Cynthia Wren Posted February 8 Share Posted February 8 Found in my lawn, alone,,sitting atop a patch of grass. Snapping turtles have owned the nearby pond for decades(side note: in size & shape, their shells look like the lid of a 30 gallon trash can- they will stop & turn, take a menacing stance, and seem ready & willing to charge. I back away slowly and respectfully, in case they’ve evolved into speed runners😳). I would like to know how to assess the age of this egg. It seems like a rock- it’s heavy, wasn’t damaged in a 5’ accidental drop to concrete, and thankfully nothing tried to hatch- lol) It’s beautiful Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted February 8 Share Posted February 8 Sorry, but this does not look like an egg to me. Knowing where this was found (Country, state or region,and county or department ) would be helpful in determining if egg fossils are possibly found in your area. 1 Tim - VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER VFOTM --- APRIL - 2015 __________________________________________________ "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." John Muir ~ ~ ~ ~ ><))))( *> About Me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trilobites_are_awesome Posted February 8 Share Posted February 8 Not an egg. Cheers! James Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fossilus Posted February 8 Share Posted February 8 The perfect "roundness" looks like a ball bearing to me. Is it attracted to a magnet? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cynthia Wren Posted February 9 Author Share Posted February 9 52 minutes ago, fossilus said: The perfect "roundness" looks like a ball bearing to me. Is it attracted to a magnet? 3 hours ago, Cynthia Wren said: Found in my lawn, alone,,sitting atop a patch of grass. Snapping turtles have owned the nearby pond for decades(side note: in size & shape, their shells look like the lid of a 30 gallon trash can- they will stop & turn, take a menacing stance, and seem ready & willing to charge. I back away slowly and respectfully, in case they’ve evolved into speed runners😳). I would like to know how to assess the age of this egg. It seems like a rock- it’s heavy, wasn’t damaged in a 5’ accidental drop to concrete, and thankfully nothing tried to hatch- lol) It’s beautiful I believe this is an eggi from an extant generation of the pond’s longtime resident snappers. It’s state of preservation has me baffled. Most of the patterning looks like blue quartz bits. I can trace fungal forms in the design as well. Do environmental fungi ever preserve rather than decompose? It doesn’t attract a magnet. Good suggestion though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kane Posted February 9 Share Posted February 9 I appreciate the reasoning here, but I still lean no on this piece ...How to Philosophize with a Hammer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClearLake Posted February 9 Share Posted February 9 Snapping turtle eggs are very round and are about the size of your item, but they are usually white and they certainly don't come out of the turtles in the pond as stone. Nor would they fossilize in several decades. Does it feel solid? What does it sound like when you tap it? And yes, where was this found (generally, we don't need your address ). All this info is helpful to assess what you have here. Thanks 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandy Cole Posted February 9 Share Posted February 9 I would expect that five foot drop to do some damage if it were a fossil. I agree with the others that the perfect sphere appears manmade, and I would not expect an egg to mineralize to that degree of hardness. I would try cleaning it with a vinegar solution to identify the underlying material. This would help you know whether you're looking at a natural piece or something manmade. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Dente Posted February 9 Share Posted February 9 Probably a ceramic milling ball. https://www.google.com/search?q=ceramic+milling+balls&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwiE-cbUsJ6EAxWKHzQIHYz2BrQQ2-cCegQIABAA&oq=ceramic+milling+balls&gs_lp=EgNpbWciFWNlcmFtaWMgbWlsbGluZyBiYWxsczIFEAAYgARIxh9Q5wNY1RdwAHgAkAEAmAGIAaABmQmqAQMwLjm4AQPIAQD4AQGKAgtnd3Mtd2l6LWltZ8ICBBAjGCfCAgYQABgHGB6IBgE&sclient=img&ei=zCrGZYTjKYq_0PEPjO2boAs&bih=557&biw=1216 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dries85 Posted February 9 Share Posted February 9 I'm leaning toward... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FossilDAWG Posted February 9 Share Posted February 9 I agree that it isn't an egg. Still mysterious how it suddenly appeared on the lawn. Don Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Kmiecik Posted February 9 Share Posted February 9 Looks like grape shot used in cannons. 1 Mark. Fossil hunting is easy -- they don't run away when you shoot at them! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cynthia Wren Posted February 11 Author Share Posted February 11 My pseudo egg was found in Dolgeville, NY. Geography & exposed rock beds here are intriguing to me. I expect Devonian corals are underfoot. The “egg” makes a muffled tanging sound when tapped with metal- could be ceramic as suggested. Vinegar wash & brushing doesn’t dislodge the patterning on it. I won’t crack it open until I learn how /why the object acquired it. The pic shows the pattern, as well as rock forms readily found here. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westcoast Posted February 11 Share Posted February 11 Looks like you have a piece of orthoconic nautiloid. The upper specimen. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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