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dsludden

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I was out on the Neuse River this afternoon (Havelock, NC area) and found this piece. It seems to have the correct cross hatching to indicate tusk. 6 inches long 2.5 inches wide. Heavy, layers are flaking off. Is this a tusk...hopefully mammoth and if so how best to preserve. Thank you in advance! 

8BD1B2C8-E556-4CBF-82D6-2AECDA0D3A7F.jpeg

D5A6195E-4231-414B-90A7-8506FAA051D8.jpeg

BE80BD2E-FCF0-4FF0-B02A-ED2871A2500A.jpeg

35ACC4C9-963B-40C4-B09E-2B4139B1C1DA.jpeg

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It is a proboscidean tusk. The schreger lines are nicely visible in the natural cross section. Nice specimen! :)

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" We are not separate and independent entities, but like links in a chain, and we could not by any means be what we are without those who went before us and showed us the way. "

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Thank you Rockwood for responding. Do you think this could be mammoth? I’ve tried to center my research  on possible ice age sites. I was using the NC State Archeology reports and other obscure documents o narrow down search areas.

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If the river is brackish (and even if it is not), a long soak in fresh water to de-salt it would be a good idea. Change the water every few days.
When you can't stand it any more, dry it as slowly as you can (cover with damp cloth, for example). Then you can assess its stability, and decide whether it needs stabilization.

 

It's a good find, and a terrrific looking fossil; just gnarly enough, and with a nice patina.

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"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!

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42 minutes ago, dsludden said:

Thank you Rockwood for responding. Do you think this could be mammoth? I’ve tried to center my research  on possible ice age sites. I was using the NC State Archeology reports and other obscure documents o narrow down search areas.

Mainers aren't known for using more words than necessary. :)

Yes. This image registered a match right away. It's from the Hot Springs Mammoth site in South Dakota. 

Edit: Sorry it loses something being resized for posting.

IMG_3102a.jpg

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Thank you Auspex for the info on preserving the tusk.The Neuse River is brackish so  I have placed the tusk in a bowl of tap water. 

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2 hours ago, dsludden said:

. Do you think this could be mammoth?

You need to check the angles of the schreger lines to determine mammoth or mastodon.

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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.

 

 

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If this was found where I think it was found it was in an exposure on a point across from the boat docks at the Marine Base. Please remember that this area is part of the Croatan National Forrest. Federal law prohibits the taking of vertebrate fossils from Federal lands. Just want to make sure you are aware of this as the forest service employees there enforce that law.

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Bulldozers and dirt Bulldozers and dirt
behind the trailer, my desert
Them red clay piles are heaven on earth
I get my rocks off, bulldozers and dirt

Patterson Hood; Drive-By Truckers

 

image.png.0c956e87cee523facebb6947cb34e842.png May 2016  MOTM.png.61350469b02f439fd4d5d77c2c69da85.png.a47e14d65deb3f8b242019b3a81d8160.png.b42a25e3438348310ba19ce6852f50c1.png May 2012 IPFOTM5.png.fb4f2a268e315c58c5980ed865b39e1f.png.1721b8912c45105152ac70b0ae8303c3.png.2b6263683ee32421d97e7fa481bd418a.pngAug 2013, May 2016, Apr 2020 VFOTM.png.f1b09c78bf88298b009b0da14ef44cf0.png.af5065d0585e85f4accd8b291bf0cc2e.png.72a83362710033c9bdc8510be7454b66.png.9171036128e7f95de57b6a0f03c491da.png Oct 2022

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Ynot, thank you- I was just reading up on angles to determine mammoth verse mastodon  species. The ends are in rough condition but I will try this tomorrow when I can get outside in the sunlight. Hopefully good lighting will help! Once again, thank you very much for the assistance. 

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SixGill, thank you for the info on Croatian National Forest and rules on fossils. I know the rules in a general sense but not always certain how they apply in some instances. The tusk was  found on the shore line of a housing area on the Neuse River. That being said,  I was considering a shoreline walk along the Neuse River at Flanners Beach but now that you have  reminded me about the national forest   I will avoid that area. Thanks for the reminder. 

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BTW, that is a great find. 

Bulldozers and dirt Bulldozers and dirt
behind the trailer, my desert
Them red clay piles are heaven on earth
I get my rocks off, bulldozers and dirt

Patterson Hood; Drive-By Truckers

 

image.png.0c956e87cee523facebb6947cb34e842.png May 2016  MOTM.png.61350469b02f439fd4d5d77c2c69da85.png.a47e14d65deb3f8b242019b3a81d8160.png.b42a25e3438348310ba19ce6852f50c1.png May 2012 IPFOTM5.png.fb4f2a268e315c58c5980ed865b39e1f.png.1721b8912c45105152ac70b0ae8303c3.png.2b6263683ee32421d97e7fa481bd418a.pngAug 2013, May 2016, Apr 2020 VFOTM.png.f1b09c78bf88298b009b0da14ef44cf0.png.af5065d0585e85f4accd8b291bf0cc2e.png.72a83362710033c9bdc8510be7454b66.png.9171036128e7f95de57b6a0f03c491da.png Oct 2022

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Yes the schreger lines leave no doubt, ie it is a real tusk! But I do not believe it's from a Mammoth. I'm more inclined to be a Mastodon. For comparison purposes, here is a mammoth tusk (North Sea) that is deposited in my private collection where you can see the schreger lines:

 

image.png.2c7e23dbd57921d61b9585ee6ff351ba.png

 

image.thumb.png.e4353fee8b13376c9178023aa2e64095.png

 

I'm inclined to be a Mastodon because even though it's a small fragment, yours seems to be straight:

 

image.png.8162bac37bfadd46faee0afb53620e8d.png

 

And too even though it is a small fragment, mine is curved:

 

image.png.1962d13d0c811d3eba38919a09a6325a.png

 

But as yours is a small fragment, this is a preliminary analysis and may be flawed. As others have said, only the schreger lines will determine.

 

:dinothumb:

Is It real, or it's not real, that's the question!

03.PNG

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Seguidora de Isis, thank you for the detailed information. I believe you are correct and the schreger lines indicate mastodon. I will take a good look tomorrow. And thanks for showing your Mammoth Tusk. Amazing specimen! 

 

-de-Isis

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15 minutes ago, dsludden said:

 

Seguidora de Isis, thank you for the detailed information. I believe you are correct and the schreger lines indicate mastodon. I will take a good look tomorrow. And thanks for showing your Mammoth Tusk. Amazing specimen! 

 

-de-Isis

 

:dinothumb:

Is It real, or it's not real, that's the question!

03.PNG

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It may be a little complicated, but you could try to make a polished cross cut on your specimen, then measure the schreger angles and compare with the data shown below as reference.

 

virag2.thumb.jpg.4d55c82655520aff41af0c5580760bd5.jpg

 

 

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" We are not separate and independent entities, but like links in a chain, and we could not by any means be what we are without those who went before us and showed us the way. "

Thomas Mann

My Library

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