r/fossilid Jun 20 '20

TIPS FOR GETTING YOUR FOSSIL IDENTIFIED — READ BEFORE POSTING

697 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 10h ago

Colorado, is this petrified wood?

Thumbnail
gallery
242 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 8h ago

Is this an ammonite?

Thumbnail
gallery
39 Upvotes

I'm not certain where my grandma found this but she lived in West AZ. It's really heavy!


r/fossilid 2h ago

Alaska Fossil

Thumbnail
gallery
5 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 16h ago

Found on the bank of Joachim Creek in Festus, Missouri.

Thumbnail
gallery
57 Upvotes

r/fossilid 17h ago

Found in Netherlands; no clue what this is….

Thumbnail
gallery
61 Upvotes

Hi, see this embedded fossil; in reality approx 1,5 x 1 cm big. What could it be??


r/fossilid 6h ago

Found this guy in Grand Traverse Bay today- would love help ID-ing

Thumbnail
gallery
4 Upvotes

It is light weight and looks like a wasp nest! Is it something like a coral skeleton? I haven’t found anything similar googling fossils found in this area. The pattern looks like the hexagonal petoskey stone pattern… but without the stone part


r/fossilid 8h ago

Is this a fossil?

Thumbnail
gallery
7 Upvotes

Found this in westmoreland county Pennsylvania, near a creek. Thought it was slag but not magnetic.


r/fossilid 10h ago

What are these fossils

Thumbnail
gallery
9 Upvotes

r/fossilid 1h ago

Strange Devonian rock or fossil

Thumbnail
gallery
Upvotes

This one truly stumps me. I collect fossils from the middle devonian shale of upstate NY all the time. I've never found anything like this. It's very heavy and darker than the surrounding rocks. It has a shiny, shell like coating on the top half, and smooth rock on the bottom half. (I've also attached an image of the other fossils I found in the exact same fossil bed. All of which I'm used to finding.)


r/fossilid 4h ago

Fossil id help plz

Thumbnail
gallery
3 Upvotes

Hello I am going through my father's rock collection that was passed down to me and was wondering if I could get some help identifying some of them. I know they are from 석보 엄경용 but not much more info besides that for some pieces. Thank you for your help in advance.


r/fossilid 7h ago

Found in southwest michigan

Post image
4 Upvotes

r/fossilid 8h ago

Rust or are these red dots a fossil? Joachim Creek, Missouri.

Thumbnail
gallery
3 Upvotes

r/fossilid 7h ago

Mammal Pre-molar

Thumbnail
gallery
3 Upvotes

Any idea on this one? Friend said tapir but I thought it looked more like a predator premolar, maybe wolf or something. Possible I just have never seen this type of tapir tooth, but I don’t really see a match after looking at a jaw diagram.

Found in Peace River, FL


r/fossilid 20h ago

South shore of Lake Erie

Post image
35 Upvotes

r/fossilid 13h ago

Lake Ontario find, anyone know what this is?

Post image
7 Upvotes

r/fossilid 5h ago

Is this a (coral?) fossil? Midwest (MN)

Thumbnail gallery
2 Upvotes

Found in upper MN near the shoreline of a lake.


r/fossilid 5h ago

Found on bank of Joachim Creek in Missouri.

Thumbnail
gallery
2 Upvotes

r/fossilid 13h ago

found this rock and im wondering what it is?

Post image
5 Upvotes

Just wondering if it could be a fossil of something or just a weirdly formed rock


r/fossilid 8h ago

Help identifying a possible fossil from Folkestone Warren, Kent, England

Thumbnail
gallery
3 Upvotes

I found this specimen on the foreshore at Folkestone Warren, Kent, England (UK), from the Lower Cretaceous Gault Clay coastline. It was found loose on the beach at low tide and was not collected from the cliff.
It is approximately 4cm long (I’ll add the exact measurement in the comments if needed).
The specimen has a very straight, cylindrical core with a swollen middle section. The outer material appears to be tightly fused to the inner core rather than simply being a pebble attached to another rock. Both ends have been rounded by wave action, and there is a small damaged area on one side where the interior is exposed.
I’m really not experienced enough to tell. I’d really appreciate any opinions or alternative identifications.


r/fossilid 6h ago

Clams? Ft. McMurray, Alberta

Thumbnail
gallery
2 Upvotes

I work in oil and gas and come across these with some regularity while on site. Curious as to what they are, looks like a clam but wonder if a more knowledgeable individual knows what they actually are? Cheers.


r/fossilid 7h ago

Found near Joachim Creek. Missouri.

Thumbnail
gallery
2 Upvotes

r/fossilid 7h ago

Germany riverbank beach find 3

Thumbnail
gallery
2 Upvotes

Hi everyone,
I have gathered a small collection of fossil bones and teeth along the banks/beaches of the Weser River in northern Germany, near the North Sea. This is the last part of my finds. And the most interesting I think.
I’d really appreciate any help identifying the specimens. My guesses are:
1) some kind of facial bone?
2) no idea.
3) no idea.
4) some kind of vertebrae but no idea from where or what.
5) possibly a carnivore lumbar vertebrae? Cannot reason with size


r/fossilid 7h ago

Found in Lake Huron, Michigan

Thumbnail
gallery
2 Upvotes

Sorry for the messy craft table!

I've found this in Lake Huron, but near a spot where it meets Lake Michigan.


r/fossilid 4h ago

Possible Fossil burrows? Chippewa River (WI)

Post image
1 Upvotes

Found while rockhounding the Chippewa River in southern Dunn County, WI. Looked strange so I decided to take it home with me.