Is this a fossil?

Fossilnewbie · Feb 21, 2013

Hi! While walking along a stream near Nashville, TN USA we found this structure protruding out of a completely flat rock. Is it a fossil or a unique rock formation? Thx!

bigchuck52 · Feb 21, 2013

Looks very much like a fossil of a jaw bone with someof the teeth missing. Did you try to remove it?

Fossilnewbie · Feb 21, 2013

I wish I could....

bigchuck52 said:
Looks very much like a fossil of a jaw bone with someof the teeth missing. Did you try to remove it?

It appears to be attached very securely and I'm afraid it will break if I try to remove it. I also thought it looked like a jaw bone!

Do you know why the stone around it would erode and not the "fossil/rock"?

nomad1 · Feb 21, 2013

Whatever the protrusion is is harder and more resistant to erosion than the rock that it is in.

ifindit · Feb 21, 2013

Is the rock it is encased in sandstone or limestone? I would get some one from the local university out there - looks like a very cool find!

Fossilnewbie · Feb 21, 2013

ifindit said:
Is the rock it is encased in sandstone or limestone? I would get some one from the local university out there - looks like a very cool find!

It is not...just a rock on the side of a small stream. I agree...it is cool! I will have to try to contact a few universities. Good idea!

Fossilnewbie · Feb 21, 2013

nomad1 said:
Whatever the protrusion is is harder and more resistant to erosion than the rock that it is in.

Yes, I was wondering if this was more indicative of a fossil or another type of rock.

ifindit · Feb 21, 2013

One material is harder than the other - obvious - I the rock is sedentary rock that may explain it-

HutSiteDigger · Feb 21, 2013

DO not contact a university to come out there you could have this fossil (if it is a fossil) taken away from you easily and the only thing you will be left with is a handshake, try and excavate the fossil yourself then take it to a university, if you feel you want to contact a university or govt. then feel free to do so but you do risk not ever seeing it again.. kewl find! :occasion14:

Delpirt · Feb 21, 2013

Looks sort of like a jaw bone to me as well. If it is a fossil formed through permineralization the bone is basically turned into a rock which could be harder than the stone it is resting in now which would explain why it is exposed and the rest of the rock smooth. As already mentioned, send the photos to a local college's paleontology or geology department or better yet, both. (Just don't tell them where it is exactly.) :laughing7:

Charlie P. (NY) · Feb 21, 2013

Yes. Very likely a fossilized something. Without size reference it could be a mouse or a horse. You may be able to eventually chip, scrape or dissolve away the matrix it is encased in. Or destroy it in trying.

Your photograph shows a find recorded. Congratulations. Just because it exists doesn't mean it must be removed.

Fossilnewbie · Feb 21, 2013

Charlie P. (NY) said:
Yes. Very likely a fossilized something. Without size reference it could be a mouse or a horse. You may be able to eventually chip, scrape or dissolve away the matrix it is encased in. Or destroy it in trying.

Your photograph shows a find recorded. Congratulations. Just because it exists doesn't mean it must be removed.

As for size, it is approx. 6 in long and 2 in. tall at the highest point.

I certainly won't remove it as I don't want to ruin it and it isn't on my property. I enjoyed finding it and would love to learn what it really is. This, small as it may be, will probably be my most important contribution to the scientific community.

nhbenz · Feb 21, 2013

ifindit said:
One material is harder than the other - obvious - I the rock is sedentary rock that may explain it-

Yes, it's definitely sedentary, it's just sitting there not doing a darn thing. Sorry, I couldn't resist. :tongue3:

But to me neither the rock or the possible fossil look sedimentary (which tend to have layered look). If I remember correctly metamorphic is the strongest, then igneous, then sedimentary.
Neat discovery whatever it turns out to be!

Paleopilot · Feb 22, 2013

It may be a fossil of sorts but, probably not a mandible, (jaw bone). If anything, the general shape is more consistent with a vertebral column in my opinion. I would post it over on the Fossil thread and have Harry look at it. Very interesting find! :thumbsup:

nomad1 · Feb 23, 2013

As hardness goes it is igneous,metamorphic,sedimentary.

flyadive · Feb 23, 2013

Looks like it has very sharp edges by the shadow.
I would not remove it from the rock but rather remove the entire Rock if possible.

Digs68 · Feb 23, 2013

It could be the tip of the iceberg. Trying to remove it could destroy it. I suggest getting some very clear & close high-resolution photographs of it to send to a few experts. I'd agree with the others about not revealing the location if it turns out to be something good. At least not until you get some kind of recognition or monetary reward in writing from them. You might want them to reward the landowner for his troubles too, if he even agrees to let them on the place to study/extract it.