Fossil or not?

**Pull_tab_mike** · Oct 24, 2011, 02:40 PM

Hi all, tryed posting this befor on other page but no luck just alot of lookers.

I found this on a site I was working as a security guard. 18 hours watching a gate gets boring..lol.. I dontknow much about it, it looked cool so I picked it up. I am in to fossil collecting but not much im mire of a MD type of guy.....

Its about the size of an egg.. Not much help right. Sorry

Any help would be awesome

HH

PTM

**Goodyguy** · Oct 24, 2011, 03:44 PM

I would say Coral.
Possibly Chain Coral however your specimen is very weathered and makes positive ID as to species difficult from a photo.

Could also be Aulopora corals attached on back.
Light sandblasting could possibly bring out important identifying details.

GG~

Chain coral Your sample

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**Harry Pristis** · Oct 24, 2011, 06:54 PM

Even if you provided good, focused images, it might not be possible to say with any confidence which coral that it.

With good probability, it is the remnant of a corallum from a paleozoic, colonial rugose coral.

From there, confidence falls way off. It could be a Silurian coral called Eridophyllum seriale, or it could be some entirely different taxon.

Indiana is loaded with paleozoic fossils, and a construction site is a good place to find 'em.

**Goodyguy** · Oct 24, 2011, 08:01 PM

Upon closer inspection I would have to go with Harry's ID (colonial rugose) mostly due to the "outie navel" feature.
If it is colonial rugose, your specimen is barely recognizable.

See if you can find others perhaps more detailed.

"outie"