Bone or Palm Root?

[FSL1]

Hi,

I found this in Barstow, CA, south of Rainbow Basin, in a wash, on private land. 

I have been told this is fossilized palm root and also a bone fossil. I'm hoping with the attached images, someone can confirm which one it is. I am relatively confident this is not, simply, a rock. 

 

This is heavier than any rock of similar size, sticks to my tongue a bit on the open side. Under UV light, the piece fluoresces orange and a deeper orange/red. 

 

Thank you!!

 

[jpc]

looks more like bone than palm root

[FSL1]

Thank you for the reply! 

I've seen palm root before, it didn't look like this, and the shape on the closed end looks like the leg bone where it goes into the hip, just missing the ball portion. 

[Mahnmut]

Hi,

while I agree this looks fossilish,

being heavier/denser than average rock has nothing to do with being  a fossil. Most fossils are about as dense as the matrix they are found in, with the exception of pyrite fossils).

Density is often an argument when comparing to recent bone or wood, which are usually lighter/less dense than mineralized fossils.

Best regards,

J

[FSL1]

Thank you for the reply and the information. I've found a few fossils, but never bones. I appreciate you taking the time to educate me. 

[DPS Ammonite]

For comparison see photo by from the Barstow Formation near Barstow, California. Photographer uncertain. The Miocene Barstow Formation also occurs near Rainbow Basin. Palm root cross sections are concentrically layered and are semi circular or squashed circles unlike fossil shown by original poster (bottom photo).

Edited March 3 by DPS Ammonite

[Psittacosaur9]

It looks very broken down to me. I'm not sure we'll be able to ID it beyond 'it's probably a bone'.

[FSL1]

DPS Ammonite, Thank you for the reply! 

The comparison photo is excellent, I really appreciate you taking the time to send this. 

 

Psittacosaur9, that was going to be my next question following DPS's image and information. I did some research on what has been found in the area, but I doubt it will help me much. Would be nice to get a general age if nothing else, but I imagine this is not any easier to do. 

Thank you both, again, for the responses, I appreciate it! 

 

 

 

[doushantuo]

Hiya ,FSL

some palmwood ( Illustration composited by me, this being two plates from Stenzel's "Fossil Palmwood", legal status: out of copyright)

I tend to agree with the comments made above regarding "indifferent preservation"

[FSL1]

Thank you, Doushantuo, for the reply and information. 

 

I found an online bone image while watching a bone ID video. I snapped a picture of the piece in the video. It looks very close to the cross section of the piece i have, but this image shows square/rectangular fragmants around the outside.