fossil

Fossil Bone Fragment

Petrified bone (permineralized hydroxyapatite)

Hardness: 5-5.5 (varies by mineral replacement), Color: mottled brown, tan, and grey, Luster: earthy to slightly waxy, Structure: porous/cancellous texture visible on edges, Specific Gravity: 2.5-3.0

Hardness: 5-5

Identified July 15, 2026More fossil →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 5-5.5 (varies by mineral replacement), Color: mottled brown, tan, and grey, Luster: earthy to slightly waxy, Structure: porous/cancellous texture visible on edges, Specific Gravity: 2.5-3.0

Formation & geological history

Formed through permineralization where mineral-rich groundwater fills the pore spaces of skeletal remains. Age varies from millions to tens of millions of years, often found in sedimentary deposits like riverbeds or floodplains.

Uses & applications

Scientific research, educational displaying, and private fossil collecting.

Geological facts

The cellular structure of the bone is often preserved at a microscopic level. Identifying fossil bone from common rock can often be done by the 'lick test' where the porous fossil sticks slightly to the tongue.

Field identification & locations

Identify by looking for the 'honeycomb' internal structure (cancellous bone). Found in fossiliferous sedimentary layers. Collectors should look for signs of osteology in eroding banks.

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