New Members mdd Posted November 30, 2010 New Members Share Posted November 30, 2010 my dad found this lava rock 35 years ago somewhere around los angeles, ca. it has a large something in it which what looks a lot like a bone running thru it and out both ends. after 35 years of it sitting around i would like to know what it is. any advise from anyone what it is or how i go about finding out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bdevey Posted November 30, 2010 Share Posted November 30, 2010 Im not a fossil expert, more of a rockhound. But there is alot of experts on here that can help more. But To me it looks to be [basalt] lava as you said. But if you post a couple more photos of the top and back side, that would help. Also google "Pahoehoe" and click images and you'll see what Im thinking. But I hope some new photos prove me wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New Members mdd Posted November 30, 2010 Author New Members Share Posted November 30, 2010 Im not a fossil expert, more of a rockhound. But there is alot of experts on here that can help more. But To me it looks to be [basalt] lava as you said. But if you post a couple more photos of the top and back side, that would help. Also google "Pahoehoe" and click images and you'll see what Im thinking. But I hope some new photos prove me wrong. thank you for your response. here is another picture from a different angle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New Members mdd Posted November 30, 2010 Author New Members Share Posted November 30, 2010 thank you for your response. here is another picture from a different angle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tracer Posted November 30, 2010 Share Posted November 30, 2010 my guess would be sedimentary rock and whale bone, but your mileage may differ. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharks of SC Posted November 30, 2010 Share Posted November 30, 2010 Yeah - the cross-section in the last photo is very bone-ish. Ive seen a lot of whale bone with similar internal structure. CBK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New Members mdd Posted November 30, 2010 Author New Members Share Posted November 30, 2010 Yeah - the cross-section in the last photo is very bone-ish. Ive seen a lot of whale bone with similar internal structure. CBK i was mistaken on the location this was found. it was found south of lone pine, ca. at a place called little lakes. could it still be a bone and how old may it be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspex Posted November 30, 2010 Share Posted November 30, 2010 Are we talking about Owens Valley here? If so, I don't think there are any "whale-age" rocks there; plenty of Permian to Triassic, though. This adds an interesting dimension... "There has been an alarming increase in the number of things I know nothing about." - Ashleigh Ellwood Brilliant “Try to learn something about everything and everything about something.” - Thomas Henry Huxley >Paleontology is an evolving science. >May your wonders never cease! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tracer Posted November 30, 2010 Share Posted November 30, 2010 ok, then i give up. i don't do grabens or moraines. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bdevey Posted December 1, 2010 Share Posted December 1, 2010 Sorry mdd, With that location, Im sure its basalt lava. Little lake south of Lone Pine along the 395 But an interesting note, In my map search, I found out there is a trail inbetween the lake and the volcanoe in the background Called "Fossil falls trail". Why? Im not sure, never been there myself. But my guess is theres probably empty tree cast in the lava flow. Maybe someone on the forum has been there and can let us know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boesse Posted December 3, 2010 Share Posted December 3, 2010 That doesn't look one bit like whale bone - sorry guys. I'm not entirely sure that's fossil, or even sedimentary rock. The matrix around the bone-like object is also porous, and does not actually appear to be sedimentary in origin. I'm with Bdevey on this - that's volcanic. Not fossil. Bobby Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tracer Posted December 3, 2010 Share Posted December 3, 2010 at least i didn't say it was bison. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpc Posted December 3, 2010 Share Posted December 3, 2010 Volcanic Bison? I agree with Bobby...randomly shaped volcanic rock. Bobby, I think you are starting to owe me lots of money for agreeing with you every cahance I get. Ok, now I'm off to the fossil lab. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dhk Posted December 4, 2010 Share Posted December 4, 2010 I don't see fossil here at all but I do see a lava tube cast. This is a lava flow that creates its own small tube within the lava field then cools forming a cast of the lava tube. I have seen these in Kenya. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bdevey Posted December 5, 2010 Share Posted December 5, 2010 I'll stick with my first post, its from a Pahoehoe flow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scylla Posted December 5, 2010 Share Posted December 5, 2010 I have been to fossil falls, nice short hike. It is called fossil falls because the lava flow blocked off the river and created a waterfall. No fossils, just cool geology (ton of arrowheads too, but I left them there, no collecting allowed) and a nice view from the "fossil" waterfall. And that rock is a good example of basalt. Not a fossil. Sorry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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