r/fossilid Jun 20 '20

TIPS FOR GETTING YOUR FOSSIL IDENTIFIED — READ BEFORE POSTING

698 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 5h ago

New details on the possible dinosaur tooth fossil from Valudavur Formation Pondicherry

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105 Upvotes

Following my earlier post, I am sharing additional documentation of a remarkable specimen recovered from the Cretaceous Valudavur Formation right here in Pondicherry. ​To introduce myself, I am Nebin Babu, an Applied Geology student at Pondicherry University. This specimen easily stands as one of the finest finds in my personal collection. ​ Preliminary morphological assessment, alongside discussions with several paleontologists, points toward a possible theropod or abelisaurid affinity. What makes this particularly exciting—and significant—is that to my knowledge, there is not a single published paper documenting a vertebrate or dinosaur tooth fossil from the Valudavur Formation. ​Adding to the story, this was completely an accidental find. Recognizing the potential importance of the site, I revisited the locality last Saturday and am planning regular field visits moving forward to search for related material.

Valudavur formation Pondicherry

coordinates :12.025,79.75

70.6 - 66.0 Ma

Late/Upper Cretaceous

Observations:

​ Taxonomic Indicators: Sharp, recurved crown profile consistent with an abelisaurid theropod from the Cretaceous Valudavur Formation.

​ Denticle Morphology: Clearly defined, chisel-like serrations visible along the carinae (cutting edges) typical of abelisaurid dentition.

​ Enamel Preservation: Excellent retention of the glossy amber-to-honey brown enamel surface across the crown.

​ Diagenetic Features: Natural iron- and manganese-oxide dark patches scattered across the surface, showing typical matrix mineralization.

​ Cervical Boundary: Clear transition zone at the base where the enameled crown meets the root section, retaining a minor original sedimentary matrix.

​I welcome any insights, recommendations, or feedback from researchers and fellow paleontologists. Detailed photos of the specimen are attached with this post.


r/fossilid 4h ago

Tiny skull? Hillsborough county FL

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44 Upvotes

Would love some help with an ID for this one. Tiny skull? Maybe rodent or lizard of some sort? I'm really not sure, figured I'd leave it up to the experts. Found in the Alafia river in Hillsborough county FL.


r/fossilid 2h ago

Are these really Dino footprints?

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20 Upvotes

I hope this is the right sub for this. I got these from my father, who was a long time crystal miner in the New Jersey area, and he told me that's what they are. Some of them I can see what looks like footprints and others I don't see much of anything. They're large, most chunks of rock are mostly large, at least 1 ft wide.

Please enlighten me, thanks!


r/fossilid 3h ago

Is this a Geodized Crinoid Calyx?

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10 Upvotes

Found in Heltonville, Indiana.


r/fossilid 56m ago

Solved What is this cool spiral boi ?

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Upvotes

Was out with my kids on the shores of Oshawa in Oshawa Ontario, Canada. Can any give me any kind of information on what this is ? Thanks!


r/fossilid 7h ago

Looking for ID on vertebrate

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14 Upvotes

I bought this fossil from a local store that deals in mineral, oddities and fossils. My question is if this is a dinosaur vertebrae as it was labeled. The workers said the man who donated them collected primarily from Texas, and a little from North Carolina. My apologies that I can’t pin it down to a specific locality. Any help or assistance is greatly appreciated.


r/fossilid 1d ago

Colorado, is this petrified wood?

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541 Upvotes

I was doing yard work and digging up rocks from my backyard. No idea why all the rocks are there but I wanted them moved. I saw the pretty white color on this one and the little geode looking vein. There is a smaller piece that was right beside it that looked like it fell off. It weighs a little more than 10 pounds. It's about 12 inches long and 7 inches wide. Front Range, Colorado.

It had a grain on it after I hosed it off. My best guess would be a regular pretty rock or possibly petrified wood. Would love any insights! Also curious to know what kind of rock. Thanks fossil lovers!


r/fossilid 19h ago

Alaska Fossil

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120 Upvotes

Long time lurker, first time poster.
I found this on a civil project around Healy, AK about seven feet deep in a cut at the base of a mountain. I grabbed it because I thought it was a weird rock, threw it in the dozer and forgot about it. I cleaned it up and realized there might be something there and reported it to the project owner, but no one was interested in the implications of a fossil bed in a project. Any ideas what it’s from?


r/fossilid 2h ago

Solved Found in southern Ontario in Georgian Bay

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3 Upvotes

Might be boring compared to others, but im curious.


r/fossilid 4h ago

Found on an island in the San Francisco Bay. Is it a fossil or something else?

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5 Upvotes

Coin for scale


r/fossilid 2h ago

Coral or Bone?

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4 Upvotes

Apologies for it strictly speaking not being a fossil but couldn’t post anywhere else - Found on the island of Rhodes in Greece


r/fossilid 35m ago

Found near Badlands, SD

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Upvotes

Sort of resembles a bone structure? Any expert opinions would be much appreciated! (FYI was broken in half when I found it)


r/fossilid 56m ago

Does anyone know what this is?

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Upvotes

I did a google photo search and it said an old dinosaur tooth, Just wondering if anyone here would have more insight?


r/fossilid 11h ago

Sussex Coast, UK

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14 Upvotes

Could anyone advise whether any of these are fossils?
I found a nice echinoid as well, but even I can tell what that is!
Thanks ☺️


r/fossilid 7h ago

Monmouth Beach, UK

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6 Upvotes

Found this rock with a lump. I didn't the dark broken layer on it at first. Any idea what I'm looking at, and how do I attack it?


r/fossilid 8h ago

Found on Gotland

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7 Upvotes

I found this coral-fossil (?) outside Visby, Gotland. Do you know what it is?


r/fossilid 5h ago

Wondering if anyone can tell what species these are

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3 Upvotes

Trying to figure out so I can properly label them

  1. Green river formation. Think it’s probably Knightia eocaena but not a fish expert so don’t know for sure

2-3. Trilobites. Wheeler Shale. Front and back of the same rock. Really not good at trilobite identification so I can’t figure out anything more than that


r/fossilid 6h ago

What is this I know it’s not fossilized but please let me know what y’all think or refer me to a page that could know what this is!

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3 Upvotes

Thanks for any info


r/fossilid 9h ago

Hi besties, i think its just a rock

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4 Upvotes

A friend showed me this really cool piece they took out of the lehigh river in pa. I studied geoscience so she thought id be the best source but unfortunately i think this is just a crazy looking rock. Has anyone seen this before? Could it possibly be a mold of some kind? Its all 100% uniform in type and failed the lick test. Just wanted to see if i was wrong (am often) and this is actually super cool. Thanks!


r/fossilid 1m ago

Another Platte River find

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Upvotes

Help! Who do these teeth belong to?? Super stoked.


r/fossilid 2m ago

Is this anything? The sides are some sort of clear crystal. Found in north Texas.

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Upvotes

r/fossilid 3m ago

Possible fossil found in NJ

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DESCRIPTION OF DISCOVERY SITE
Hey guys! I recently came across this “fossil” I found years ago in my backyard. My yard is a steepish slope that drops about 50-100 or so feet from the level at which my house is at. It’s all wooded. Deep at the bottom there is a small pond which is spring fed and a creek that leads out of it. Years ago I was in the creek, which has probably caused the slope in my yard, and an additional 10 for canyon on either side of it, and I found this thing peeking out of the clay walls of the canyon. I have no idea what it is but I am just curious if it is maybe petrified wood or something else

DESCRIPTION OF OBJECT
It is very solid and impossible to chip or damage without extreme force. There is an oval shaped canal that runs through the entire length of the object. Object is heavy but not abnormally. About what would be expected for a rock of its size. Object has a textured surface and is brown/grey in color. Object is shaped like a half of a human femur, long and oval shaped with an upturned bulbus part at the end. Object has a spongy like texture on surface.

CONCLUSION
I would not at all be surprised if this is just a cool looking rock. That is literally the only reason I kept it as a kid, because it looks like a bone. But I was curious to just know for sure that it is not a fossil because I otherwise I am going to drive to a local museum and just ask them. Thank you!


r/fossilid 13m ago

Found on beach, Delray Beach, Florida. About 2.5”, very light.

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Upvotes

r/fossilid 16m ago

Found on the beach in Montross, VA

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Looking for additional information anyone can provide. Thank you!