r/FossilHunting Jun 10 '20

PSA New Guidelines for ID Requests (READ BEFORE POSTING)

105 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 8h ago

Triassic Conchostracans (Clam Shrimp) - Newark Super Group (Lockatong Fm.)

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12 Upvotes

Ventured into the Newark Super Group. Found some Upper Triassic aged fossils from the Lockatong Formation in SE Pennsylvania. Specifically Conchostracan, or Clam Shrimp. These are bivalved crustaceans that lived in a freshwater environment. Also included a couple photos of some non-fossil animals spotted on the trip.


r/FossilHunting 38m ago

Collection Dolphin inner ear bone?

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Upvotes

About an inch and a half long, found in Surry, VA, on a miocene fossil shoreline, likely Yorktown Formation. Appears to have very fine striations/pores, which leads me to think its bone. Very light weight. The shape reminds me of an ear bone, but would like to have someone confirm.


r/FossilHunting 2h ago

Possible coprolite? (Fossilized animal feces)

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1 Upvotes

r/FossilHunting 13h ago

Can I have a bit of help with identifying, and tips on finding more please :)

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5 Upvotes

I found quite a few ammonites but didn’t think they were worth showing as I know them, but still want tips


r/FossilHunting 18h ago

Is this a fossil or just a strange rock? Mojave desert, just outside Vegas

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8 Upvotes

r/FossilHunting 1d ago

Trip Highlights Favourite ammonite I found so far

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40 Upvotes

r/FossilHunting 1d ago

A variety of trilobites I found in the same outcrop in northern Kentucky this week!

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33 Upvotes

r/FossilHunting 2d ago

IMPORTANT How to safely extract belemnite?

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51 Upvotes

I found my very first belemnite today on my vacation in Germany (Local Jurassic deposit) While I was extracting it however, (see video) I shamefully broke it into a few pieces, even though I tried to be very careful. Can someone give me tips on how to extract these kind of fossils without breaking them? I don’t wanna break more than I have to. Any info is appreciated!


r/FossilHunting 1d ago

Poricy park and big brook any luck?

1 Upvotes

I was thinking about going to Poricy Park Fossil Beds and or big brook for the first time. Has there been much luck finding fossils there? Or has it been combed through?


r/FossilHunting 2d ago

ID Request Cretaceous reptile/fish teeth from the Valudavur Formation (Maastrichtian, Pondicherry, India) — What specific taxa could these belong to?

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5 Upvotes

r/FossilHunting 2d ago

Wilmington NC guides.

2 Upvotes

Heading to Wilmington NC for a couple days. Can anyone recommend a guide for digging/sifting fossils or artifacts in the area?


r/FossilHunting 1d ago

Looking for spots to hunt for fossils in sc

1 Upvotes

So I’m going on vacation next week to South Carolina but I keep getting mixed answers as to where I should go to look? I’m not really experienced at all at finding spots or anything especially because a lot of people keep spots hidden which I can understand, but it’s still a bit frustrating. I’ve heard morris island recommended, as well as that palmetto fossil excursions place but it’s way beyond my budget, and so i looked into the city itself, Summerville, but nobody has answers on where I should be looking if I go there. If anyone can help me out, I’d really appreciate it!


r/FossilHunting 3d ago

Trip Report A little fossil hunt with the DPS

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38 Upvotes

Enjoyed a nice outing with the Dallas Paleontological Society yesterday in Sherman, TX. While the hunt wasn’t as bountiful as many previous ones, the new spot on the creek had a nice, relaxing vibe, alive with the sound of cicadas and great company. I also managed to pull out a Ptychodus tooth—my favorite of these Cretaceous choppers.


r/FossilHunting 3d ago

Collection What do you guys think. A tooth, or just a tooth shaped rock? Found on a beach where the landscape was predominantly slate in the UK.

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16 Upvotes

r/FossilHunting 2d ago

Mortality Plate Found Today

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3 Upvotes

Found this mortality plate yesterday. Can anyone identify anything other than brachiopods in this?

A photo of the back of the piece is posted in the comments.


r/FossilHunting 2d ago

4 shark teeth and 1 mystery find

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6 Upvotes

I went to Ramanessin Brook Greenway Nature Trail in Holmdel, New Jersey today. Exact location is https://maps.google.com/maps/place//data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x89c233f952d4544d:0x4ac91c6b9ed7ebd6?entry=s&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjijOzs49-VAxVIhYkEHYVbLHcQ4kB6BAgXEAA&hl=en

There were some fossils I found, at least 4 shark teeth and 1 mystery find.
Mostly got Late Cretaceous fossils. 

I need some help identifying these.

I labeled the mystery item 1 A for reference.:
What is it? I’m wondering if it’s a petrified piece of wood or a piece of bone? It did not break apart in my hand. I found it in the bank. 

4 Shark teeth: Are the shark teeth all from a Thresher (Paranomotodon angustidens) shark? 
Or is it from a Squalicorax crow shark?

The last picture is a close up. There are serrated edges on the side. Is this from another shark species? 

Anyway thank you! I had a great time discovering this place for the first time!


r/FossilHunting 3d ago

Trip Report Miocene marine fossils

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25 Upvotes

These are some of my most recent fossil hunts collecting Miocene marine fossils like shark teeth, corals, marine mammal bones, shells, and stingray teeth. These fossils were collected in Virginia and North Carolina.


r/FossilHunting 2d ago

4 shark teeth and 1 mystery find

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1 Upvotes

r/FossilHunting 3d ago

Interesting shaped fossils

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2 Upvotes

r/FossilHunting 5d ago

Collection Does anyone have any ideas of what these are?

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16 Upvotes

Found in Surry, VA, on a fossil beach along the James River. None are bigger than 3 mm, and I have about 30 of them now. They all share a few things in common: vaguely heart shaped, shiny brown or black, faint divide going down the middle, and raised ridge going around the edges of the underside, possibly to points. Haven't been able to find any information on them anywhere. Would like to believe they're either teeth or dermal denticles of some sort but I really don't know. Does anyone here have any ideas? I already tried the Fossil Forum and it didn't go anywhere.


r/FossilHunting 4d ago

F.H. Location Fossil Hunting in Eastern Kansas

1 Upvotes

Hey everyone! I'm looking for a place to find pre-mesozoic fossils in Eastern Kansas, anywhere from Lawrence to Overland Park in Douglas and Johnson counties respectively. Also if anyone knows any spots for some trilobites I'd love to check those out too!


r/FossilHunting 5d ago

Megalodon teeth

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83 Upvotes

found in the area West Java indonesia


r/FossilHunting 5d ago

Nautiloid ID

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16 Upvotes

I’m no expert in fossils but simple googling says some sort of orthoconic nautiloid, what does everyone else think at first glance? Located in NW AR. I can post more pictures when I’m back in the office.


r/FossilHunting 6d ago

Found in Indian camp creek, MO

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4 Upvotes