Where is Fossilized Bone Fragment found?
Bone (fossilized)
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Open the appFossilized Bone Fragment occurs in specific geological environments. Knowing where to look, and in what kind of rock, is the difference between going home empty-handed and finding a great specimen.
Where to find Fossilized Bone Fragment
Morrison Formation, Western USA
Famous for abundant Jurassic dinosaur fossils, including bone fragments, in states like Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, and Montana.
Hell Creek Formation, Western USA
Known for Late Cretaceous dinosaur and mammal fossils, including bone fragments, in Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming.
Badlands National Park, South Dakota, USA
Rich in Oligocene mammal fossils, including bone fragments, exposed in eroded sedimentary layers.
Gobi Desert, Mongolia
A prolific source of dinosaur and mammal fossils, including numerous bone fragments, from various Mesozoic and Cenozoic periods.
Kem Kem Beds, Morocco
Known for Cretaceous marine and terrestrial vertebrate fossils, including dinosaur and fish bone fragments.
Beaches and riverbeds worldwide
Fossilized bone fragments, particularly from marine vertebrates (e.g., sharks, whales), can be found washed up on beaches or in river gravels where ancient sedimentary layers are eroding.
Collecting tips
- Look for characteristic textures. Examine surfaces for porous, spongy, or fibrous textures that are indicative of bone. Even small fragments may show internal structure under magnification.
- Check for density and weight. Fossilized bone is typically denser and heavier than modern bone due to mineral infilling. It will also feel colder to the touch than modern bone.
- Observe color and staining. Fossilized bones often have colors that reflect the minerals they absorbed (e.g., reddish-brown from iron oxides, black from manganese or organic matter). They may also show differential staining compared to surrounding rock.
- Perform a 'tongue test' (with caution). Unfossilized bone is porous and will stick slightly to a dry tongue. Fully fossilized bone, being mineralized, will not stick. This test should be used with extreme caution and only on clean, non-hazardous specimens.
- Search in appropriate geological contexts. Focus your search in sedimentary rock formations known for producing fossils, particularly those with evidence of ancient aquatic or terrestrial environments.
- Look for associated fossils. Bone fragments are often found alongside other fossilized remains, such as teeth, shells, or plant material.
Quick Check
- Color:
- Variable (white, gray, brown, black, red, yellow, etc.)
- Luster:
- Dull to earthy, sometimes waxy or vitreous
- Streak:
- White to light gray (if silicified), or matching the color of the infilling mineral if soft enough to streak
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