Bdb Posted September 27, 2018 Share Posted September 27, 2018 My friend found this in a creek bottom here in central Iowa. He thinks it might be a petrified pearl inside a half oyester. Any thoughts? Maybe the muscle? Link to post Share on other sites
Kane Posted September 27, 2018 Share Posted September 27, 2018 I would think that pearls already being solid, would fossilize similarly in shape as they would have appeared before fossilization. The aragonite of the pearl, however, would be replaced by some other mineral (such as calcite), but would retain the concentric rings as found in modern day pearls. Not thinking this is a fossilized pearl, but this is my best guess not knowing the geology of your area very well. 2 Link to post Share on other sites
Darktooth Posted September 27, 2018 Share Posted September 27, 2018 Can you take a pick of the other side of this object? That way we can confirm if it is indeed a fossil shell vs concretion. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Kane Posted September 27, 2018 Share Posted September 27, 2018 15 minutes ago, Darktooth said: Can you take a pick of the other side of this object? That way we can confirm if it is indeed a fossil shell vs concretion. Good point. I was having some doubts this was a shell, too. Link to post Share on other sites
Bobby Rico Posted September 27, 2018 Share Posted September 27, 2018 I don’t know if this helps I have a blister pearl found on the Norfolk coast . I can’t say if it is fossilised it is definitely not completely modern going by the look of the pearl and the feel of the object . Maybe helps to compare? 2 Link to post Share on other sites
Bdb Posted September 27, 2018 Author Share Posted September 27, 2018 I’m sorry, I took those pics with my iPad at his place and left shortly after. I’ll see if I can get more pics the next time I see him. I should have taken more, but was only able to upload 2 without exceeding limits. Link to post Share on other sites
Darktooth Posted September 27, 2018 Share Posted September 27, 2018 Just judging by what I can see, I believe this is a concretion with an interesting nodule growing on it. The depressed area with the nodule was most likely covered at some point, creating a small vug. 2 Link to post Share on other sites
abyssunder Posted September 27, 2018 Share Posted September 27, 2018 I think, it might be an iron oxide concretion. Take a look here . Link to post Share on other sites
Herb Posted September 27, 2018 Share Posted September 27, 2018 could be a very worn Texigryphea or Gryphea sp. Link to post Share on other sites
ynot Posted September 28, 2018 Share Posted September 28, 2018 I agree with a concretion. Link to post Share on other sites
BuddingPaleo Posted September 28, 2018 Share Posted September 28, 2018 Just throwing this out there...I often find my oyster halves because I see this feature. Link to post Share on other sites
Ludwigia Posted September 28, 2018 Share Posted September 28, 2018 To be quite honest, I think this is too difficult to solve online, unless you start prepping the object and take sharp macro photos. I'd suggest you take it to a museum and show it to a paleontologist in the know. 2 Link to post Share on other sites
frankh8147 Posted September 28, 2018 Share Posted September 28, 2018 I'm not sure myself but that doesn't look like fossil shell to me.. here is one I recently found from the Cretaceous for comparison (but that one would be from a different time period). I second the idea to show it to a local paleontologist. Link to post Share on other sites
smikers Posted November 27, 2022 Share Posted November 27, 2022 This looks closer to what is being described Link to post Share on other sites
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