Black Beauty

Prime_Focus

Full Member
Aug 27, 2008
187
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Central Iowa
I was searching a gravel bar today, really hoping to find a shark's tooth but didn't have any luck on them. I was in a different river system than I was when I found my first one a couple of weeks ago. Crawling around on my hands and knees put my old eyes right on top of the action and artifacts started making their way into my pocket. I found a broken heartbreaker and a few minutes later a real beauty, a black beauty. I found another broken base and several crinoid stems as well as other assorted fossils. I did find one large tooth. It looks like a nasty one, whatever it was. It's very old and blackened with time in the river. If anyone has any ideas on it's owner, I'm open to suggestions.

Here's the first broken piece that would have been a beauty.

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Here is my black beauty.

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All three pieces, including the last broken base.

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Here is the tooth I found. Too bad it wasn't from a shark.

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Assorted crinoids, brachiopods and a couple of colony coral pieces.

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Group shot

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I also came across some large crystal covered rocks. I broke off a couple of pieces and brought them home for the shelf.

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And a couple of wildflowers. Got to always give them a little space in the camera.

Phlox

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Wild Ginger or Colt's Foot

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1point

Full Member
Mar 13, 2011
122
2
Central Iowa
Very nice finds Tom. Amazing what a little closer view can produce as we sometimes take for granted the fully exposed pieces just laying there. Great pictures and the crystals are pleasing to the eyes. I'm guessing whatever sandbars you were looking are probably several feet under water by now! but hey, that makes for a whole new ballgame!!:icon_thumleft:
 

iowa trout

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Dec 9, 2010
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Wowzers neat haul there Tom I cant get over the blue specks in blackie that is a far out point.I think without confirming your tooth is lower jaw k-9 from that of your friend the coyote. One shark tooth per year should keep a fella satisfied hmmmm better get with the crawfish .
 

old digger

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Jan 15, 2012
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Congratulations! Those are some really nice finds. :icon_thumleft:
 

OP
OP
Prime_Focus

Prime_Focus

Full Member
Aug 27, 2008
187
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Central Iowa
Yeah, I'm guessing that I'd need a snorkel to hunt that gravel bar today. We really needed that gully washer last night. That should clean the bars and bring a few things to the surface.
Trout, I think the blue specks are just tiny grains of sand that is catching the blue light that is being reflected back off of my camera lens from the background. And I'm sure you're right about the tooth. It sure looks old, though.
Thanks, old digger. I brought home a little bit of everything, including a couple of old marbles that aren't in the picture.
 

Almostneverlost

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Mar 10, 2011
135
1
That little black point is a smoker!!! I don't see much of that black material around this way. Some great pictures as well, It's great to be able to get out and pursue things again!
 

PaleoHunter

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Nov 28, 2011
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Heartland
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that just got the blood pumping a lot! darn nice artifacts...hoping for my first trip out in a week or so...
 

Guadalcanal

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Mar 27, 2012
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Great. Now I want to move to Iowa, nice job. Anyway, good finds, I love that rock!
HH,
Guad
 

goldnugget

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Nice Black Point. I've been Looking for my 1st for over 20 years and still looking.goldnugget-Charlotte,North Carolina
 

goldnugget

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Congradulation, I have been looking for my 1st Arrowhead for over 20 years
 

Sprig

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Mar 10, 2011
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I would take a day like that anyday Uncle Tom!

I would like to use my imagination and optimism and say it's a black bear tooth as they were common to Iowa historically. However, iowa trout is probably right!

At any rate, I would have been driving home with a big 'ol smile on my face.
 

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