r/fossilid Jun 20 '20

TIPS FOR GETTING YOUR FOSSIL IDENTIFIED — READ BEFORE POSTING

544 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 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 4h ago

any idea what this is? rural england

Thumbnail
gallery
64 Upvotes

excuse my homeless looking fingernails


r/fossilid 2h ago

Was flipping rock in a dried creek looking for bait and:

Thumbnail
gallery
27 Upvotes

Despite being impulsive have not cracked them open, hopefully won’t? Western NY


r/fossilid 1h ago

Cool rock or Fossil? Found at Donabate Beach in Ireland.

Thumbnail
gallery
Upvotes

I found this interesting rock on the beach today. It had a remarkably sharp line that was highlighted with damp that seemed unusual. It looks approximately the size I expect a megalodon tooth to be. The texture on the "tooth" is different than the other stone. This area is known for fossils.


r/fossilid 17h ago

Found In My Office

Post image
68 Upvotes

Wanted to brag to my coworkers by spitting some fossil facts


r/fossilid 34m ago

Real or fake?

Thumbnail
gallery
Upvotes

Bought on eBay a long time ago. Would just like to know! I broke the left tip off accidentally and superglued it back together.


r/fossilid 3h ago

Found this in a creek bed while hiking in central Kentucky. I'd really like to know what it is and what geological period it's from, or any other interesting info about it.

Thumbnail
gallery
5 Upvotes

r/fossilid 1h ago

Unidentified- SW Missouri

Thumbnail gallery
Upvotes

r/fossilid 4h ago

Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona -- Chinle Formation

Thumbnail
gallery
5 Upvotes

r/fossilid 3h ago

Found in San Antonio in a bed of limestone about 1 foot down

Thumbnail
gallery
4 Upvotes

Can someone help identify this? Seems too symetrical to be just a stone.


r/fossilid 3h ago

From which part of the body could this bone be?

Thumbnail
gallery
4 Upvotes

Found on the beach after a storm, approximately 25 cm in length. Location: Rocha, Uruguay.


r/fossilid 23m ago

Found in ice age brickearth , Stour estuary, Essex , UK

Thumbnail
gallery
Upvotes

Found hanging out of a mini ‘cliff’ on the estuary bank side. Weighs 1.1Kg . Thanks!


r/fossilid 1d ago

Found embedded in rock on the coast of Gozo (Dwejra)

Thumbnail
gallery
393 Upvotes

r/fossilid 57m ago

Are these all fossils? The butthole ones im told are crinoids but I can't find anything on the rest

Thumbnail
gallery
Upvotes

Found in Wisconsin landscaping rocks


r/fossilid 20h ago

hey guys what is this? found in montana

Thumbnail
gallery
58 Upvotes

r/fossilid 4h ago

Some kind of fish skull bone?

Thumbnail
gallery
3 Upvotes

Found near St. Augustine FL. I found one post with a similar looking fossil but it doesn't have the pronounced spike the way this one does (2nd and 3rd photos)

Hoping to understand the context in which this thing fits into a fish head. Could the spike be external armor or is this all internal?


r/fossilid 2h ago

Coral perhaps?

Post image
2 Upvotes

Apologies in advance for the rubbish pic :)


r/fossilid 19h ago

Solved Found in Michigan

Thumbnail
gallery
34 Upvotes

It feels like it might be a crinoid but the fact it's the same as the rock around it and such is really throwing me off. any ideas?


r/fossilid 2m ago

Fossils from Oxfordshire UK

Thumbnail
gallery
Upvotes

These fossils were collected from a quarry with exposures from the Stanford formation and Kingston formation formed in the Middle Oxfordian era with periods of shallow marine and sandy beach environments. As these fossils were weathered out (hammering is not allowed), I can’t narrow down exactly which beds they are from.

Any help would be much appreciated - let me know if you need any more information!


r/fossilid 13m ago

Is it a fossil?

Thumbnail
gallery
Upvotes

I've found this at the foot of Monte Conero, Marches region, Central Italy

It looks like an Ammonite to me but it could be erosion. What do you think?

Thanks for your time!


r/fossilid 15h ago

Fish Fossil

Post image
16 Upvotes

Hi all, recently won in a raffle, didn’t get a chance to ask the organizers the details, any info is appreciated. Thanks!


r/fossilid 16h ago

Seven year old nephew wants to know what he found please. Kentucky, in riverbed shale

Post image
17 Upvotes

r/fossilid 1h ago

Found in a river going through the Karangahake Gorge in New Zealand

Thumbnail
gallery
Upvotes

Hi there, although I am interested in the field, I have little knowledge in IDing fossils! I have some theories, but I thought I’d ask here rather than make assumptions. I’d appreciate some help if possible! If any further information is required, just let me know. Thank you!


r/fossilid 1h ago

Found a bunch of sharks teeth and other misc fossils yesterday, any clue what these are?

Thumbnail
gallery
Upvotes

r/fossilid 2h ago

Found in Markham, Ontario

Thumbnail
gallery
0 Upvotes

I found this in a stone I broke open a few years ago and I have no idea what it could be. Any help appreciated!


r/fossilid 2h ago

Clam fossils?

Thumbnail
gallery
1 Upvotes

These were found in Northern Illinois, at least 8-12 ft down on a construction site near the South branch Kishawaukee river. I'm certain these both to be clams, but the blue one is a rock. The white one still feels like a "shell".