crf250rsx3 Posted June 1, 2008 Share Posted June 1, 2008 I found this today in a creek bottom. Im not sure how to tell if its fossilized or not or if its even a bison or just some cattle. What do you think? Thanks Jordan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gatorman Posted June 2, 2008 Share Posted June 2, 2008 Well If it was found in a creek bottom you would think it would be colored a little darker, but thats not always true. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspex Posted June 2, 2008 Share Posted June 2, 2008 Looks modern; hold a match to it (in an inconspicuous place) and see if it smells like singed hair. A positive "sniff test" argues strongly for non-fossil. "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...
crf250rsx3 Posted June 2, 2008 Author Share Posted June 2, 2008 Well If it was found in a creek bottom you would think it would be colored a little darker, but thats not always true. The whiter part was sticking out of the mud in the sun if that means anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrehistoricFlorida Posted June 2, 2008 Share Posted June 2, 2008 modern cow. www.PrehistoricFlorida.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jax Posted June 2, 2008 Share Posted June 2, 2008 OK some of you might think this is crazy, but you can find a spot thats hard to see and put a flame to it. Smokes= modern bone, no smoke = fossil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crf250rsx3 Posted June 2, 2008 Author Share Posted June 2, 2008 OK some of you might think this is crazy, but you can find a spot thats hard to see and put a flame to it. Smokes= modern bone, no smoke = fossil Ok thanks guys Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Pristis Posted June 2, 2008 Share Posted June 2, 2008 OK some of you might think this is crazy, but you can find a spot thats hard to see and put a flame to it. Smokes= modern bone, no smoke = fossil I agree with Auspex and Auriculatus -- it is a modern cow, and a young one (subadult) at that. You have to be careful in drawing conclusions from the "scorch test." All it can tell you is if the the bone is mineralized or not mineralized. A mineralized bone is more likely to be a fossil, but a not-mineralized bone also may be a fossil. Mineralization is an accident of deposition, and is not necessarily related directly with age. Think of the scorch test not as leading to a definitive conclusion, but as an indicator, a clue to follow up. http://pristis.wix.com/the-demijohn-page What seest thou else In the dark backward and abysm of time? ---Shakespeare, The Tempest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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