sedimentary
Fossilized Bone (Petrified Bone)
Permineralized Vertebrate Remains
Hardness: 5-6.5 (depending on mineralization like silica or calcite), Color: Brown, tan, reddish-orange due to iron oxides, Luster: Dull to earthy, Structure: Retains original organic porous/cellular texture, Specific Gravity: 2.6-2.8
- Hardness
- 5-6
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Physical properties
Hardness: 5-6.5 (depending on mineralization like silica or calcite), Color: Brown, tan, reddish-orange due to iron oxides, Luster: Dull to earthy, Structure: Retains original organic porous/cellular texture, Specific Gravity: 2.6-2.8
Formation & geological history
Formed through permineralization where minerals (often silica or calcium carbonate) precipitate from groundwater into the cellular spaces of deceased organisms. These specimens likely date from the Pleistocene or older.
Uses & applications
Primarily for paleontological study, museum display, and personal collecting. Polished high-quality fossil bone is sometimes used in artisanal jewelry.
Geological facts
Fossilized bones are not actually bone anymore; they are rocks that have taken the shape and internal structure of the original biological material through atom-by-atom replacement.
Field identification & locations
Identify by looking for the 'honeycomb' or 'sponge' marrow texture on the interior. In the field, fossil bone often 'sticks' to the tongue due to its porous nature. Found in sedimentary basins.
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