sedimentary
Fossilized Bone Fragment
Permineralized Skeletal Element (Likely Vertebrate)
Hardness: 3.5-5.0 (Varies with mineral replacement); Color: Dull tan, grey, or brownish-white; Luster: Earthy to matte; Structure: Demonstrates trabecular (sponge-like) internal bone porosity visible upon close inspection; Specific Gravity: 2.6-2.9.
- Hardness
- 3
- Color
- Dull tan, grey, or brownish-white
- Luster
- Earthy to matte
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Physical properties
Hardness: 3.5-5.0 (Varies with mineral replacement); Color: Dull tan, grey, or brownish-white; Luster: Earthy to matte; Structure: Demonstrates trabecular (sponge-like) internal bone porosity visible upon close inspection; Specific Gravity: 2.6-2.9.
Formation & geological history
Formed through permineralization, where minerals like silica or calcium carbonate fill the pore spaces of buried bone. Most such surface-found fragments date from the Pleistocene to the Cretaceous periods depending on the local strata.
Uses & applications
Primary use is scientific study (paleontology), educational displays, and private fossil collecting. Larger or articulated specimens are highly valued for museums.
Geological facts
Small fragments like this are often referred to as 'chunk-o-saurus' by amateur collectors. They are significant because they indicate the presence of fossils in a geological layer, even if the specific species is unidentifiable due to weathering.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by looking for a 'honeycomb' or porous texture on the broken ends (the marrow structure). A common field test is the 'tongue test'—fossilized bone often sticks slightly to the tongue due to its porous nature. Commonly found in riverbeds, badlands, and coastal erosion zones.
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