Dino Gizzard Stones

[Paleopilot]

Here are a few Dinosaur Gizzard stones that I found this last week. Notice the polished appearence.

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They are known as Gestational or Gastric stones. They were injested by the Dinos and spent a long time in thier "tumblers", hence the shine.

 

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[old digger]

They are known as Gestational or Gastric stones. They were injested by the Dinos and spent a long time in thier "tumblers", hence the shine.

Welcome to TNET. Looks like you may have some gastroliths there, nice finds.

 

[rock]

Here, we call them gastroliths. I don't think they use any particular kind of rock, just what is available to them. Some of them can be bigger than a baseball, but they are usually a little bigger than a golfball. Modern whales still do it; if you google 'whale stomach stone,' you will get a ton of pictures. Fossil gastroliths are commonly found off of Venice Beach, Florida.

Here is a picture of a few. Unfortunately, I didn't have any personal pictures on hand, so I pulled one off of the Internet. These are from Venice.

Very cool on those round stones. I have to ask cause I find them like that here in North Ga and how do you know if they were game balls or dino rocks? I have never checked to see if we had dinos here or not. I just figured they were game balls from the NA Indians cause I find artifacts in the same place.

 

[Age_old]

Very cool on those round stones. I have to ask cause I find them like that here in North Ga and how do you know if they were game balls or dino rocks? I have never checked to see if we had dinos here or not. I just figured they were game balls from the NA Indians cause I find artifacts in the same place.

Good question. I would say the easiest way to differentiate them is where they are found. If it was a whale/dino stomach stone, it would be found where there are many other fossils. For example, if you found one on a river shore where there are other bones and fossils eroding from bank, I would say it was obviously a gastrolith. But if you found one in a field, midden, or shelter, I would say defiantly game ball.

If its a fossil, you'll know it. You would probably see rock formations, more fossils, and other signs. You almost never find fossils just laying on the ground, completely out of context. From what you are saying I would say you have a game ball.

 

[rock]

Ok I just wanted to be sure. Thank you for the response I like learning. I havent found any fossils except some plant (tiny) ones maybe seeds even from plants. No animal or fish fossils.

 

[old digger]

Good question. I would say the easiest way to differentiate them is where they are found. If it was a whale/dino stomach stone, it would be found where there are many other fossils. For example, if you found one on a river shore where there are other bones and fossils eroding from bank, I would say it was obviously a gastrolith. But if you found one in a field, midden, or shelter, I would say defiantly game ball.

If its a fossil, you'll know it. You would probably see rock formations, more fossils, and other signs. You almost never find fossils just laying on the ground, completely out of context. From what you are saying I would say you have a game ball.

Thanks for the input Age Old. Rock, to find gastroliths you need to find then in association within the right geologic strata. It helps if dinosaur bones have been found the area. The area that the ones that I found, the top layer has been eroded away leaving these stones. The bones are a lot harder to find, but I did find part of a leg bone. I will see if I can find it and post it. I gave a large piece to my brother so he could use it as a conversation piece in his display case.

 

[rock]

Very nice I like all types of rocks in all forms. Of course I like the colorful ones the best.

 

[old digger]

Here is that piece that I afore mentioned. Bones in this area are for some reason few and far to be found, but some can be found. I believe it is a leg bone. If you zoom in on the last photo you can see the blood capillaries.

 

[rock]

so what is the reason it is so flat on that side? I am sure it took a very long time to turn to stone so what could of made it like that?

 

[old digger]

When petrified bones are not found in a harder material that keeps them intact, but are found in an erodable dirt and are exposed to the elements they always tend to break apart and disintegrate. I recall several years ago when I left behind a section of bone, and was going to go back and retreive it. It took me about 4 months to get back to get it, but in those four months, the elements, (rain and heat) had reduced that segment of petrified bone to a thousand pieces. So if you do uncover a broken, but otherwise is all there, I suggest that it be protected and covered back up untill you can safely remove it.

 

[Age_old]

Here is that piece that I afore mentioned. Bones in this area are for some reason few and far to be found, but some can be found. I believe it is a leg bone. If you zoom in on the last photo you can see the blood capillaries.

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Awesome find, Old Digger! Beautiful piece. Really makes you wonder what kind of stories it could tell.