Need help with fossil ID

[Tractors4u]

My daughter found this fossil this afternoon in a pile of dirt that was excavated from our basement. It looks like a tooth. What do you guys think?

 

[Tig]

Could be. Interesting colour. Our fossils are limestone grey.
I can't get an idea of the size. Could you put someting else in the picture?

 

[YanmarFever]

tooth or a wild boar tusk ?

 

[California]

I can't get an idea of the size. Could you put something else in the picture?

The width of your thumb is about the same as 1 to 2, on that tape in the first picture.

 

[wjoerob]

Umm -- excuse me--- I know there is a world of experience reflected in these here pages. But WHY IN THE WORLD would you ask members of a tractor forum for help to identify a fossil?

 

[Tractors4u]

Umm -- excuse me--- I know there is a world of experience reflected in these here pages. But WHY IN THE WORLD would you ask members of a tractor forum for help to identify a fossil?

Paleontologist have tractors too.

I also sent an e-mail to the biology department of our local university and another e-mail to an on-line fossil dealer.

 

[Tractors4u]

Here is the reply that I got from an on-line store that sells fossils.

"Hello,

I'm pretty sure that it is not a tooth, but a horn coral. I have found many around our location, along with various sponges and crinoid stems.

I did a quick web search and found a site that has some representative photos. Coral , Kentucky Geological Survey

I hope this helps.

Thanks,

John Fraundorfer
C&J Fossils
Welcome to C&J Fossils, Quality Dinosaur and Mammal teeth, fossils, eggs and more!
cj@cjfossils.com "

 

[Tig]

The width of your thumb is about the same as 1 to 2, on that tape in the first picture.

oops I guess I should have looked at both pictures. Nice answer.

 

[MossRoad]

Do you have a local natural history museum or organization? The could help you identify it. A university is a good place, also. You said it was found in a pile of dirt? That seems kind of odd. Was there other rock and gravel there? What I'm getting at is if it is something that was depostited there after it died or was it deposited there later from somewhere else. Around here there are many fossils that originated here, and many that were brought down from way up north by glaciers.

So, I would start searching for local fossils, first. Then if you don't find any matches, you will have to expand your search.

Cool find, by the way. Get a card and date when, where and who found it.

 

[Tractors4u]

You said it was found in a pile of dirt? That seems kind of odd. Was there other rock and gravel there?
Cool find, by the way. Get a card and date when, where and who found it.

Back a few months ago our builder had to come back and tear our patio out and dig down to the bottom of our basements back wall. The basement was leaking and it needed to be resealed. The dirt is where the dug out to get to the basement. There are quite a few fossils in our soil. They are mostly the type that look like Cheerios. I was told at one time that those are a fossil of some type of reid.

 

[MossRoad]

Back a few months ago our builder had to come back and tear our patio out and dig down to the bottom of our basements back wall. The basement was leaking and it needed to be resealed. The dirt is where the dug out to get to the basement. There are quite a few fossils in our soil. They are mostly the type that look like Cheerios. I was told at one time that those are a fossil of some type of reid.

Yeah. Crinoid stems. Some folks call them indian bead. They are the segment of the plant stems. Well, not plants, really, some kind of animal. Here's a link.
click here

 

[California]

My daughter found this fossil this afternoon. It looks like a tooth. What do you guys think?

Try the Smithsonian too. Their Paleoanthropology Division will provide a quick and accurate identification for finds like this.

 

[Tractors4u]

Try the Smithsonian too. Their Paleoanthropology Division will provide a quick and accurate identification for finds like this.

That is funny. It is right up there with the guy and the letter about the beaver dam.

Steve Tvedten and the Dam Beavers - a tribute to the human spirit in spite of supidity ... A REAL STORY

 

[Tig]

Makes me want to change my nickname to "Australopithecus spiff-arino."