Creek - Don Posted August 11, 2019 Share Posted August 11, 2019 Hello everyone, I've been doing some creek fossils hunting in Dallas area recently and came across/found numerous bones in pieces. Not sure what these vertebrate bones these belongs to, but they are 12 inches or smaller and looks like mostly arm or leg bones. These animal used to swim, crawl around here around 140 to 66 million years ago. Buried in Eagle Ford Shale or Austin Chalk limstone layers about 10 to 20 feet down from top to bottom in the creek layers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FranzBernhard Posted August 11, 2019 Share Posted August 11, 2019 Welcome to TFF from Austria! They look quite interesting, but I am a bit skeptic, that these are bones. But there are many knowledgeable member from Texas here on TFF, eg. @Uncle Siphuncle, @erose Franz Bernhard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Creek - Don Posted August 11, 2019 Author Share Posted August 11, 2019 Thanks Franz. There are no rocks at these layer. When these bones were found, they were embedded in the clay layer that were mushy when wet and crumbles when dry. When you tap with rock hammer, other clay particles just t disintegrates, but these will not break. Also, on the edges, they are like regular bones that has been broken. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FranzBernhard Posted August 11, 2019 Share Posted August 11, 2019 Thanks for extra infos! 7 minutes ago, Creek - Don said: they are like regular bones that has been broken. Would you like to post some end-on pics? Thank you! If these are really bones, this could be a significant find! Franz Bernhard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Creek - Don Posted August 11, 2019 Author Share Posted August 11, 2019 Sure, here is the side photos. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DPS Ammonite Posted August 11, 2019 Share Posted August 11, 2019 Welcome to the Forum. The rocks look somewhat like the Atco Formation which is at the bottom of the Austin Group because of the small dark phosphatic? clasts. Although the shape is suggestive of bones, we need to see clearer photos that can be magnified in order to see if bone is present. If not bones, they could be burrows. Are you able to take photos of the ends of the “bones” through a hand lens? Consider taking them to the meeting for the Dallas Paleontological Society. They should be able to look for bone with a hand lens. 3 My goal is to leave no stone or fossil unturned. See my Arizona Paleontology Guide link The best single resource for Arizona paleontology anywhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Creek - Don Posted August 11, 2019 Author Share Posted August 11, 2019 Thanks. I'm getting hand lens ordered. Will take few photos when it arrives. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caldigger Posted August 11, 2019 Share Posted August 11, 2019 I think you have sections of burrows ( trace fossils ). 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grandpa Posted August 11, 2019 Share Posted August 11, 2019 I agree with DPS Ammonite and Caldigger that these look like burrow casts. I recall that I came to the same conclusion when I found my first burrow casts; I was sure they were bones. The Dallas Paleo Society certainly has the expertise to verify your finds, so I would echo DPS Ammonite's recommendation. And finally, I see that you are a new member to TFF, so let me extend a welcome from Austin. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Creek - Don Posted August 11, 2019 Author Share Posted August 11, 2019 Great info. Thanks for the advice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Siphuncle Posted August 11, 2019 Share Posted August 11, 2019 Burrows would be my guess as well. 2 Grüße, Daniel A. Wöhr aus Südtexas "To the motivated go the spoils." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El_Hueso Posted August 11, 2019 Share Posted August 11, 2019 I have hunted in the Dallas area in both eagle ford/Austin chalk layers near the muddy/clay bits and have found many burrow casts that I would have sworn were bones. Here are a few samples from my last trip. They look quite similar to what you have, and were found where yours were. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Creek - Don Posted August 11, 2019 Author Share Posted August 11, 2019 Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erose Posted August 12, 2019 Share Posted August 12, 2019 I'm seeing trace fossils. Not uncommon for them to be filled with a harder matrix than the surrounding sediment. But, I would still take them to the DPS meeting since photos only go so far toward an identification. Getting it into the actual hands of some knowledgable folks is best. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Creek - Don Posted August 12, 2019 Author Share Posted August 12, 2019 Thanks again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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