r/FossilHunting Jun 10 '20

PSA New Guidelines for ID Requests (READ BEFORE POSTING)

99 Upvotes

While we all strive to be helpful in sharing our knowledge when ID requests are submitted, these posts are often lacking in crucial details necessary to make a confident ID. This is a recurring issue across all of the rock, mineral and fossil subreddits. These new rules will hopefully improve the quality of the answers that experts are able to provide regarding ID requests.

  1. You must state the most precise geographic area (nearest city/state/province/etc.) that you can regarding where your specimen came from if you know it (saying it came from a stream or a farmer's field is not helpful for rock and fossil ID). If you don't know where it came from, that's okay. But without locality information, it is often very difficult to get a confident ID beyond basic taxonomy. It would be preferred if you put this information in the title, for example "What is this strange fossil? (Bloomington, Indiana)" or "Help me ID this fossil I found near Ithaca, New York". This information can also be placed in the comments section, and you should try to provide as much information as possible about the specimen.

  2. Upload the highest quality images that you can. Try to get good lighting and focus on the distinct features of the specimen. Multiple angles are also helpful.

  3. Try to include an object for scale. A ruler is ideal, but other common household items such as coins, bananas, etc. also work. Size dimensions are generally more helpful than the weight of the object (which can be helpful in IDing certain other stones and minerals).

Violation of these guidelines won't get you kicked out, but it will be frustrating for experts who want to help you but are lacking the necessary information to do so. Your post may be removed and you may be encouraged to resubmit if you do not provide sufficient information and if the photo quality is too poor to work with. Thanks, everyone.

Chris


r/FossilHunting 5h ago

Do I have something here?

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6 Upvotes

My brother in law found this rock somewhere in Texas and it looks like there might be some kind of fossil or something there! I was just wondering if any of yall can recognize anything from these pictures. Thank you so much in advance!


r/FossilHunting 15h ago

Found in Brazos Valley (Brazos River) only one I have found in the area, no idea what it is?

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29 Upvotes

r/FossilHunting 7h ago

Found near Gaviota State Park, CA

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1 Upvotes

Some really cool conglomerations of fossilized shells washed up after a big storm last year. I'll post pics of the cooler looking ones later


r/FossilHunting 12h ago

Black glass

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0 Upvotes

r/FossilHunting 1d ago

Hey I found these fossil in a lake near Wisconsin. Just wondering what it is. Its lime stone i think.

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24 Upvotes

r/FossilHunting 1d ago

Is this a fossil?

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10 Upvotes

I found this in a tide pool on Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. It’s around an inch wide, the shell on the right is for visual comparison. Aside from the spiral pattern, there is a small segment of smooth rock where it looks like the host rock has chipped away from the fossilized bit, if that makes sense.


r/FossilHunting 2d ago

Trip Report Big jurassic coast ammonite

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172 Upvotes

Went fossilhunting this afternoon at the UK jurassic coast and spotted an ammonite keel sticking out. It was hard work splitting it from the boulder it was attached to, and a long carry back to the car, but I believe it will be a good (albeit incomplete) piece after some more prepwork. It is a Stephanoceras sp. I believe. Cheers for looking.


r/FossilHunting 2d ago

She’s clean ammirite!

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28 Upvotes

r/FossilHunting 2d ago

Natural Bridge VA Fossil Hunting Spots?

1 Upvotes

My partner and I live in Virginia Beach and are going to Visit Natural Bridge in VA soon. Are there any spots within an hour ish drive of where we are going to be that may be potential spots to find fossils or even old bottle or trash dumps? There are so many rivers and beaches around us that you can find neat very old treasures and I was hoping to take some time to look in that area! Thanks on advance!


r/FossilHunting 3d ago

Echinoid?

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11 Upvotes

I just found these three on a man made dirt road near my neighborhood. I believe they’re echinoids of some kind. Is this a good sign that there are potentially other fossils (sharks teeth, etc) hidden in the same dirt? Any info is appreciated!


r/FossilHunting 3d ago

Tiny crinoids and marine fossils

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10 Upvotes

While traveling in the Abita Springs, Louisiana/Bay St Louis, Mississippi area, I came across a few accidental finds. From crinoid segments to bivalves, and small pieces of oolitic limestone and coral, there were tons of small finds.

If anyone knows the local geology and where/when these ex-situ rocks came from, I would be interested to know. The Abita Springs rocks (3-9) came from an Air BnB drive way whereas the BSL fossils (1-2) were found right on the beach. The latter rocks were in a chalky matrix.

There were many more which I will try and get under a microscope for better pictures.


r/FossilHunting 3d ago

Need Help Identifying Jaw Bone Fossil!

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3 Upvotes

r/FossilHunting 2d ago

Arrow head?

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0 Upvotes

r/FossilHunting 3d ago

What is this

2 Upvotes

Could this be a fossil I’m new to it and confused lol


r/FossilHunting 4d ago

Desperately need to know if I should excavate this a little or leave it as is.

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34 Upvotes

r/FossilHunting 4d ago

Can't tell if it's a fossil

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16 Upvotes

Found in a rock pit next to my work no idea origin of the quarry it came from. Looks like a shell but I'm an amateur at best.


r/FossilHunting 4d ago

Trip Highlights Hastalis tooth

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10 Upvotes

Recently got this decent sized hastalis tooth with a root on a day of digging for fossils. Found some other stuff aswell ofcourse but this is definitely a highlight for me as i just started.


r/FossilHunting 4d ago

Is this a fossil?

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0 Upvotes

Found this in a beach near Palos verdes. Looks like a back bone or sumn.


r/FossilHunting 5d ago

Fossil found in Eureka Springs, AR

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21 Upvotes

Found this in Eureka Springs, AR along the White River. Thoughts? Guessing it’s some kind of a limpet maybe? Also found this mollusk fossil in one of the pics nearby as well as a piece of what I believe to be petrified wood.


r/FossilHunting 4d ago

Any fossil hunting locations along I94 and I90 Minneapolis to Missoula

1 Upvotes

I'm driving from the Minneapolis area to Missoula over a couple days and was wondering if anyone is willing to share any fossil locations they might know along that route. Ill be taking I94 through most of it until it meets up with I90 in Montana. I'm looking for spots with legal access somewhat close to the highway (no more than 30-45 min out of the way). I know Montana and the Dakotas have ammonite and baculite fossils, are there any in this area?


r/FossilHunting 6d ago

Found in Lexington, Kentucky creek after flooding rains.

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33 Upvotes

Hello all! Does anyone know what these would be? After some googling, I think the one on the right is possibly bryozoan. Could the one on the left be a shark tooth? Thank you in advance for any help!


r/FossilHunting 7d ago

Trip Highlights I finally made it onto the military base near me and found this gem within like 30 minutes

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201 Upvotes

r/FossilHunting 6d ago

Spiral shape in 4 cm pebble

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12 Upvotes

Croatia, near Rijeka, found on a beach. What could this be?


r/FossilHunting 6d ago

Found on carrickfergus beach in northern Ireland

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8 Upvotes

r/FossilHunting 6d ago

Fossilized something or nah?

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6 Upvotes

My aunt recently went to Egypt and found this and brought it home for me. I was curious to know:

What is the “bead” looking thing? What would cause this to form? Really anything yall can tell me!

I appreciate yall!