Dinosaur Gem Bone 1909 • 152 Grams Lapidary Rough
Item History & Price
Background: Dinosaur bones are actually replicas of the real bones that where formed when bones were deposited into mineral rich areas. The minerals soaked into the bones and filled the cell cavities with minerals that hardened. The process is called mineralization or sometimes, permineralization. These samples come from a permitted quarry in the dinosaur bone-rich Morrison Formation near the Dinosaur National Monument in Northwestern Colorado. The thing that is... coll about this specimen is that you get to see the bone exactly as it was removed from the ground. No glue, bonding material or modification. The bone is held together by the matrix that housed it for millions of years. Excellent educational sample with all of the characteristics you want to share with your students. How Do I Know This is an Authentic Dinosaur Bone? There are several clues that lead us to the conclusion that these are bona fide coprolites: 1. Appearance: We hate to state the obvious but take a good look. The outside of the bone probably has a coating or rind that looks like the outside of a bone. You may also see speckles inside the structure of the bone or on the sides. These are the cells of the bones that have been filled with minerals that hardened. They are all colors from white to black and the rarer and more beautiful bones have oranges, red, yellows and even blues and purple minerals inside. Finally, sometime the shape is a very recognizable rib bone, ankle socket or vertebrae. 2. Collecting Location: These specimens were collected in the Morrison Formation near the Dinosaur National Monument. It is a rock layer that was formed when the dinosaurs roamed the earth and is famous for being full of dinosaur memorabilia. 3. Host Rock: The rocks in the Morrison Formation, where the bones are found, are sedimentary rocks. Sedimentary rocks are prime collecting locations for fossils. If you look in igneous rock layers (cooled lava) or metamorphic rock layers (squished and heated rock) you are going to have a much harder time finding fossils. 4. Associated Fossils: Again, not to beat a dead horse but, the bones are found in the same area where you can also find fossilized dinosaur coprolite (poop), gizzards stones and sometimes tracks. It is not a huge stretch to suggest that where there were dinosaurs living and eating and pooping for millions and millions of years that some of that poop might have dried up, been buried and mineralized. 5. Microscopic Study: Paleontologists, a scientist who specializes in studying fossils like dinosaurs, have examined specimens from the Morrison Formation using a microscope. The specimens that are studied have all of the characteristics of bone and can be easily distinguished from rocks or plant fossils. Uses: On the hobby side bone is great for cutting and polishing to display. Some folks like to make dino bone jewelry if the bone is full of colorful minerals. From an educational standpoint this is great example of a trace fossil and a nice complement to other dinosaur related items. In either case, you are welcome to request a PDF that provides you with additional information and photographs about this beautiful fossil at no extra cost, just give us an electronic poke in the ribs when you check out.
