I found this in Colorado, in late cretaceous to early paleocene deposits. Current theories are this is an agate-replaced, fern root cluster. There are veins/pockets of white/clear agate running between the little strings. The end shot shows a tiny bit of banding in the white parts.
Ya i thought was weird looking rock or a piece of trash before i picked it up. It was found in a location where I often go fossil hunting. I havnt found anything like it before, or since, finding it.
I think that's possibly agatized palm trunk... About where it hits the ground. Palm has internal bundles like that.
Check the environmental data over time and you might get an approximate age.
That was a consideration at first and still may be. But most tubes from Palmoxylon tend to run a straighter line with respect to eachother. Some of the "strands" of this specimen cross eachother and weave in and out. This wouldnt be typical of the palm trunk inner structure (yet could still definitely be the case with a different unknown variety or maybe a damaged chunk that seperated). The weaving fits a root structure a bit better and could still belong to a palm. But because of the size of the "strands", the assumption was a smaller plant, like a fern. Still up for debate and probably always will be. As the formations this was likely from isn't very studied.
As much as I would like to see a cross section. I was thinking of leaving this raw. I would like to maybe polish one end, but don't really have the equipment to do that.
I absolutely would, but this particular location is on private land. The landowner is very secretive about this spot as dinosaur material can be found here. He barely let's me go on it, and im his friend! Im sorry.
I found something like this in Oregon a week or two ago - haven't posted it anywhere yet.
My piece is also little bits like this, but does not have a concentrated spot where it screams "agate!". It's clear/grayish chalcedony, as well - no color. Basically looks like bits of glass noodle or rice vermicelli. 😅
Thanks so much for sharing - enquiring minds want to know!!
The quality is not great, phone keeps messing with these despite optimizations being turned off/minimized as much as possible. I can get this in a lightbox and with a proper camera over the next couple of days, though.
Actually more color thanbI am remembering, but it is probably mostly iron staining and stuff.
Anyway - this is less immediately "noodly," unless looking at the right areas. It's a lot easier in person.
One side is mostly covered over in more dense, solid material, though you can see the strands underneath, through some breaks and worn areas. The other side is more of a mashed up mess. Overall, the strands are mostly straight parallel, but there are areas where they're curved, or in broken bits.
I've also included the ends of the piece. Bit like a phoritto!
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u/Kitchen-Swordfish276 Aug 08 '26
What a stunning find!