Fossilized Bone Fragment
Indeterminate vertebrate; specimen is too fragmentary for specific identification without anatomical diagnostic features • Body fossil (permineralized bone fragment), vertebrate
Geological Period
Likely Neogene to Quaternary (Miocene to Pleistocene)
Estimated Age
0.01 - 23 million years
Preservation Type
Permineralization (likely iron or manganese mineralization based on the dark coloration)
Condition Assessment
Poor/Fair; highly fragmented and eroded, lacks anatomical context or completeness
Taxonomic Classification
Phylum: Chordata, Class: Mammalia or Reptilia, Order/Family: Indeterminate
Morphological Description
Specimen displays a dark, rugose exterior surface with visible cancellous (spongy) bone structure on the interior. The piece is blocky with weathered edges and lacks articulating surfaces or distinct processes.
Rock Matrix
Minimal clinging matrix; appears to be a stream-worn or beach-worn find often associated with phosphate-rich deposits or coastal sands
Formation & Location
Commonly found in formations such as the Peace River Formation (Florida) or coastal deposits in the Southeastern United States
Size & Dimensions
Approximately 3-5 cm in length; consistent with a fragment of a medium-to-large vertebrate limb or rib bone
Value & Rarity
Estimated Market Value
US $5.00 - $15.00
Auction Estimate
US $10.00 - $20.00 (often sold in bulk lots)
Rarity Assessment
Common; fragmentary bone material is abundant in many fossiliferous fluvial and marine lag deposits
Scientific Significance
Low; as an isolated fragment lacking provenance or diagnostic features, its value is mainly as an indicator of vertebrate presence in a specific strata
Preparation Recommendations
Desalination in distilled water if found in a marine environment, followed by stabilizing with a consolidant like Paraloid B-72 if fragile
Notable Features
Highly characteristic 'pitted' texture indicating the internal trabecular structure of the bone, heavily mineralized and dense