Anyone know about fossil Vertebrae? Help please.....

curious kat · Dec 12, 2013

I had this posted in another site as a "turtle rock"....was my face red when GatorBoy said it was probably some kind of vertebrae instead....anyone know of what? It's 4"x almost 4", the indent in the middle is the size of a man's thumb & was found in NM...thanks!

old digger · Dec 12, 2013

You know, I was looking at this in your post in the artifacts forum and was going to comment that it looked like a fossil, but wasn't sure. It doesn't look like it is a vetebra, but it may be type of scute (an outer horny plate) to one of those prehistoric reptiles.

Bum Luck · Dec 12, 2013

Is this rock or bone?

mineralized_miner · Dec 12, 2013

It looks to be one from near the head from a dewgong, whale, or porpoise, judging by size. Probably paleocene, I haven't seen too many ole that from Miocene beds.

Harry Pristis · Dec 12, 2013

There's a good chance that a fossil vertebral centrum from NM will be from the Mesozoic. You shouldn't rule out mosasaur and plesiosaur until someone with specific experience looks at it. If you take it to the NM State Museum, be certain that the centrum was collected on private land.

mineralized_miner · Dec 13, 2013

I didn't see the New Mexico part, but now I do. Yeah, probably something way older than what I'm used to dealing with on the eastern shore, all neogene up/over here.

Age_old · Dec 13, 2013

I see that it looks like a vertebrae, but I'm going have to disagree and say that it looks more like carved stone. It is broken in several places, with no signs of porous sponge bone. I could be wrong, but I think it looks a little to grainy to be fossil bone. Great find, either way.

GatorBoy · Dec 13, 2013

Nice find Kat.

GatorBoy · Dec 13, 2013

Age_old said:
I see that it looks like a vertebrae, but I'm going have to disagree and say that it looks more like carved stone. It is broken in several places, with no signs of porous sponge bone. I could be wrong, but I think it looks a little to grainy to be fossil bone. Great find, either way.

? Most of the exterior is worn

away its porous all over
Pretty sure we're talking dinosaur here

Age_old · Dec 13, 2013

GatorBoy said:
? Most of the exterior is worn <img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=912768"/> away its porous all over Pretty sure we're talking dinosaur here

To me, this looks more like broken stone, especially in this area:

GatorBoy · Dec 13, 2013

I see porous bone material all over that thing.. The section you circled looks compressed to me it also looks like there may be matrix still on the piece.
To me

GatorBoy · Dec 13, 2013

This is her piece

This is a whale vert. I found.

mineralized_miner · Dec 13, 2013

The pores of the bone are most likely filled with clay, as are a few that I have found.

Here ia one of my best verts, one from near the head.
See how many of the pores in the spongey bone material are filled with clay. I didn't want to saturate it with water to clean it because there is a crack running down the middle.

Age_old · Dec 13, 2013

I see what you guys are saying... but it still doesn't look right to me. It's just one of those things that would be easier if you were holding it. Ideally, it could be taken to a university or local fossil club, as Harry mentioned.

curious kat · Dec 13, 2013

....wow...that's a lot of reply's....thanks again.....where to start....well, on the other site I just posted that maybe it's both, if not one or the other? Something that was found and then had some "extra" work done? There does appear to be a "mouth" line, can't see it in the pic, will have to take a pic & post. Do all verts have 3 "bumps" on front & back?...this does. Don't think it a "horny plate" OD. Is it rock or bone Bumluck, appears like rock, I guess that's what I'm trying to find out. Hi Harry

yes, this is from our land for sure! Thanks GatorBoy for all your help! It is broken AgeOld, you probably do need to see it in person, always best bet. And...MM very nice vert! Hope I didn't miss anyone.... thanks again, again!