Tusk or bone???

timekiller

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Feb 10, 2009
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I just found this in coastal Virginia. It was in the side of a cliff 25ft tall. I dug it out at the bottom of the cliff mabe 2ft up the cliff bank. Before I cleaned it I was sure it was a tusk cause of how round it was and it's length taking in mind that when I dug it the tip was deteriorated so bad there was nothing left to it other then the shape & stain in the clay showing how much longer it really was. Now that I've started cleaning it up some it has a look of what I would think bone would look like. So can ivory take on this look or is it bone? Thanks for the help! IMG_20171105_151219077.jpg IMG_20171105_151232325.jpg IMG_20171105_154054095.jpg IMG_20171106_162944435~2.jpg IMG_20171106_163156977.jpg

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Ninjafossils

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Dec 18, 2012
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That is absolutely a tusk. Looks like a mastodon! That's amazing. Be sure to clean and preserve it well.
 

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timekiller

timekiller

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Feb 10, 2009
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Thanks for the help Ninjafossil,I've dug alot of old things bones & fossils included. Just how it came out looking structure wise seem like bone to me. But never dug one of them before. I've read only 2 others have been dug in VA. east of the blue ridge so that's cool. I'm still in the process of cleaning it. Just found it this past Sunday. What or how would you go about preserving it?As for now I am keeping it sumerged in water.


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AeroMike

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Apr 5, 2007
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WOW! I only have partial tusks, that looks amazing. Paleobond is good stuff
 

AeroMike

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Timekiller, one sure way you can determine if it is tusk is to look at the big end. You want to see the end grain and all tusks have a cross hatch pattern to it..!even broken pieces will show it. I will see if I can upload a photo of one of my pieces to show you what I mean.
IMG_2694.JPG
 

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