r/fossilid • • Jun 20 '20

TIPS FOR GETTING YOUR FOSSIL IDENTIFIED — READ BEFORE POSTING

718 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 • • 23h ago

Flint fossil on top of hill in Denmark

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477 Upvotes

My 6yr old son found this in a flit in school today. He very interested in what it can be?


r/fossilid • • 4h ago

Weird Missouri Fossil! (More pics)

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15 Upvotes

I posted this a few days ago, but I was asked for more pics!

This was found on my grandparents property in Callaway County, Missouri near the Ameren Nuclear Plant. I’ve seen marine fossils in this area my entire life, but NEVER have I seen one like this.

I’d love to hear what you think!


r/fossilid • • 12h ago

Is this sedimentary or a fossil of some sort?

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42 Upvotes

r/fossilid • • 10h ago

Solved Aunt found in Marine City Michigan

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21 Upvotes

So, as the title says she found this is Marine City Michigan. She is swearing up and down its Nordic Writing. I believe this is simply fossils, anyone know if these are in fact fossils? Pieces of fossilized fern? Roots? Grass? Any help is appreciated. Thanks folks!


r/fossilid • • 1d ago

Solved Currently in Brazil and these tiles are all over the beach, are they fossils?

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1.5k Upvotes

r/fossilid • • 7h ago

Found on the side of a hill in downtown Austin, TX within the Shoal Creek Floodplain. I thought this was rebar until I realized that this rock isn’t a piece of concrete.

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10 Upvotes

Round 2: I completely forgot to add photos….

Thought this was rebar until I realized that this is a rock and not a chunk of concrete. Is this some sort of fossil, or just some iron deposit vein?


r/fossilid • • 5h ago

Found in northern Minnesota along Canadian border. Help with ID

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3 Upvotes

Found this along a river in northern MN on Canadian border. I thought we didn’t have fossils here??


r/fossilid • • 3h ago

Fossil ID, geographic origin unknown

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2 Upvotes

This interesting but somewhat vaguely defined fossil was obtained via auction, so its geographic origin is unknown. There clearly are circular fossils resembling crinoids on both left and right sides, but I’m curious about the branching structures. At its widest point, the piece measures about 10 cm. Dry on the left, wet on the right. Any ideas what we’re looking at here? Thanks.


r/fossilid • • 3h ago

Found in the Bonneville salt flats

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2 Upvotes

r/fossilid • • 13h ago

A piece of petrified wood?

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13 Upvotes

Found this petrified wood and the bark inprint looks cool. Wondering if anyone can use this to determine the specific species.

Found in eastern kentucky inside what was probably some coral.

Last photo is an inprint I found in a rock I thought y'all would like.


r/fossilid • • 11h ago

Appalachian Mountains - WV

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8 Upvotes

Found while exploring some rock formations today - including a pic of the rock formation itself as well as some close ups of different interesting things - especially curious what the fossil with circular markings might be?


r/fossilid • • 4h ago

Fossil or just a cool rock? Found in a stream bed in the woods in Franklin County Vermont. It's still drying out, been next to the woodstove for hours now. The black rock feels gritty and gets very fizzy with peroxide on it. String cheese (and tape measure) for scale.

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2 Upvotes

r/fossilid • • 15h ago

Exposed After Tumbling

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13 Upvotes

I didn’t notice this fossil before putting the rock into the Tumbler, but there is a chance I missed it. I am in Southwest Pennsylvania and commonly find coral fossils, but this one’s the most unique I’ve found to date. Thoughts on what it might be?


r/fossilid • • 8h ago

Solved Mammoth tooth, or natural sediment? (Las Vegas, NV)

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5 Upvotes

Found tons of petrified wood in the area too


r/fossilid • • 6h ago

Found near Elk River, WV, USA

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2 Upvotes

Very cool fossils in this rock. I’m particularly interested in the long linear impressions. Ideas?


r/fossilid • • 8h ago

What is this?

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3 Upvotes

r/fossilid • • 9h ago

Is this colonial coral? Found near Las Vegas

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3 Upvotes

My first time rockhounding! Got luckier than I dared hope 😄 Thank you


r/fossilid • • 10h ago

Lake Superior - west of Calumet, Michigan, U.S.

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3 Upvotes

It looks like a tiny gear, about 2.5 mm in diameter. Lines can be seen behind it in the cavity, kind of like a shell. Any help would be appreciated.


r/fossilid • • 15h ago

Possibly a bird footprint or maybe nothing?

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8 Upvotes

Found off the coast of Greece!


r/fossilid • • 9h ago

Lake Michigan Finds

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2 Upvotes

1 just stuck out as wierd , maybe some kind of bone - didn’t look like wood.

2 looks like a chain coral to me

5 I see all the time , maybe a wierd uniform death plate of some kind?

6 initially thought it was a horn coral but it has different markings


r/fossilid • • 18h ago

Found in Møns Klint, Denmark. Some kind of sea urchin or brittle star?

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7 Upvotes

r/fossilid • • 20h ago

Is this an oyster? Or some other type of clam?

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13 Upvotes

found in Owadów-Brzezinki quarry in central Poland. the place is mostly known for ammonites, oysters, brachiopods and horseshoe crabs.


r/fossilid • • 14h ago

Could this be a fossil?

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3 Upvotes

I unearthed this stone today and it has so many weird ridges.


r/fossilid • • 9h ago

Found this kid!

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1 Upvotes

Found in the summer on a beach in East Dorset, UK. Could this intriguing individual be a fossil?