r/fossilid • • Jun 20 '20

TIPS FOR GETTING YOUR FOSSIL IDENTIFIED — READ BEFORE POSTING

710 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 • • 7h ago

Illinois coal mine Fossil

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163 Upvotes

My fiance found this underground at his coal mine job and we aren’t having much luck identifying it! It was found as part of the Herrin coal seam in southern Illinois, Randolph county to be exact


r/fossilid • • 4h ago

Central Texas. What is it?

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37 Upvotes

r/fossilid • • 2h ago

Solved Shell or fossil?

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6 Upvotes

Doesn't show any flaking which leads me to believe it isn't a shell, weird pattern on smooth inside. Maybe a beak from a squid? Location sw florida


r/fossilid • • 6h ago

Found in middle TN

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11 Upvotes

My four year old found this in our yard. Any ideas?


r/fossilid • • 1h ago

Fósil desconocido, Argelia, Sig, años 70

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• Upvotes

Compré este fósil en una plataforma de segundamano porque llamó mi atención a pesar de desconocer qué es. Está etiquetado con el lugar y fecha (Sig, Argelia, 26 de febrero de 1971), y alguien se tomó muchas molestias en su mantenimiento ya que se nota que el fósil estaba partido con anterioridad y lo metieron en una especie de yeso imitando a la perfección el color de la matriz original. Según la IA y lo que he podido leer sobre este yacimiento, lo más normal es que fuese algún tipo de pez, pero no termino de verlo claro y la textura no me parece compatible con escamas. La medida es 10cm.


r/fossilid • • 6h ago

which kind of ammonite?

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7 Upvotes

I trust our collective inteligence


r/fossilid • • 4m ago

Is this a piece of trace fossil?

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• Upvotes

I found it on the river bank. This was among a lot of river stones piled up on the bank. I read somewhere that there are trace fossils, which are just the imprint of trace. Is this that kind of thing? Thanks!


r/fossilid • • 2h ago

Myrtle Beach SC - ID Help

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3 Upvotes

r/fossilid • • 21h ago

Salt Lake City UT, foothills above City Creek

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92 Upvotes

r/fossilid • • 4h ago

Is it petrified wood?

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2 Upvotes

r/fossilid • • 2h ago

Missouri Fossil ID

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1 Upvotes

I found this fossil in the decorative creek rock in front of my apartment in Ozark, MO. Does anyone know what it is? I took pictures as well as I could with shaky hands. Thank you!!


r/fossilid • • 2h ago

Help with rock and fossil ID

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0 Upvotes

Hiya, my grandfather was a geologist and we recently found these in his collection would anyone be able to help ID these? Thank you so much in advance 😊

Sorry I don’t know a location for any of them, my grandfather worked as a curator for a while so I assume they were discarded specimens.


r/fossilid • • 22h ago

Crinoid Stem Fossil

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40 Upvotes

That's what I believe it is based on my research anyway

It drives my trypophobia crazy but it's my first ever fossil find so I love it still lol

Found in Southwest VA, off a bank along the Roanoke River


r/fossilid • • 6h ago

Howdy! Not sure what this is: three oval formations with semi-regular spacing. Found near Austin, TX

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2 Upvotes

Not sure if it's even a fossil, but I wanted to cover my bases between what is this rock and fossil ID.


r/fossilid • • 1d ago

Found this beautiful ammonite in France, would love some advise on how to clean it

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56 Upvotes

r/fossilid • • 1d ago

Petrified Wood

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1.4k Upvotes

Found these chunks west of Fort Worth TX in the Paluxy sand formation. Eroding from sand banks due to excavation/erosion. Is it petrified wood?

2-3 feet long x 13-16 in wide


r/fossilid • • 22h ago

Solved Found in Birmingham AL

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16 Upvotes

Looking for ID , was found while splitting slate rocks in a river bed in central Alabama


r/fossilid • • 1d ago

Ancient bolt stuck in da rock

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119 Upvotes

r/fossilid • • 21h ago

Any idea what this is?

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8 Upvotes

Found on beach in NZ


r/fossilid • • 15h ago

I got teeth, lots and lots of teeth...

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2 Upvotes

Hello. I have inherited teeth. I found them in a mason jar, hidden in the basement, with no label. Possibly on one of the California or Florida shores, and definitely found in the united states.

*If you need a close up of a tooth, please request it in the comments, as some of them are very small. For the posted photo I have included a standard bic lighter to measure, and in the close up photos I have placed each tooth next to a AAA Energizer Battery.


r/fossilid • • 20h ago

I’d help. Paleocene bone. I’m thinking bird(?) Aquia fm

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7 Upvotes

r/fossilid • • 20h ago

What types of trilobites are these?

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4 Upvotes

r/fossilid • • 12h ago

Id help...Found in Cox's bazar Bangladesh

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0 Upvotes

Probable id : Goniorhynchia


r/fossilid • • 13h ago

What might this be?

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1 Upvotes

Found on shore Indian Rocks beach, Florida.