johnnyvaldez7.jv Posted September 12 Share Posted September 12 I found this little bone yesterday on a river gravel bank. It's unusual. I can't figure out how to orient it. It looks like an astragalus but not like the usual ones I see from a horse. Could be way off tho. There's a large articular surface on one side and a smaller one on the other. Size is 1.75 inches x 1.75 inches 2 Link to post Share on other sites
grandpa Posted September 12 Share Posted September 12 Modern or fossilized? Link to post Share on other sites
johnnyvaldez7.jv Posted September 12 Author Share Posted September 12 @grandpa Hello there! It's not mineralized. But, I've learned on here that if something isn't mineralized, it doesn't mean it's not old. It was found in the same area as my other pleistocene finds... I guess it would just depend on where and how it was preserved. I was told once that something completely mineralized can "at least tell me it at least 10,000 years old." Also I was told by someone that they've found something that looks fresh dead next to something completely mineralized in the same layer and were the same age. I guess if I can figure out what it is and what it belongs to... it might help. Good hearing from you. I found a bunch of stuff yesterday. When I thought I've found it all I keep finding things. Can't wait for rain and a flood to move things around. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
grandpa Posted September 12 Share Posted September 12 I saw from your posts that you were out yesterday. Glad to see the site is continually so productive. You are fortunate to have such a great site so close. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Harry Pristis Posted September 12 Share Posted September 12 Your find vaguely reminds me of a 'gator astragalus. See if you can make the match: 4 Link to post Share on other sites
johnnyvaldez7.jv Posted September 12 Author Share Posted September 12 @Harry Pristis Thank you. I've had it in hand and have rotated it numerous times trying to make it fit and can't. Even with what's broken on mine, I still couldn't if the rest were there. Alligator was something I didn't even think about. Link to post Share on other sites
Brandy Cole Posted September 13 Share Posted September 13 On 9/11/2023 at 10:42 PM, johnnyvaldez7.jv said: I was told once that something completely mineralized can "at least tell me it at least 10,000 years old." I may have been the one to tell you that a while back and have since learned that I was incorrect. As you rightly said in your post, it really all depends on the location of the item and the process by which it mineralized. I think mineralization, even in our area with a large amount of Pleistocene material, would be a strong indicator but not a guarantee. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Brandy Cole Posted September 13 Share Posted September 13 From the size, I wonder if there's a chance it's a carpal or tarsal bone that I'm unfamiliar with. Link to post Share on other sites
johnnyvaldez7.jv Posted September 13 Author Share Posted September 13 (edited) @Brandy Cole Thank you. Good idea. I'm currently running through as many different carpal and tarsal bones for comparison. Edited September 13 by johnnyvaldez7.jv Link to post Share on other sites
CDiggs Posted September 15 Share Posted September 15 On 9/11/2023 at 10:28 PM, johnnyvaldez7.jv said: This surface here makes me think this could possibly be one of the zygapophyses from a vertebra if you're still struggling to make this fit any carpals/tarsals. Just another idea to entertain as a possibility perhaps. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites
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