Need help identifing a tooth

[wvdirtdigger]

I found this tooth today walking a creek. Any ideas?

 

[Harry Pristis]

QUOTE=GatorBoy;3300047]Fossil can also be just an impression..but in its normal functional understanding a fossil bone or tooth "is" mineralized and the cow teeth above are not fossils. ...
This is true only for those who don't understand the nature of fossils and the processes that preserve them. The teeth in this thread may not be fossils, but that is not determined by any degree of mineralization.

Its not really necessary for someone to know anything about groundwater,silica, collagen, lattice work or the specifics of the definition to be able to properly call one of these a fossil and the other not.
Just sayin...
This is true, if the call is based on morphology - the form and size of the tooth - and not on an unreliable characteristic such as color or degree of mineralization.

GatorBoy ...
A fossil is actually no longer made of the original material.
A fossil has been completly replaced by minerals and is more of just a stone in the image of the original.
This is a gross overstatement. There are many, many common examples of vertebrate fossils (and other types of fossils) which are not permineralized, much less replaced by exogenous minerals.

Yes, even Florida vertebrate fossils can be without mineralization, and I have examples in my collection. All the European cave bear (Ursus spelaeus) fossil you have seen for sale (with rare exception) are not mineralized. Here is a bone from a giant armadillo collected within walking distance of my home in NCentral Florida that is not mineralized.

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[GatorBoy]

Would that not be concidered preserved bone?
That's what most would call that.

 

[GatorBoy]

Like these.

 

[Harry Pristis]

Would that not be concidered preserved bone?
That's what most would call that.

No, I think most folks who are at all fossil-savvy would call it a fossil bone that's not mineralized.

 

[GatorBoy]

Ahhh.. Semantics

 

[GatorBoy]

No, I think most folks who are at all fossil-savvy would call it a fossil bone that's not mineralized.

You just got through saying the term fossil was basically meaningless. Didn't you.
Your funny Harry.

 

[pointshunter]

Well we work on a cow farm at te when they butcher and I'd have to agree they are defiantly cow teeth and calf teeth.

 

[Harry Pristis]

You just got through saying the term fossil was basically meaningless. Didn't you.
Your funny Harry.

No, that's not at all what I said.

 

[GatorBoy]

Well.. the tooth is cow/calf..its not fossil..
I'm glad we helped you figure out what it was and..best of luck with the artifact hunting in that creek wvdirtdigger.
That's what's important here..happy hunting.

 

[Tnmountains]

Thanks guys. When we found that Saber tooth tiger skull and cave bear they were deep in a cave under a river. The bone had turned into a stalagmite almost and the one tooth I got was real chalky. I kinda messed it up climbing out. On my to do list with duco cement and whatever else I am suppose to do to preserve it. I will holler at you fossil guys again when it is time.