New Members FSL1 Posted March 2 New Members Share Posted March 2 Hi, I found this in Barstow, CA, south of Rainbow Basin, in a wash, on private land. I have been told this is fossilized palm root and also a bone fossil. I'm hoping with the attached images, someone can confirm which one it is. I am relatively confident this is not, simply, a rock. This is heavier than any rock of similar size, sticks to my tongue a bit on the open side. Under UV light, the piece fluoresces orange and a deeper orange/red. Thank you!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpc Posted March 2 Share Posted March 2 looks more like bone than palm root Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New Members FSL1 Posted March 2 Author New Members Share Posted March 2 Thank you for the reply! I've seen palm root before, it didn't look like this, and the shape on the closed end looks like the leg bone where it goes into the hip, just missing the ball portion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mahnmut Posted March 2 Share Posted March 2 Hi, while I agree this looks fossilish, being heavier/denser than average rock has nothing to do with being a fossil. Most fossils are about as dense as the matrix they are found in, with the exception of pyrite fossils). Density is often an argument when comparing to recent bone or wood, which are usually lighter/less dense than mineralized fossils. Best regards, J Try to learn something about everything and everything about something Thomas Henry Huxley Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New Members FSL1 Posted March 3 Author New Members Share Posted March 3 Thank you for the reply and the information. I've found a few fossils, but never bones. I appreciate you taking the time to educate me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DPS Ammonite Posted March 3 Share Posted March 3 (edited) For comparison see photo by from the Barstow Formation near Barstow, California. Photographer uncertain. The Miocene Barstow Formation also occurs near Rainbow Basin. Palm root cross sections are concentrically layered and are semi circular or squashed circles unlike fossil shown by original poster (bottom photo). Edited March 3 by DPS Ammonite My goal is to leave no stone or fossil unturned. See my Arizona Paleontology Guide link The best single resource for Arizona paleontology anywhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Psittacosaur9 Posted March 3 Share Posted March 3 It looks very broken down to me. I'm not sure we'll be able to ID it beyond 'it's probably a bone'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New Members FSL1 Posted March 3 Author New Members Share Posted March 3 DPS Ammonite, Thank you for the reply! The comparison photo is excellent, I really appreciate you taking the time to send this. Psittacosaur9, that was going to be my next question following DPS's image and information. I did some research on what has been found in the area, but I doubt it will help me much. Would be nice to get a general age if nothing else, but I imagine this is not any easier to do. Thank you both, again, for the responses, I appreciate it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doushantuo Posted March 3 Share Posted March 3 Hiya ,FSL some palmwood ( Illustration composited by me, this being two plates from Stenzel's "Fossil Palmwood", legal status: out of copyright) I tend to agree with the comments made above regarding "indifferent preservation" 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New Members FSL1 Posted March 3 Author New Members Share Posted March 3 Thank you, Doushantuo, for the reply and information. I found an online bone image while watching a bone ID video. I snapped a picture of the piece in the video. It looks very close to the cross section of the piece i have, but this image shows square/rectangular fragmants around the outside. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now