HemiHunter Posted November 4, 2020 Share Posted November 4, 2020 One of my boys collected this strange joint bone fragment while we were at Calvert Cliffs yesterday. It has a shape we can't figure out--and it's completely hollow! It's too big to be bird (right)? So is there a natural process that could have hollowed it out like this? And what is it? Can anybody help? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HemiHunter Posted November 4, 2020 Author Share Posted November 4, 2020 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HemiHunter Posted November 4, 2020 Author Share Posted November 4, 2020 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HemiHunter Posted November 4, 2020 Author Share Posted November 4, 2020 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HemiHunter Posted November 4, 2020 Author Share Posted November 4, 2020 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bthemoose Posted November 4, 2020 Share Posted November 4, 2020 No ideas from me, but that’s a really interesting find! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FossilsAnonymous Posted November 4, 2020 Share Posted November 4, 2020 @sharkdoctor On The Hunt For The Trophy Otodus! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockwood Posted November 4, 2020 Share Posted November 4, 2020 3 hours ago, HemiHunter said: So is there a natural process that could have hollowed it out like this? And what is it? Erosion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LabRatKing Posted November 4, 2020 Share Posted November 4, 2020 I’ve seen this happen in modern and historical bones. The spongiform tissue collapses or is eaten away by rodents leaving only the outer, dense bone layers. You may be able to see gnaw marks if you look hard, but this is likely a result of natural erosion. No clue as to what this is from, but looks like remnant of a femur or humerus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockwood Posted November 4, 2020 Share Posted November 4, 2020 3 hours ago, HemiHunter said: It has a shape we can't figure out--and it's completely hollow! I'm thinking modern cow is high on the possibilities list. Are you sure it's a fossil ? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LabRatKing Posted November 4, 2020 Share Posted November 4, 2020 5 minutes ago, Rockwood said: I'm thinking modern cow is high on the possibilities list. Are you sure it's a fossil ? I agree, a burn test might be a good idea. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LordTrilobite Posted November 4, 2020 Share Posted November 4, 2020 I'm thinking that's a very eroded mammal humerus fragment. 1 Olof Moleman AKA Lord Trilobite Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HemiHunter Posted November 4, 2020 Author Share Posted November 4, 2020 3 hours ago, LabRatKing said: I agree, a burn test might be a good idea So, it is not particularly smelly in the burn test, but it also does not feel as dense or sound as "pingy" as our many other mineralized fossil bones. We compared it to a (larger) modern moose femur fragment I just happen to have lying around. The shape is similar and the "feel" compares well. (Don't know why I didn't think to do that in the first place). Based on the above, I'm going with an old, but modern cow femur. Great to learn some more about fossil bone ID. Thanks!! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockwood Posted November 5, 2020 Share Posted November 5, 2020 1 hour ago, HemiHunter said: modern moose femur fragment I just happen to have lying around. Anyone who just happens to have a moose bone is all right in my book. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now