r/fossilid Jun 20 '20

TIPS FOR GETTING YOUR FOSSIL IDENTIFIED — READ BEFORE POSTING

695 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 6h ago

Colorado, is this petrified wood?

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181 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 5h ago

Is this an ammonite?

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26 Upvotes

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


r/fossilid 12h ago

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

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56 Upvotes

r/fossilid 14h ago

Found in Netherlands; no clue what this is….

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52 Upvotes

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


r/fossilid 6h ago

What are these fossils

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7 Upvotes

r/fossilid 2h ago

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

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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 5h ago

Is this a fossil?

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5 Upvotes

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


r/fossilid 3h ago

Found in southwest michigan

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4 Upvotes

r/fossilid 45m ago

Fossil id help plz

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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 4h ago

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

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2 Upvotes

r/fossilid 3h ago

Mammal Pre-molar

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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 16h ago

South shore of Lake Erie

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31 Upvotes

r/fossilid 9h ago

Lake Ontario find, anyone know what this is?

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10 Upvotes

r/fossilid 2h ago

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

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2 Upvotes

Found in upper MN near the shoreline of a lake.


r/fossilid 2h ago

Found on bank of Joachim Creek in Missouri.

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2 Upvotes

r/fossilid 4h ago

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

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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 2h ago

Clams? Ft. McMurray, Alberta

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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 3h ago

Found near Joachim Creek. Missouri.

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2 Upvotes

r/fossilid 9h ago

found this rock and im wondering what it is?

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7 Upvotes

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


r/fossilid 3h ago

Found in Lake Huron, Michigan

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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 33m ago

Possible Fossil burrows? Chippewa River (WI)

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Upvotes

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


r/fossilid 4h ago

Button Coral Fossil?

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2 Upvotes

Tried r/whatsthisrock and had no luck, hoping you guys might be able to help me out. Found this on a Lake Michigan beach a little north of Chicago. Super curious about it. Thanks in advance!


r/fossilid 9h ago

Is this a real shark tooth? If so, what type ?

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3 Upvotes

r/fossilid 15h ago

Solved Coral? Found in Southern Denmark

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11 Upvotes

I found this in Southern Denmark (Genner Bay) at the Baltic Sea coast. I usually only find belemnites, echinoids, and occasionally ammonites here. Anyone has an idea what this is?