Mineral or vegetable?

[UpsidedownPiranha]

Location: Greece, Crete, Chania coast (NW Crete)
Context: beach, among diverse rocks
Date found: July 2023
Size: 4,5 cm * 4 cm * 1 cm
 

 

Our imagination is running wild with this one. Please help with identification!

 

//Piranhas

[Rockwood]

I know nothing about the rocks in that area, but I think these are most likely only mineral inclusions. 

[Fossildude19]

The mineral inclusions look like calcite, which could indicate that these are cross sections of some sort of shell, but I see nothing definitivley recognizable as shell there. Could just be geologic in nature.

[UpsidedownPiranha]

Thank you @Rockwood & @Fossildude19

While a baby crab would have been even cooler, we still like it.

 

To improve our knowledge: how do you make a distinction like that? What do you look for to see if it is a shell or just a random mineral?

 

/P's

[Rockwood]

An exposed portion of an external surface would be a good indication. The most direct way of obtaining such information would be to break it open with a hammer. Be sure to protect your eyes if you decide to try though. 

[Mark Kmiecik]

Most fossils, even if heavily eroded, will have just a bit of detail here and there that can be identified as organic in origin. If it doesn't, the best we can do is have those who are familiar with the fossils found in that area offer an "educated guess" as to what it is.

[Rockwood]

1 hour ago, Mark Kmiecik said:

Most fossils, even if heavily eroded, will have just a bit of detail here and there that can be identified as organic in origin. If it doesn't, the best we can do is have those who are familiar with the fossils found in that area offer an "educated guess" as to what it is.

I just flat out disagree with that. 

[JohnJ]

4 hours ago, Mark Kmiecik said:

Most fossils, even if heavily eroded, will have just a bit of detail here and there that can be identified as organic in origin. If it doesn't, the best we can do is have those who are familiar with the fossils found in that area offer an "educated guess" as to what it is.

Fair observations, Mark.  

[Rockwood]

2 hours ago, JohnJ said:

Fair observations, Mark.  

What is wrong with breaking it open to take a look ?

[Rockwood]

Telling people that they can only depend on someone else's educated guess to me sounds arrogant and misguided. 

[Fossildude19]

I see nothing wrong with breaking this piece open, as there is nothing to be gained by leaving it intact. 

Just my 2 cents.

 

[JohnJ]

10 hours ago, Rockwood said:

What is wrong with breaking it open to take a look ?

Nothing.

 

7 hours ago, Rockwood said:

Telling people that they can only depend on someone else's educated guess to me sounds arrogant and misguided. 

I don't think that was the intent here.