fossil

Fossilized Bone / Dinosaur Fossil

Fossilized vertebrate bone (permineralized)

Hardness: Varies by mineral replacement, typically 5.5-6.5 on Mohs scale; Color: Brown, grey, black, or reddish-brown; Luster: Dull to vitreous; Structure: Retains trabecular or spongy bone micro-structure; Specific Gravity: 2.5-3.0.

Hardness: Varies by mineral replacement, typically 5
Color: Brown, grey, black, or reddish-brown
Luster: Dull to vitreous

Identified August 2, 2026More fossil →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed through permineralization where groundwater rich in minerals (like silica or calcite) seeps into buried bone, replacing organic material with stone over millions of years, typically dating from the Mesozoic Era.

Uses & applications

Scientific research, museum exhibits, educational tools, and high-value private fossil collecting.

Geological facts

Fossilization is a rare process; less than one percent of all animals that ever lived become fossils. The original bone material is often completely replaced by quartz or other minerals while preserving the cellular structure.

Field identification & locations

Can be identified in the field by its distinctive spongy (trabecular) bone texture, cellular porosity, and sometimes sticking slightly to the tongue due to microscopic porosity. Found in sedimentary rock layers worldwide, particularly in badlands and river cutbanks.

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Crinoid Stem Fossil in Matrix

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Sedimentary bedrock formation (variable composition)

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Chert with Fossil Brachiopod

Microcrystalline Quartz (SiO2) with Calcitic Brachiopod inclusion

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Fossilized Crinoid Stem in Limestone

Crinoidea (Class) in Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3) matrix

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Fossiliferous Limestone

Limestone with embedded fossil cross-section

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Fossiliferous Limestone with Crinoid stems

Limestone (CaCO3) containing Crinoidea fossils

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