Fossil or something else?

[Mre9065]

Hello, I found this among some of my landscape rocks and wonder if anyone can shed some light on what it might be, if anything. Only thing I know about the rock itself is that it's a common landscape rock in southeast texas (austin, houston) and simply sold as texas bull rock.  Have read elsewhere that supposedly sourced from ancient river bed of trinity river somewhere north of lake Livingston area, though no idea how accurate that truly is.   Anyway, hoping someone can help to identify what it may be. One pic wet, one dry.   Thanks in advance!

[FranzBernhard]

That´s a really nice landscape rock, thanks for sharing!

To me, it looks like the internal cast (steinkern) of a high-spired gastropod. It seems to be somewhat deformed and crushed and there seems to be also some crystallization of a mineral, perhaps calcite, on the steinkern. 

In other words, it is not a particularly well preserved fossil, but it is a fossil and an eye-catching specimen.

@grandpa, @JohnJ, @erose

Franz Bernhard

 

[Mre9065]

12 minutes ago, FranzBernhard said:

That´s a really nice landscape rock, thanks for sharing!

To me, it looks like the internal cast (steinkern) of a high-spired gastropod. It seems to be somewhat deformed and crushed and there seems to be also some crystallization of a mineral, perhaps calcite, on the steinkern. 

In other words, it is not a particularly well preserved fossil, but it is a fossil and an eye-catching specimen.

@grandpa, @JohnJ, @erose

Franz Bernhard

 

Thanks for the reply and detailed information! I just recently got into rockhounding and lapidary hobbies and stumbled across this. This, along with a piece of coral I recently found, has really piqued my interest in fossils!  Have huge learning curve ahead of me so your detailed reply is very much appreciated !  Thanks again!

[erose]

Yes in deed. Looks like a large species of the genus Nerinea. It is a steinkern (internal mold) and appears to be preserved in a low grade chert nodule which would explain its presence in a river bed. Chert is much harder than the typical limestone and tends to accumulate in the gravel bars. 

 

It is a pretty nice specimen as they go. I'd of hauled it home for sure.

[Mre9065]

1 minute ago, erose said:

Yes in deed. Looks like a large species of the genus Nerinea. It is a steinkern (internal mold) and appears to be preserved in a low grade chert nodule which would explain its presence in a river bed. Chert is much harder than the typical limestone and tends to accumulate in the gravel bars. 

 

It is a pretty nice specimen as they go. I'd of hauled it home for sure.

Thanks for the reply and info!  

[grandpa]

I think @FranzBernhard and @erose have nailed it for you. 

 

All I'd like to add is a WELCOME to TFF.  You will find this a great place to speed you along your learning curve in the area of fossils.  We also have a section for rock and mineral enthusiasts as well (ok, guilty as charged myself), that you will find helpful.  Your interests have placed you among a warm, welcoming, and knowledgeable group of like-interested folks.  Again, welcome aboard.

[Mre9065]

15 hours ago, grandpa said:

I think @FranzBernhard and @erose have nailed it for you. 

 

All I'd like to add is a WELCOME to TFF.  You will find this a great place to speed you along your learning curve in the area of fossils.  We also have a section for rock and mineral enthusiasts as well (ok, guilty as charged myself), that you will find helpful.  Your interests have placed you among a warm, welcoming, and knowledgeable group of like-interested folks.  Again, welcome aboard.

Thank you, and I am glad I found this place. Already can tell this is a very knowledgeable group and very willing to share their time and knowledge to help others out! Definitely have an interest to learn and seems the right place to be to do so.