Identification Needed - Fossil Bone

Hello all!

I was kicking back with my father a few weeks ago and I noticed something black and very heavy sitting on his TV stand. I recognized it as a fossil. He mentioned that right after one of the really big hurricanes (didn't elaborate on which), he was at the gulf beach and found it right at the water line where the waves were crashing in to shore.

He swears up and down it's an "Alligator Fossil". "I'm telling you son. I've cleaned a million of them. I know what an alligator bone looks like". Perhaps but I don't think he was catching on to my "But pop - it's millions of years old so it might not be".

But you know the old fashioned - No way in hell I'll argue with him. You argue with him. Rather just keep quiet


Anyone have any thoughts on what kind of beast this fossil might have come from?


If anyone says Alligator.... I will find you!





Note: The fossil was found black as you see here. In some places, the black seemed to have rubbed off of the 'fossil' showing the brown minerals beneath but majority is still pitch black. I thought this was kind of odd. It's definitely a fossil. Why is it black?




Thanks in advance! I'd love to be able to tell him what he's found and what it might be worth.

At first one might think it is part of a vertebrae, but no hole for spinal cord. Kinda looks like a tooth? And the two stubs at the one end make me think of of joints or a knuckle? Is it heavy like stone or iron? I wonder if it is a part from machinery?

a reply to: Timber13

Could it be the phalanx of a horse?

Source

a reply to: Timber13

Pleistocene Horse Proximal Phalanx

www.etsy.com...

a reply to: Encia22Nailed it. I wonder how old though?

originally posted by: Ilikesecrets
At first one might think it is part of a vertebrae, but no hole for spinal cord. Kinda looks like a tooth? And the two stubs at the one end make me think of of joints or a knuckle? Is it heavy like stone or iron? I wonder if it is a part from machinery?

I thought spinal segment as well but unsure what part. Further down maybe.

It's definitely a 'bone' of some sort. 100% fossil. It's not heavy enough to be iron and too heavy to be a bone. When you look at each end, it has that ball and socket form as human or animal bones would but this one is fat and short. I could also see an alligator type creature or something generally similar.

originally posted by: Encia22
a reply to: Timber13

Could it be the phalanx of a horse?

Source

Hey!!!

This looks it! Remarkable!

Thanks all! This is very much appreciated. I'll bring this one to his attention. I'll stand at a distance of course!

a reply to: Timber13

LOL, stay safe and let us know how it goes.

As for the colour, I thought of blood that turns black as it drys, however, I did a quick search and it's more likely the minerals in the soil it was buried in. Apparently, phosphate produces black fossils and limestone yellow or grey. So, you could do a search to see what the soil type is where your father found it. It's all quite fascinating, and even if not worth much, you have a piece of history in your hand... like Ilikesecrets said, how old is the question?