fossil

Fossilized Bone (Petrified Bone)

Permineralized Bone Fossil

Hardness: 6.5-7 on Mohs scale (due to silica replacement). Color: Earthy brown, tan, yellowish-grey. Luster: Dull to earthy, sometimes slightly waxy. Structure: Preserves cellular osteon matrix structure showing web-like or sponge-like pore texture.

Hardness: 6
Color: Earthy brown, tan, yellowish-grey
Luster: Dull to earthy, sometimes slightly waxy

Identified July 24, 2026More fossil →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed through permineralization, where mineral-rich groundwater deposits silica (agate/quartz) or calcium carbonate into the microscopic cellular pores of bone tissue over millions of years.

Uses & applications

Used in education, mineral and fossil collections, decorative carving, and jewelry as cabochons or polished display pieces.

Geological facts

Dinosaur and prehistoric mammalian bones often undergo this exact process of replacement, leaving behind a stone that retains the internal cellular texture of the original living tissue.

Field identification & locations

Identified in the field by its distinctive 'honeycomb' or cellular pore pattern on broken or weathered surfaces, along with a significantly higher density compared to modern bone. Common in sedimentary basins worldwide such as the Morrison Formation in North America.

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Fossilized Crinoid Stem in Limestone

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Fossiliferous Limestone

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