sedimentary
Spinosaurus fossil (permineralized bone)
Spinosaurus aegyptiacus (Calcium phosphate mineralized with silica/sediment)
Hardness: 5 (Mohs scale), Color: tan to brown/black depending on mineral infiltration, Luster: dull to earthy, Structure: dense osteological structure with hollow interior (for lightness), specific gravity: varies by mineralization.
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Physical properties
Hardness: 5 (Mohs scale), Color: tan to brown/black depending on mineral infiltration, Luster: dull to earthy, Structure: dense osteological structure with hollow interior (for lightness), specific gravity: varies by mineralization.
Formation & geological history
Formed through permineralization in the Kem Kem Group (Cretaceous period, approx. 95-100 million years ago) in river delta environments where mineral-rich water filled bone pores.
Uses & applications
Paleontological research, museum exhibition, and high-end private fossil collecting.
Geological facts
Spinosaurus was the largest known carnivorous dinosaur, even larger than T. rex, and was uniquely adapted for a semi-aquatic lifestyle with a paddle-like tail and croc-like snout.
Field identification & locations
Identify by the elongated 'crocodile-like' snout, conical teeth specialized for catching fish, and its location within North African sandstone layers. Often found in fragmentary pieces.
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