Shellseeker Posted July 30, 2018 Share Posted July 30, 2018 A large male tusk a Miocene Rhinoceros has been in my possession for a couple of weeks. I am aware of a couple of businesses which specialize in restoration of fossils, megs, artifacts and the tusk owner asked me to facilitate restorations. The tusk itself is of very high quality with or without restorations. I have a small Rhino collection and I am considering negotiating a purchase price that both of us could feel good about. So here it is. A lower left tusk of Teleoceras Proterum, which was endemic to Florida 8-10 myas. You can see where the tusk was broken between the 5 & 6 inch mark and repaired sometime in the past. A top restorer could erase the mess around the repair, replace the bonding with a like colored material, and come close to making the break disappear. One of the few sources of this level of detail quality occurs in the Florida Phosphate mines. This one was found in a Polk County mine in the 1980s. To my never-ending pain, I did not start hunting until decades later. The next photo is of a T. Proterum skull found in Florida and re_assembled with (I am sure) some restoration. I have circled in red the equivalent fossil left tusk. The animal would sharpen the two lower tusks with the single roundish upper incisor. A couple of more photos. Here is detail on the tusk root. I have colored yellow a small pebble that I have not chosen to remove .. yet. Note the unbroken tiny knobs and the bluish tint to the inside of the root. Finally, a discussion of the tusk tip which could also be a candidate for restoration... So, the mahogany area of the tip has been shaved and polished by the upper incisor for most of the animal's life. Then it was broken on an angle (the grayish , white section). That new gray-white section was then shaved and polished by the upper incisor. This is similar to badly breaking a large bone an have it heal before you die. Your bones (or tusk) will always tell a story. The area next to the red line is a post fossilization "fresh" break and candidate for restoration. So, should I buy it and if I do, what level of fossilization is appropriate? I am not a big proponent of restoration. I have some time to think, and while I do, decided to share this fossil with TFF members. What is the good of having a nice fossil if you never show it to someone who might appreciate it. Enjoy. Jack The White Queen ".... in her youth she could believe "six impossible things before breakfast" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ynot Posted July 30, 2018 Share Posted July 30, 2018 If it were mine, I would fix the badly repaired crack and leave the rest as is. To buy - or not to buy? That is a question only Horatio can answer. 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...
Uncle Siphuncle Posted July 30, 2018 Share Posted July 30, 2018 17 minutes ago, ynot said: If it were mine, I would fix the badly repaired crack and leave the rest as is. To buy - or not to buy? That is a question only Horatio can answer. +1 Grüße, Daniel A. Wöhr aus Südtexas "To the motivated go the spoils." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troodon Posted July 30, 2018 Share Posted July 30, 2018 Nice tusk. I would repair the crack area and the red marked damage to the tip. You are reparing a fresh fracture in the tip not creating something that was not there at the time it fossilized. It's identical to the reason you are reparing the crack area. You have to make the purchase decision. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tidgy's Dad Posted July 30, 2018 Share Posted July 30, 2018 1 hour ago, Uncle Siphuncle said: +1 +2 Very interesting post. Life's Good! Tortoise Friend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miocene_Mason Posted July 30, 2018 Share Posted July 30, 2018 3 hours ago, Tidgy's Dad said: +2 Very interesting post. +3 Whether it is nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous repair, or to bear reconstruction against a sea of breaks, and by opposing end them. “...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...
Nimravis Posted July 30, 2018 Share Posted July 30, 2018 If you like it buy it, if I did, I would do as little to it as possible. It is like me, I am a thing of beauty, you don’t see me going for a facelift. Lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shellseeker Posted July 30, 2018 Author Share Posted July 30, 2018 4 hours ago, ynot said: If it were mine, I would fix the badly repaired crack and leave the rest as is. To buy - or not to buy? That is a question only Horatio can answer. It is possible that Yorick, given his condition, might be more insightful in evaluating a dis-articulated part. 57 minutes ago, WhodamanHD said: +3 Whether it is nobler in the mid to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous repair, or to bear reconstruction against a sea of breaks, and by opposing end them. I wonder if fossil enthusiasts have a para_normal or ethereal link to Shakespeare. 45 minutes ago, Nimravis said: If you like it buy it, if I did, I would do as little to it as possible. It is like me, I am a thing of beauty, you don’t see me going for a facelift. Lol This is exactly what gives me pause... trying to improve a thing of beauty like you or even me! or this fossil. The White Queen ".... in her youth she could believe "six impossible things before breakfast" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ynot Posted July 30, 2018 Share Posted July 30, 2018 5 minutes ago, Shellseeker said: I wonder if fossil enthusiasts have a para_normal or ethereal link to Shakespeare. I think it was the thread title that led us to the words of the bard. 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...
Shellseeker Posted October 18, 2018 Author Share Posted October 18, 2018 Updated, My Mailbox delivered today. As indicated, I have access to a fossil restoration artist who can work miracles... I am very pleased. To me ,it is always better to find all the fossils in my collection, and to make as few/no restorations as possible. However, in this specific instance... The White Queen ".... in her youth she could believe "six impossible things before breakfast" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ynot Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 19 minutes ago, Shellseeker said: However, in this specific instance... Came out looking good! 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...
Ludwigia Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 Whoever that was sure did do a good job! Greetings from the Lake of Constance. Roger http://www.steinkern.de/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plantguy Posted October 20, 2018 Share Posted October 20, 2018 That's a mighty fine addition Jack! Regards, Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minnbuckeye Posted October 20, 2018 Share Posted October 20, 2018 Hi Jack! Beautiful tooth!!! Have you ever encountered pieces sifting? Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darktooth Posted October 21, 2018 Share Posted October 21, 2018 Sweet! I like Trilo-butts and I cannot lie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caldigger Posted October 21, 2018 Share Posted October 21, 2018 You made the right choice! We are as please as you to look upon this artistry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shellseeker Posted October 26, 2018 Author Share Posted October 26, 2018 On 10/20/2018 at 8:03 AM, minnbuckeye said: Hi Jack! Beautiful tooth!!! Have you ever encountered pieces sifting? Mike Sorry, I missed this post. I was busy, screwed up my right leg for most of the month and got back out just as you asked the question... I have only found 2 rhino fossils hunting the Peace River. An astragalus in 2014 and then a lower tooth badly broken and worn...found in 2015 at Brownsville that I managed to misplace somewhere in my collection boxes.. I have supplemented my Florida Rhino collection with a couple of purchases (both Teleoceras Proterum from the Phosphate mines). The White Queen ".... in her youth she could believe "six impossible things before breakfast" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.