Westa Texas Find

[sspktx58]

In 2023 I found this crystalized rock sitting on a small rise of smaller rocks and pebbles in an undisturbed desert location.

It seemed out of place and caught my attention. When I picked it up I noticed that it has indentations from the rocks it was sitting on.

 

It must have been soft when it was first placed in that spot. It had a layer of very hard limestone encrusted on the underside.

I thought that it was fossilized feces, but the possum in Arizona said that it has no indication of being coprolite.

 

A geologist gave the same opinion. I have sent photos to the Houston Gem and Mineral Society and they couldn't identify it by photo.

When I was chipping off the encrusted limestone, I had 4 very small shards break off.

 

I have sent 2 shards to the HGMS mineral director and am awaiting analysis.

 

When I would strike the actual specimen with the chisel it would shoot off a tiny red/orange spark.

This happened less than ten times. It is comprised of very small crystals. 

 

 

 

[Fossildude19]

These look like limestone nodules to me.

 

No eggshell, so, ... not eggs.

 

Place a few drops of vinegar on them. If they fizz, they are limestone. If not, they could be chert or some other type of nodules.

[sspktx58]

Vinegar has no reaction on the actual crystals. I did use vinegar to dissolve the limestone residue left after chipping almost all of it away. The specimen is not marred by scratching with metal.

[Ludwigia]

This is definitely not a fossil and I guess you'll just have to wait for the results of the analysis, since I don't think that we can tell you any more than Tim has already suggested just based on photos, as you were already told by the HGMS.