Coral, sponge, or just volcanic rock?

[Boduke]

Found near dugway proving grounds in Utah's west desert while looking for geodes. Anything interesting about this, or just a rock?

[Thomas.Dodson]

It's difficult to tell from these photos. Clear, in focus photos with natural light will help. A scale reference is also important.

[Boduke]

I hope these are better.

[Coco]

You’re new here, welcome.

There are many of us, non-English speaking, on this forum. Only the Americans know the size of a dollar bill. STP uses a real ruler in cm or inch.

 

Coco

[Rockwood]

I'd bet a six inch saw buck to that 15.2 cm dollar, it's an evaporite. 

[Bob Saunders]

Please do not use pictures of Legal  U.S. currency. Not just the size issue  but the Fed's don't seem to like that. 

[Coco]

Who/what is FED ?

 

Coco

[grandpa]

Hello @Boduke and welcome to the Forum.  That looks like a very nice family you have with you in the picture.  I wonder if you are able to get that young lady interested in joining you on your fossil hunts.  This is a wonderful family hobby.  Unfortunately I was never able to get my two daughters bitten by the fossil bug.

 

I bet right now you are feeling like we have a lot of "rules" on this forum.  It may seem overwhelming at first.  But stick with us and I think you will find that learning the "best practices" of the forum comes quickly.  Again, a warm welcome.

[Fossildude19]

2 hours ago, Coco said:

Who/what is FED ?

 

Coco

The Federal Government of the United States of America.   

We are over fond of our acronyms and abbreviations.  

[Boduke]

Thank you and everyone for the info. I have been interested in rocks my whole life and yes, the bug has bitten my daughters.

 

I still have a lot to learn and appreciate everyone's input! I'm sure my etiquette will be up to par with future posts.

 

Thanks again!

[Abyss]

12 hours ago, Coco said:

You’re new here, welcome.

There are many of us, non-English speaking, on this forum. Only the Americans know the size of a dollar bill. STP uses a real ruler in cm or inch.

 

Coco

 

9 hours ago, Coco said:

Who/what is FED ?

 

Coco

 

As each dollar/euro amount all the bills are the same size. 

FED's = Federal Agents, Government employees 

 

 

 

Boduke - looks like a rock to me.

Don't worry about the special treatment you're getting about using the bill, it's a on going thing which all people have a issue with for size comparison. Not everyone knows the size of a certain item from a different country, hands are all different sizes too.....whats not different and the same no matter what country you're from is a ruler with centimeters and inches.

[Plax]

Sharp photos with anything generally known for scale is fine with me. If we were looking at a specific fossil that had a particular size range, then a ruler of some sort would be required. The variability of currency size makes no difference when looking at a rock with possible fossils. Thanks for posing the sizes Abyss. Shows that they only vary slightly. A ruler of some sort is preferred of course as Coco states.

[Coco]

Preferred by me, yes, and supported by the administrators

I’m one of the few non-English speakers to ask for it almost systematically, so obviously that might suggest that I’m the only one who doesn’t come out with hands, lighters, coins, banknotes, or whatever other bad comparison object... I’m doing an information job

 

Coco

[FossilNerd]

Hello Boduke and welcome to TFF.  

I think you have been brow beaten enough over using objects for scale so I’ll try and get us back on track... Also, please pardon the derailment as it is a pet peeve of many here.  

 

Unfortunately, it looks like a weathered/eroded rock to me. 
 

While I do see divots, pits, and holes, I’m not seeing anything diagnostic to coral and the like. No visible septa, tabulae, calice, or uniformity in corallites that I would expect to see in a colony. 
 

Sponges can sometimes be tricky to identify, with tiny (many times microscopic) spicules being their main diagnostic feature, but I don’t think that is what you have here.

[Boduke]

Awesome. Thank you for getting things back on track!