Found this on their property believed to be dinosaur bone with skin still attached
I believe this is a part of a dinosaur leg or bone that has the skin still attached it was found on my property in Canon City Colorado where there's many dinosaur bones around
12x8 in
Other
Yes
Possible Speleothem (Cave Rock) Section
North America, Colorado, Canyon City
Unfortunately, I do not believe this is a biological fossil. Animal soft tissue would not fossilize in a rock formation; though it can sometimes leave an impression on the surrounding matrix it was incased in.
I do believe this is an example of mineralization on rock. This tens- of- thousands to hundreds- of- years natural process is a chemical alteration, replacement, and enrichment of minerals within igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks. The center of your specimen, does appear to be a limestone section; a type of sedimentary rock.
As it is a section, and removed from an original position, I cannot state with absolute certainty; but the tapper from one edge to the other makes me think it may be a cave rock formation. A possible stalactite or stalagmite. These are mounds or tapering columns rising from the floor of a cave, formed of calcium salts deposited by dripping water and often uniting with a stalactite at the top of a cave. The most common stalagmites are speleothems, which usually form in limestone caves. the center of your specimen, does appear to be a limestone section. Example 12" x 8"; unknown weight.
A possible reason for discovering this section outside of a cave environment would be historic mines in the area. It could have been removed during a small mine excavation. It could also be from a large explosion that expelled the rock from a large detonation made by a larger mining operation (a large company operation, for example).
Meeting with an in-person specialist in geology from a regional museum or University may give more information on the example. I was not able to find like items in recent auction results; but do see retail sales of this type of cave rock. Retail price and range are higher and at greater variables than a Fair Market Value assessment. I have given a FMV assessment for your object.
Hello,A follow up to your question.
I note the two images you have offered: these are examples formed over tens of thousands or millions of years and have high value. The example you have submitted for valuation is an early example of cave wall formations, perhaps only a few hundred years old. The calcilite has not mineralized and hardened. For a short example: carbon as coal. After millions of years of mineralization and pressure transformation it can become a diamond.
As I stated above: "As it is a section, and removed from an original position, I cannot state with absolute certainty; but the tapper from one edge to the other makes me think it may be a cave rock formation. A possible stalactite or stalagmite." These formations form over millions of years; the section you have may be the start to an early cave wall formation. It is also an exterior formation that can be found on chert nodules. Chert nodules are easily mistaken for fossils when they are a natural occurrence of rolled and sedimentary rock and mineralization. This may be a section of a broken chert nodule that rolled from a mountain side or was turned over in a field by building, farming equipment, or other land manipulation.
As I stated in your assessment: "Meeting with an in-person specialist in geology from a regional museum or University may give more information on the example." From images alone it is difficult to access with certainty an example's origins and state of condition.