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Fossil-Treasures-of-Florida-Newsletter, Issue #0015 -- Top 5 Things that get confused as Fossils
September 06, 2012

Fossil Newsletter, Issue #0015 - Top 5 Things that get confused as Fossils

September 06, 2012

In this Issue:

* Top 5 Things that get confused as Fossils
* What's New at Fossil-Treasures-of-Florida.com

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Top 5 Things that get confused as Fossils


1. Chert Nodules: These types of concretions tend to look like some kind of “Fossil Egg” (Dinosaur Egg, Bird Egg, and so-on). Also, thought to be a bone or plant.

• This by far, is the most common “False Fossil” that I’ve been asked to identify at fossil shows. Nothing lets the air out of a persons balloon quicker than to tell them that their “Priceless Dinosaur/Raptor Egg” (that all there friends and family have agreed with or told them that’s what it is, some times for years) is just a worthless round rock. I truly dread shinning the light of reality on there prize piece. My favorite follow-up question after you have given them the bad news is – “Is there anyone else that can take a look at this?



2. Dendrites: These are a type of manganese oxide crystal that grows typically in a very distinctive tree branch pattern and looks exactly like a plant fossil. Until I understood what these were, I would have been 99.9% sure that they were a fossil plant.

3. Water worn and tumbled rocks, man made objects, etc., from rivers, streams, and beaches.

4. Septarian Nodules: Another type of concretion with radiating and concentric cracks that look like some kind of fossil Turtle Shell.



5. Pyrite “Sun” or Pyrite “Dollar”: A natural formation of pyrite in a crystal form that is found in a black shale matrix within coal beds near Sparta, Illinois.

Things that get confused as fossils often are called “Pseudo Fossils” (false fossils).

About 90% of the material I get asked to identify is not much of anything and about half of that is not anything close to a fossil.

However, you do see a few exceptions. Case in point, while at a fossil show in Texas, a guy brings in something for me to look at, and says: “I think I have a Pterosaur Tooth.” I look at this guy (probably like he had two heads) and think to myself: “There’s no way in "heck" you have a Pterosaur tooth, from Texas.” Yes, Pterosaurs did exist in Texas (probably the most famous is “Quetzalcoatlus” - that’s the Pterosaur as big as Jumbo Jet), but Pterosaurs are extremely rare. “Well, Ok” “Lets look at it” He hands it over (great moment of silence on my part) and sure enough, that’s exactly what it was. Not only did he self-collect the piece, but he knew the fossil layer and zone that he was hunting. He did his research and knew what he had, but wanted another opinion. I concurred.

I only mention this story to keep your faith up, because occasionally you do hit Fossil Gold.


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Enjoy the Prehistoric Adventure!

Craig


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