This piece appears to be a fossil, between the size of a baseball and softball.
This was found in someone's yard years ago - there was a large collection of rocks in the yard and my friends had moved in and were clearing the yard and garage and didn't want this rock and a few other items.
about 2" x 3.25" x 3.25"
Other
Yes
Hi,
Thank you for your follow up information. Yes, it is difficult to assess a geological or fossil section from images alone, and your input is helpful. Overall, I do suggest, if you have the interest, to meet in-person with an organization to look at your example. Often University anthropology and geology programs will have specialists who can give you some input. A regional natural history museum can also be a resource, and is often free. And, a regional auction house may be able to give an assessment as well. I have placed a low FMV price assessment; but if you discover this is a semi fossil, a FMV could be $150 to $1000 or above depending on the age, animal, and of what area of the animal the bone is from.
Below is a write up of what I believe I am looking at, using this write up and the images you provided, I believe you will have much more to work with for future research.
Small bone or semi-fossil section of unknown animal; possible vertebrate or skull.
Possible chert nodule
Possible coral fossil
Unknown Origin
Unknown Era
Discovered in ornamental rock bed in Yucca Valley, CA
Measurements: 2" x 3.25" x 3.25"; weight not given
A small section of what appears to be coral formation or possible spongy bone formation of a vertebrate animal. The formation has a uniform symmetry surrounding what appears to be limestone. It would be rare to find fossilized bone not set in a matrix and to have this much exposure to the exterior area. Fossilized bone would not break away evenly from an embedded surrounding. A mineralization or geological form could do so and this is why I believe this is a churt nodule. A chert nodule is a roughly round or oval-shaped lump of chert found within other sedimentary rocks, like limestone. Chert nodules form when silica-rich materials, often from the remains of marine organisms, recrystallize within the host rock. These nodules can also be hollow, like geodes, and may have a crystal lining.
Hello, Kimberly,
I have reviewed the images you have submitted. An immediate answer is: the example appears to be a coral colony growth surrounding a rounded limestone. I believe it would have been moved to the location you found it, by a person, and not a natural development of the surroundings.
I will have a complete follow-up for you tomorrow.
Thank you,
Amber
Also, one more point of clarification - this was not excavated from someones yard, rather, there were a bunch of rocks in their yard that they wanted to get rid of and they told me to take what I wanted. Sadly, I dont know where it was originally found.
Kim
Hello,
Thank you for the initial notes.
I realize you have looked quickly at the images - did you notice the symmetry on the front and back of the piece? Would coral have so much symmetry?
Thank you,
Kim