, on occasion, may make a joke of a situation but it is in light hearted fun only. Now, your posting of the host stone just goes to reinforce what the others have been trying to educate you on. I doubt that we will waste our time replying anymore to this thread. We have had others on here that no amount of expertise is going to make the point that: a rock is just a rock. (Unless it is a WOK) The only thing yours is a specimen of is, ROCK. I do hope this will not shadow your quest for knowledge or keep you from developing a passion for fossilizing, because the more the merrier when it comes to finding and bringing fossils to the attention of others. Jess B 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeschWhat Posted April 27, 2018 Share Posted April 27, 2018 Welcome to the forum. I'm with the others, just an rock with an interesting shape. Mother nature has a wicked sense of humor. Lori www.areallycrappystory.com/fossils www.facebook.com/fossilpoo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doushantuo Posted April 27, 2018 Share Posted April 27, 2018 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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