haastone Posted February 9, 2019 Share Posted February 9, 2019 (edited) Okay, I found this tooth in Wisconsin. It was on the shore of an island that was land 90 years ago. Can anyone tell me if this is a shark tooth. The closest I can tell is its a mako, but all history books say that would be impossible. Maybe its reptile or some kind of gar, or maybe a even a mammal... Here is a video link.....and yes I'm a painter on break, hence the dirty hands lol. Edited February 9, 2019 by haastone Link to post Share on other sites
Rockwood Posted February 9, 2019 Share Posted February 9, 2019 Those hard working hands, I'm sorry to say, are holding a suggestively shaped rock. A slight difference in resistance to wear from one end to the other is often the main causal element in such shapes. 3 Link to post Share on other sites
Raggedy Man Posted February 9, 2019 Share Posted February 9, 2019 Its just a suggestive rock. Shark teeth are exceedingly rare in Wisconsin and are only found at a few sites. If they were more abundant, I would definitely be hunting them. Best regards, Paul 2 Link to post Share on other sites
haastone Posted February 10, 2019 Author Share Posted February 10, 2019 Okay I thought it was a rock at first as well. My digital microscope is reading 2 different types of rock if that's the case. Is it possible this rock formation has eroded just right from sand stone type fossil/rock (gums) to almost granite/volcanic type fossil/rock. Plus I had a rock guy from Wheaton University say he is almost certain it is in fact a fossil? Link to post Share on other sites
ynot Posted February 10, 2019 Share Posted February 10, 2019 11 minutes ago, haastone said: My digital microscope is reading 2 different types of rock i How does Your digital microscope determine rock? 11 minutes ago, haastone said: Is it possible this rock formation has eroded just right from sand stone type fossil/rock (gums) to almost granite/volcanic type fossil/rock. No, it does not work that way. 11 minutes ago, haastone said: rock guy from Wheaton University say he is almost certain it is in fact a fossil? Need to find another rock guy because there is no chance that this is a fossil. 2 Link to post Share on other sites
haastone Posted February 10, 2019 Author Share Posted February 10, 2019 Do you think this is typical rock from little south of Hayward? Link to post Share on other sites
TyBoy Posted February 10, 2019 Share Posted February 10, 2019 Closeup photos say rock not fossil 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Rockwood Posted February 10, 2019 Share Posted February 10, 2019 1 hour ago, haastone said: do you think this is typical rock from little south of Hayward Do you know how many cubic miles of ice have passed through Hayward since the rock was deposited as sediment ? Link to post Share on other sites
haastone Posted February 11, 2019 Author Share Posted February 11, 2019 i do not? But if its a rock then its a rock. Link to post Share on other sites
Rockwood Posted February 11, 2019 Share Posted February 11, 2019 7 hours ago, haastone said: i do not? But if its a rock then its a rock. During the summer hardly a day goes by that I don't take a minute to scan glacially deposited material for a small fossil. This shape is very familiar to me. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
haastone Posted February 11, 2019 Author Share Posted February 11, 2019 Lets say this is a fossil, from the glacier melt, would it be worth anything? Link to post Share on other sites
Tidgy's Dad Posted February 11, 2019 Share Posted February 11, 2019 Tis a rock. But if it were a fossil it would be worth something to someone, I suppose. But we are unable to give appraisals on the forum anyway. Link to post Share on other sites
Rockwood Posted February 11, 2019 Share Posted February 11, 2019 2 minutes ago, haastone said: Lets say this is a fossil, from the glacier melt, would it be worth anything? It's not what I'm arguing. I offered it as an explanation for it not looking like "typical rock" in a more general sense. If it were to be proven to be a fossil it would definitely have scientific value. Link to post Share on other sites
haastone Posted February 11, 2019 Author Share Posted February 11, 2019 Well thank you all for your input, I appreciate the help in trying to figure out this little guy. It is fascinating none the less. Link to post Share on other sites
haastone Posted February 11, 2019 Author Share Posted February 11, 2019 Here's the so called rock under a little different lighting... Link to post Share on other sites
Rockwood Posted February 11, 2019 Share Posted February 11, 2019 Shape alone is rarely a good indicator, and the texture (small angular indentations) is not typical of fossils. It is quite typical of rocks that have been fractured along cleavage planes in the minerals that make up the rocks. Weathering and abrasion have smoothed it some but not enough to completely eliminate sings of the larger mineral crystals. That being said, I do hope someone comes up with counterpoints to the argument. Link to post Share on other sites
haastone Posted February 12, 2019 Author Share Posted February 12, 2019 The shape to everyone at my bar thinks it's a shark tooth possibly some prehistoric gar or better a back of the mouth saber tooth. Cheers! 1 Link to post Share on other sites
DPS Ammonite Posted February 12, 2019 Share Posted February 12, 2019 On 2/10/2019 at 7:54 AM, haastone said: Do you think this is typical rock from little south of Hayward? It looks like a very fine grained volcanic rock with small, euhedral, light-colored, elongated crystals that are likely feldspar. The indentations are where the crystals eroded away. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Zenmaster6 Posted February 12, 2019 Share Posted February 12, 2019 3 hours ago, haastone said: The shape to everyone at my bar thinks it's a shark tooth possibly some prehistoric gar or better a back of the mouth saber tooth. Cheers! The untrained eye (and even the trained eye) can be easily fooled by shapes and colors. I agree 100% this is indeed a mineral. There is no enamel or striations that would indicate a tooth. Nor is the basal of the tooth the right texture or color. I've sifted through MANY rock like fossils before I was able to find the real thing and even to this day I make the same mistake. If I found it on the beach, I'd probably put it back down. IF HOWEVER it was indeed a mako tooth it would not be a fortune. (below 80$) Here is a picture of a real mako tooth. You can see the lines along the tooth and the shine it produces. Also the root is microscopically porous. I wish you luck on your future finds - John 2 Link to post Share on other sites
Rockwood Posted February 12, 2019 Share Posted February 12, 2019 50 minutes ago, DPS Ammonite said: It looks like a very fine grained volcanic rock with small, euhedral, light-colored, elongated crystals that are likely feldspar. The indentations are where the crystals eroded away. Perhaps, but sandstone in beach gravel takes on a similar appearance. The differing textures and the shape I believe would tend to pull things that way. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
DPS Ammonite Posted February 12, 2019 Share Posted February 12, 2019 It is very rare to find euhedral crystals in beach sand. The one exception might be zircon which is harder than quartz. Euhedral crystals are common in volcanic rocks. 2 Link to post Share on other sites
Rockwood Posted February 12, 2019 Share Posted February 12, 2019 Of course you realize now I have to try to find them in a fossil. Link to post Share on other sites
Zenmaster6 Posted February 12, 2019 Share Posted February 12, 2019 9 hours ago, Rockwood said: Of course you realize now I have to try to find them in a fossil. There is actually a video of a guy on youtube names Ze Jurrasico (from Portugal) and he found a quartz shard inside a scallop fossil. Link to post Share on other sites
Rockwood Posted February 12, 2019 Share Posted February 12, 2019 10 hours ago, DPS Ammonite said: It is very rare to find euhedral crystals in beach sand. The one exception might be zircon which is harder than quartz. Euhedral crystals are common in volcanic rocks. Would pyrite count ? I keep forgetting to account for the fact that the rocks in my area are all metamorphosed. Could you be making the same era in the case of this post ? Link to post Share on other sites
Rockwood Posted February 12, 2019 Share Posted February 12, 2019 33 minutes ago, Zenmaster6 said: There is actually a video of a guy on youtube names Ze Jurrasico (from Portugal) and he found a quartz shard inside a scallop fossil. Couldn't find it right off. Probably a snarge the sand grain full growth ahead kind of thing ? snarge: The remains of a bird after it has collided with an airplane (bird strike), especially a turbine engine. Where did that come from ? Link to post Share on other sites
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