troig99 Posted June 2, 2019 Share Posted June 2, 2019 Hello, I picked this up on my recent trip through northern Arizona on route to Grand Canyon North Rim. It appears to be a plant fossil but I have no knowledge on this. I picked it up for my friend's 9 yr old boy who is very interested in geology and fossils. It would make him so happy if we could ID the rock & if this is a fossilized plant. The format would not allow me to upload more than 1 picture due to size. Any help would make a budding 9 yr old geologist very happy. TY Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caldigger Posted June 3, 2019 Share Posted June 3, 2019 Thinking mud cracks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ynot Posted June 3, 2019 Share Posted June 3, 2019 Look like mud cracks to Me also. 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...
Plantguy Posted June 3, 2019 Share Posted June 3, 2019 2 hours ago, caldigger said: Thinking mud cracks. 1 hour ago, ynot said: Look like mud cracks to Me also. Hey guys I think it is similar to mud cracks but I'm gonna go in a different direction and was thinking it looked more like a weathered carbonate......edges look kind of sharp/angular to me and there is some irregular pitting in places. We used to call it elephant skin weathering when we'd see it in death valley rocks... How about we do an acid test and put a couple of drops of some vinegar on the back of it to test to see if it fizzes...dont put it on the good surface as it might will discolor it...will help to determine what kind of rock it is...maybe a limestone or dolomite.... I dont have any examples handy so...for comparison here's a blog photo... https://epod.usra.edu/blog/2013/05/elephant-skin-weathering.html Regards, Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westcoast Posted June 3, 2019 Share Posted June 3, 2019 Doesn't have the typical polygonal pattern for mudcracks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hemipristis Posted June 3, 2019 Share Posted June 3, 2019 weathered carbonate crust. The rock is limestone, possibly gypsum. The surface partially dissolves, dessicates, cracks develop, then it solidifies again. Not much different that mud cracks; a distinction w/o a difference. If it fizzes in reaction to vinegar, it's carbonate/limestone. If it does not, but is soft enough to scratch, it's gypsum. 'Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.' George Santayana Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Kmiecik Posted June 3, 2019 Share Posted June 3, 2019 I magnified it and it appears to have more than just cracks. I think I see what could be described as biological material. 1 Mark. Fossil hunting is easy -- they don't run away when you shoot at them! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plantguy Posted June 4, 2019 Share Posted June 4, 2019 6 hours ago, Mark Kmiecik said: I magnified it and it appears to have more than just cracks. I think I see what could be described as biological material. Hey Mark I agree, didnt notice anything initially but I think you are right.....I circled several things that I would want to start by putting a magnifying glass on or look at under a scope...some raised and some circular areas...probably more....need to scan the whole surface for bits and pieces.....wondering now what the other sides may show.... Regards, Chris 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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