Triceratops Frill

[Klaus_Grizwold]

This is part of a Triceratops frill that my dad and I found in the hell creek formation of North Dakota.

 

My question is, there seems to be scoria on one face of most of the pieces.

I have personally not seen this before, and I am curious of the geologic setting that this would occur.

 

 

 

[ThePhysicist]

Scoria is igneous, so it won't be associated with a fossil.

 

The dark stone plastered on there is ironstone. Sometimes it can appear porous, due to the decay and erosion of organic materials caught within it as it formed. Ironstone generally forms in wet environments in reducing conditions. In the context of HCF, this typically means in river channel sediments surrounding organic matter.

Edited September 14 by ThePhysicist

[Klaus_Grizwold]

@ThePhysicist

That would make sense from HCF. Also, looking closer at the Ironstone, there are little impressions of organic materials like wood and sticks, see added pictures. I very much appreciate your help.