New Members Erosion Posted June 23 New Members Share Posted June 23 (edited) Hello, I'm wondering if this large bit I found is part of a tooth? My initial assumption when I found it was that it was, but it's so big I'm having second thoughts. I spotted it due to the shiny coating, much like other albertosaurus teeth I have found in this formation. I've included an Albertosaurus tooth found a few meters away for comparison. Unfortunately the top and bottom are damaged and I couldn't identify any serrations. This was found in Horseshoe Canyon Formation exposure in central Alberta. Generally I find Albertosaurus teeth in this area. I know Tyrannosaurus Rex teeth have been located in the Scollard Formation, but I don't believe there are any exposures where I was hunting. Thanks folks! Edited June 23 by Erosion Added more details, photos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jikohr Posted June 24 Share Posted June 24 Have you trued cleaning it a bit? The dirt is making it difficult to see any detail. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New Members Erosion Posted June 24 Author New Members Share Posted June 24 37 minutes ago, jikohr said: Have you trued cleaning it a bit? The dirt is making it difficult to see any detail. I did give it a light brush with water. Unfortunately the debris you see is rock solid. I could likely chip some away but I worry about damaging the bit further. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
val horn Posted June 24 Share Posted June 24 I think that it may be, but that with this little left it may not be possible to get a definitive id. If you read the section on id of dino teeth and claws the number of serrations is one key feature. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThePhysicist Posted June 24 Share Posted June 24 I don't see anything presented that supports it being a tyrannosaur tooth, or a tooth of any kind. That "shine" you mention I've seen before in mollusk shell casts; which is consistent with the biconvex shape and stone interior. “The most incomprehensible thing about the world is that it is comprehensible.” - A. Einstein Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New Members Erosion Posted June 24 Author New Members Share Posted June 24 6 minutes ago, ThePhysicist said: I don't see anything presented that supports it being a tyrannosaur tooth, or a tooth of any kind. That "shine" you mention I've seen before in mollusk shell casts; which is consistent with the biconvex shape and stone interior. Interesting, I didn't think of that possibility. I actually have found a few gastropod fossils in this area. Hopefully I can get the gastropods identified and maybe that will give some insight into what else existed alongside them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThePhysicist Posted Tuesday at 02:12 AM Share Posted Tuesday at 02:12 AM (edited) 20 hours ago, Erosion said: Hopefully I can get the gastropods identified and maybe that will give some insight into what else existed alongside them. Yes, microfossils are an excellent window into the ecosystem. It's unfortunate for micro-hunting that in Alberta you'll have to find them all in the field on the surface, rather than digging up matrix to process later. Edited Tuesday at 02:14 AM by ThePhysicist “The most incomprehensible thing about the world is that it is comprehensible.” - A. Einstein Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joy_Fossils Posted Tuesday at 10:26 PM Share Posted Tuesday at 10:26 PM I agree with the idea that it is a shell of something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
val horn Posted Tuesday at 10:28 PM Share Posted Tuesday at 10:28 PM the idea of a shell is testable, a calcium carbonate shell will fuzz in dilute HCl but a tooth will not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patelinho7 Posted Tuesday at 11:04 PM Share Posted Tuesday at 11:04 PM (edited) Could it be a crab carapace? No diagnostic bumpiness though… I also thought of a very worn Baculites or other straight-shelled ammonoid but I doubt that’s possible from that formation, right? Edited Tuesday at 11:05 PM by patelinho7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randyw Posted Tuesday at 11:11 PM Share Posted Tuesday at 11:11 PM (edited) The bumpiness here eliminates either rex tooth or baculites I believe. I could see it being a crab piece though… Edited Tuesday at 11:11 PM by Randyw Forgot picture 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New Members Erosion Posted Wednesday at 04:46 AM Author New Members Share Posted Wednesday at 04:46 AM 6 hours ago, val horn said: the idea of a shell is testable, a calcium carbonate shell will fuzz in dilute HCl but a tooth will not. I will get a dilute sample of HCL and test this. Thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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