rock or artifact?

ericwade04

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Jun 1, 2020
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Hello. I need help identifying this rock. I dont know whether this is just naturally formed this way or if its possibly an indian artifact. I know close to nothing about indian artifacts so if you have any idea what this is that'd be great. thanks! IMG_20200602_190934459.jpg IMG_20200602_190950871.jpg IMG_20200602_190945366.jpg IMG_20200602_190940153.jpg (I wasn't sure whether to post this in this forum or in the "what is it" forum.)
 

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quito

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Mar 31, 2008
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It doesn’t look like an artifact to me. Looks natural.

maybe the what is it forum would be the place.
 

Garscale

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May 4, 2020
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Fossilized bone? I don't think its man altered but sure is a neat find
 

Diggitdaddy

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It appears to be a bone. A real old one. Maybe from a cow or buffalo
 

old digger

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Welcome to tnet!

I do not believe your item is bone or fossilized bone. It is a broken sandstone nodule, which was created when liquid sand entered a rounded cavity and solidified.
 

jamus peek

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May 13, 2014
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It doesn't look like fossilized bone to me. I thought maybe petrified wood.
 

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ericwade04

Jr. Member
Jun 1, 2020
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31
Missouri
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
Welcome to tnet!

I do not believe your item is bone or fossilized bone. It is a broken sandstone nodule, which was created when liquid sand entered a rounded cavity and solidified.

Thanks! I've never heard of that before. Sounds interesting
 

Charl

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Jan 19, 2012
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I agree with old digger. It would be really unusual for a bone to be preserved as a sandstone cast. I’ve never heard of bone preserved that way. It is possible for trees to be preserved as a sandstone cast. Here in RI, we have trees that lived in Coal Age swamps 300 million years ago that were preserved as sandstone casts. Preserved the way old digger described, the cavity that was filled being a cavity formed by the complete decomposition of the limb. Technically, that would not be petrified wood, which is fossilization via mineralization, the cells of the wood replaced by various minerals, usually quartz chalcedony mineralization.
 

Garscale

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May 4, 2020
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If it is sandstone I totally agree. I am looking at it on a small phone screen and can not tell that it is sandstone. Actually looks like I can see a marrow core in the broken end. I. Not saying definitively its bone either though without seeing it better.
 

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