Like a claw fossil or something.

  • Thread starter Thread starter garyankrom
  • Start date Start date
AI Thread Summary
The object in question, found in Park Forest, Illinois, is believed to be a smooth, flat rock weighing around three pounds, potentially shaped by water erosion in the area's historically swampy landscape. Initial speculation suggested it could be a fossil or a prehistoric tool, but further examination indicates it does not resemble typical fossils, such as claws or bone fragments. The discussion highlights that Illinois's geological history, primarily consisting of ground-up soil from the ice age, makes fossil finds rare. Observations suggest the object may be quartz or marble rather than a significant fossil. For accurate identification, taking the object to a museum like the Field Museum is recommended, as in-person examination could yield more definitive insights.
garyankrom
Messages
3
Reaction score
0
Ok, I was wondering if anyone new what this was. My husband, found it a long time ago by his parents house when he was a kid. He always believed it to be some kind of fossil. Like a claw or something.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0729.jpg
    IMG_0729.jpg
    22.5 KB · Views: 555
  • IMG_0730.jpg
    IMG_0730.jpg
    22.9 KB · Views: 627
  • IMG_0731.jpg
    IMG_0731.jpg
    25 KB · Views: 557
Earth sciences news on Phys.org


It looks like a cobble. Flat and smooth due to running water. Do you know the lithology?
 


i found it in a swamp about 19 20 years ago.
Park Forest, Illinois used to be nothing but swamp land.
its not cobble though.
also it weighs around 3 pounds
 


garyankrom said:
i found it in a swamp about 19 20 years ago.
Park Forest, Illinois used to be nothing but swamp land.
its not cobble though.
also it weighs around 3 pounds
The 3rd picture doesn't look like the first 2, are these two different rocks?
 


Evo said:
The 3rd picture doesn't look like the first 2, are these two different rocks?
Prehistoric Pet Rock?
 


Or possibly some kind of hammerstone used by someone. IMO, it doesn't look like any kind of fossil I've ever seen.
 


Evo said:
The 3rd picture doesn't look like the first 2, are these two different rocks?
I believe on the third photo, we are seeing it on edge. To me, it does not resemble a claw. Even in a fossil state claws still look very much like claws.
Most of IL. was a shallow Cyprus swamp, and did have Mastodon and other animals. It could be a bone fragment. In the first photo, the dark area on the bottom left, may be the spongy area inside a bone. A extreme close up of that area would be more telling.
 
Last edited:


It's a precambrian fossilized potato, judging from the first two pictures.

Pic #3 - who knows?
 


all the pictures are of the same rock, potato LOL!

can i take it to the field museum, does anybody think they would be able to tell me?
 
  • #10


Having someone identify it in person will be much easier than over the net. I can't see anything in the pictures that screams 'interesting fossil' though
 
  • #11


The surface of Illinois is basically ground up soil from the ice age.
Not a good place to find many fossils. A smooth rock found near the surface was probably polished by water over many years.

If this were encased within a sedimentary rock or strata, then it might be something, but it looks like a piece of quartz or marble.
 
Back
Top