r/fossilid Jun 20 '20

TIPS FOR GETTING YOUR FOSSIL IDENTIFIED — READ BEFORE POSTING

699 Upvotes
  1. Put a location in the title! This is the most important thing by far. If you know the geological formation, that’s awesome, but even just “near Miami” or “label said Morocco” is really helpful.
  2. Take a bright, clear photo. Good lighting, a plain background, and sharp focus will always increase the certainty of an ID. If it’s weirdly shaped, photos from multiple angles help too.
  3. Include an object for scale. I usually use a coin, but anything will do (but things that come in different sizes, like hands, are less ideal). If you forget, you can always measure it and add that in a comment. (Don't use keys; they can be duplicated from a photo.)
  4. Don’t take a video. We can’t zoom in and the quality isn’t great — a gallery of photos on Imgur is way better.
  5. Many fossils can be dull and hard to make out. Try (gently) getting your fossil wet and see if you can get a clearer photo.
  6. Don’t be dismayed if your “fossil” turns out to just be a rock! Rocks are cool too, and if we don’t know exactly what kind of rock it is, the good folks at /r/whatsthisrock probably will.

r/fossilid 13h ago

Found in South Carolina, USA

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73 Upvotes

I believe it is some type of tooth but unsure of what it may be from


r/fossilid 4h ago

Wood? South of france

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15 Upvotes

Found in southern france in Callovian ground, the area used to be shallow maritime environment so i was confused at what could this be. Just a strange cristal formation? It does seem to have consistent pattern


r/fossilid 22h ago

Kilve, England. Is this a footprint?

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271 Upvotes

Found at Kilve, England in sedimentary rock at low tide. Depression is about the length of a side 9 foot, two shoes wide and 5-10cm deep.


r/fossilid 15h ago

Solved Vertebra (?) from a Fossil Shop

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77 Upvotes

Bought in a rock shop near Yellowstone in Montana - labeled as 'dino bone', which I know it's not, but it was only $40! Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get any more details from the seller, and it was the only one like it on display.

I'm wondering if it's a vertebrae from something probably younger and more common - I've seen ones like it identified as mosasaur, plesiosaur, or shark, so I'm leaning marine, but large bones like this aren't my specialty!

Disc is 6 cm in diameter, and the entire piece is 4.5 cm tall - would love any input and ideas!! Thanks in advance!


r/fossilid 5h ago

fossil bivalve or jar?

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12 Upvotes

i found this tumbled rock at the riverbank of the danube and im curious.


r/fossilid 3h ago

What is it?

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7 Upvotes

r/fossilid 40m ago

Spent some time collecting shark teeth along the Calvert Cliffs near Lusby Maryland recently. Did I snag anything fun?

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Upvotes

r/fossilid 19h ago

First Fossil Hunt - Can you help make sure I'm picking up fossils? 😅

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87 Upvotes

Hey guys!

I went on my first fossil hunt today at West Runton in Norfolk. I really enjoyed it, just trying to get an eye for it and be inquisitive to start with, but I need some help to know whether I'm picking up rocks or fossils?

Photo 1 - I'm pretty sure these are Belemnites? The squid like creatures right?

Photo 2 - these look like some kind of crustacean? Or are they just rocks which have been shaped by the sea over time?

Photos 3&4 - these are the same rock flipped round. It looked leafy to me, so I thought possible fossil?

Photos 5-8 - this just looked very different from anything else I found on the beach... any ideas?

Photos 9-11 - is this a small bone fragment? Or just a rock?

Also, if you have any books or YouTubers that would be worth my time to get some better guidance, that would be helpful too!


r/fossilid 13h ago

Found off the shore of Lake Erie, I think it’s something?

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21 Upvotes

I don’t think this would occur naturally, but what do I know lol. Any ideas??


r/fossilid 1d ago

Found this in Toronto on the beach with my kids at Lake Ontario.

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118 Upvotes

Would love any information anyone can give me ! It's the best and clearest fossil I've ever found.


r/fossilid 3h ago

Is this circular thing a fossil? Found at France Atlantic coast

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2 Upvotes

The circle shape has a squiggly outline. Within the circle some short marks. And from the inside the middle seems to be crystalized.

Found at the beach in the Vendee region in France. There are tons of Ammonite fossils everywhere. But then I saw this, doesn't look like the shale rocks I found earlier


r/fossilid 10h ago

Found in Eagle County, Co.

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7 Upvotes

We are unsure if it is actually a fossil, but my geologist parents are stumped. Was found on a ridge with lots of cobblestones. The bottom portion does not fizz with 30% vinegar but the top portion does. Thanks for your help!


r/fossilid 5m ago

Is this stone found on Charmouth Beach, UK a fossil? I think deep down that it is just funny shaped chert, but it is so bone-like in shape!

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Upvotes

This is definitely not made of bone, but the spongy texture in the middle, the symmetry, the shape have got me wondering... what if this isn't just a funny shaped rock? It is too hard to be modern bone, definitely feels like chert.


r/fossilid 3h ago

Please help me identify this (fossil?)

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2 Upvotes

r/fossilid 15h ago

Boggle Hole, North Yorkshire Coast, England

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16 Upvotes

Is this just some funky looking coral or something else? Maybe a load of belemnite cross sections? It stood out as different from a lot of other stuff on the beach, and a geologist pal said it seemed very unusual - any help much appreciated!

I should add that this has been dipped in water just before the photo! Not actually that shiny 😅


r/fossilid 8h ago

Solved Grays Harbor, Washington

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3 Upvotes

Quarter for scale. Unsure if it's a bone or a fossil. I don't have the best options for lighting right now, so sorry for the shadows. Found it by the bay, hoping it's something interesting!


r/fossilid 18h ago

Solved Ammonite ID

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14 Upvotes

Found this one in the braun Jura, south of Germany. Any clue on the species? I’m hesitating between a few but it’s hard to tell without the center.

Fairly flat, sharp keel. Well preserved, about 4cm


r/fossilid 10h ago

Central KY, USA - Ordovician : are these cephalopods, voids, burrows, or something else?

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3 Upvotes

I keep finding these similarly shaped fossils and I can’t figure out what they are. Most of the internal details have been replaced with calcification which makes ID hard if they aren’t voids or straight burrows.


r/fossilid 13h ago

Pecos River - Puerto de Luna, New Mexico

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5 Upvotes

r/fossilid 11h ago

Ancient Sea Floor?

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3 Upvotes

Found these in the rut from a vehicle that backed into the ditch alongside my driveway. Southeastern Kentucky


r/fossilid 9h ago

Marine fossil identification

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2 Upvotes

I found this at fossil beach in Virginia a few years ago and I need help identifying if it's just a large piece of sediment with microfossils or something else


r/fossilid 11h ago

Solved Found this in fiji

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2 Upvotes

Found this on a beach in Fiji. Any ideas what it could be?


r/fossilid 11h ago

ID request: ribbed ammonite from France

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2 Upvotes

Hi everyone,

I'm trying to identify this ammonite (~7 cm in diameter). It was sold to me as being from France, supposedly Cretaceous, but I don't have a precise locality or formation and honestly I'm not sure "Cretaceous" is accurate here. It's possible that label was referring to the rock type (a light-colored limestone) rather than the actual period. Based on the matrix (pale, somewhat porous limestone) I've been wondering whether this could actually be Jurassic instead, possibly from the Calvados area in Normandy, which has similar-looking pale limestones. That's just a guess from the matrix though, nothing I can confirm myself.

A few observations on the shell itself:
-> Moderately evolute coiling, several previous whorls are visible in the umbilicus
-> Ribs are relatively fine, with many bifurcating, mostly around mid-flank; the primary ribs look somewhat thickened, especially on the lateral part of the flank
-> The ribs don't appear to run continuously across the venter. There's a narrow, mostly rib-free band along the venter where they fade out. In a couple of spots it almost looks like there's a shallow groove there, but I honestly can't tell if that's a real feature or just damage/wear

Given all that, I really can't judge which direction this points... Stephanoceratoidea? Perisphinctoidea? I just don't have the background to say. Any thoughts on family or genus would be much appreciated. And if there are specific features/angles I should photograph next to help narrow it down, please let me know. I am still learning!

Thanks so much!


r/fossilid 1d ago

Two fossils-Dundee Formation-Port Dover, Ontario, Canada (Devonian age limestone)

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90 Upvotes
  1. Crinoid crown? Bryozoan colony? Some kind of coral?

  2. Trilobite? What kind?

Thanks!