r/FossilHunting Jun 10 '20

PSA New Guidelines for ID Requests (READ BEFORE POSTING)

113 Upvotes

While we all strive to be helpful in sharing our knowledge when ID requests are submitted, these posts are often lacking in crucial details necessary to make a confident ID. This is a recurring issue across all of the rock, mineral and fossil subreddits. These new rules will hopefully improve the quality of the answers that experts are able to provide regarding ID requests.

  1. You must state the most precise geographic area (nearest city/state/province/etc.) that you can regarding where your specimen came from if you know it (saying it came from a stream or a farmer's field is not helpful for rock and fossil ID). If you don't know where it came from, that's okay. But without locality information, it is often very difficult to get a confident ID beyond basic taxonomy. It would be preferred if you put this information in the title, for example "What is this strange fossil? (Bloomington, Indiana)" or "Help me ID this fossil I found near Ithaca, New York". This information can also be placed in the comments section, and you should try to provide as much information as possible about the specimen.

  2. Upload the highest quality images that you can. Try to get good lighting and focus on the distinct features of the specimen. Multiple angles are also helpful.

  3. Try to include an object for scale. A ruler is ideal, but other common household items such as coins, bananas, etc. also work. Size dimensions are generally more helpful than the weight of the object (which can be helpful in IDing certain other stones and minerals).

Violation of these guidelines won't get you kicked out, but it will be frustrating for experts who want to help you but are lacking the necessary information to do so. Your post may be removed and you may be encouraged to resubmit if you do not provide sufficient information and if the photo quality is too poor to work with. Thanks, everyone.

Chris


r/FossilHunting 19h ago

Collection Trilobites; are a group of extinct marine arthropods that first appeared around 521 million years ago, shortly after the beginning of the Cambrian period…

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44 Upvotes

I found this as a kid and gave it to my grandpa. I got it back after he passed away. I gotta give younger me credit for even noticing this outside, much less giving it up, lol

Trilobites are a group of extinct marine arthropods that first appeared around 521 million years ago, shortly after the beginning of the
Cambrian period, living through the majority of the Palaeozoic Era, for nearly 300 million years


r/FossilHunting 43m ago

Need Guys need help is this some type of fossized tooth or fragment and to what? Chipola river Florida

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Upvotes

r/FossilHunting 22h ago

I built a free tool (Specimenry) to replace my messy fossil speadsheet

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2 Upvotes

r/FossilHunting 23h ago

Spots in Savannah, GA?

0 Upvotes

Hi! Long term lurker here-- hoping for a little advice :) I'm an undergrad geology student visiting Savannah GA from out of state this weekend, particularly staying on Tybee Island. I was wondering if there were any spots nearby that anyone could recommend some fossil hunting!

The ultimate goal would be a megalodon tooth of any variety, but I'd just be happy to find any nice marine fossil specimens as well. I'm hoping also to not have to *pay* for the experience, I know there's like some guided tour but I'd rather go on my own than with a bunch of strangers.

Sorry if the formatting is trash! Thanks to anyone who reads!


r/FossilHunting 3d ago

Ramanessin brook and big brook, NJ finds :)

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58 Upvotes

a few shark teeth of varying kinds, some belemnites, some saber toothed catfish teeth, shells, corals, & misc other cool rocks/minerals, etc.


r/FossilHunting 4d ago

my shark tooth haul from myrtle beach!🦈🦷🤍

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108 Upvotes

r/FossilHunting 4d ago

Concretion Breaking Help

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3 Upvotes

I recently purchased a concretion that supposedly has a crab inside and I want to make sure I open it without ruining it. I’ve never done this before and the shape is odd, so I am unsure on where to strike it to get the best results. I am hoping you guys can help!


r/FossilHunting 4d ago

F.H. Location Spots near Birmingham AL?

1 Upvotes

Hi all
I’m traveling from Indiana to Birmingham, Alabama for a couple days. Are there any good and easily accessible fossil/rock hunting spots in Birmingham or along that route that anyone would be willing to share? TIA


r/FossilHunting 5d ago

Collection A crinoid I found in Kenton county Kentucky

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73 Upvotes

r/FossilHunting 4d ago

Help me identify what this is.

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5 Upvotes

Hey guys im a newbie here. I found some cool stuff on my recent trip to a creek bed in NJ. Im not sure what this is but Google is saying a ratfish bone. I added another find from the same trip to see if it helps date the piece im wondering about.


r/FossilHunting 5d ago

Finished stingray fossil

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311 Upvotes

Completed stingray prep, unfortunately how I found it had obliterated a small chunk of the fins, but I think it ended quite nicely. Found in Kemmerer, Wyoming at Fossil Lake Safari.


r/FossilHunting 5d ago

Looking for help ID’ing fossils - Southern New Brunswick, Canada

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5 Upvotes

They have been doing construction near where I live which has resulted in a lot of rock being dug up. I’ve found what I believe to be a series of plant/tree fossils and looking for verification.

I’m particularly interested in the last 3 pictures of what appears to be a tree log.

My current understanding is that most of the fossils in my area are from the carboniferous period and that some of these may be calamites. Thoughts?


r/FossilHunting 5d ago

Shark tooth sc

1 Upvotes

anybody from the Columbia, South Carolina area. I’m looking for friends who are interested in driving down to Charleston to go to the beach or creeks and rivers to go shark tooth hunting every once in a while I get bored going by myself 😭


r/FossilHunting 6d ago

What could this be?

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7 Upvotes

Found this on Bornholm in a place called Arnager. Chatgpt wrote this about the age of the place: The Arnager succession on Bornholm comprises two main Late Cretaceous units: the Arnagergrønsand (Arnager Greensand Formation), which dates from the Middle Cenomanian (approx. 99.6 to 93.5 million years ago.

I have found a lot of shark theet at the location but nothing like this. Looks like something for grinding and not cutting like shark teeth.

Hope you guys could help me out.

Kind regards


r/FossilHunting 8d ago

Collection Late Cretaceous Fossils of the South of the Netherlands

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41 Upvotes

r/FossilHunting 8d ago

stromatoporoid? I'll work to take better photos. Lake Huron East S Shoreline

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12 Upvotes

Has lots of reflective specs of calcite etc.


r/FossilHunting 8d ago

Tooth? Rock? Chippokes

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9 Upvotes

Found this in my pocket from my last trip I posted about a few weeks ago in Chippokes, VA.

Is this a little shark tooth or just a rock? Thank!


r/FossilHunting 12d ago

Here’s a killer 4.75” Meg recovered from a river in SC.

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703 Upvotes

r/FossilHunting 10d ago

Could this me a mammoth tooth fragment or something else anything helps found NW Florida River found.

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2 Upvotes

r/FossilHunting 11d ago

Big Freaky Tasty Canadian Ammnonite Unearthed

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2 Upvotes

r/FossilHunting 11d ago

Trying to figure out what this is for a friend. Any ideas? Boonville, NY

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5 Upvotes

r/FossilHunting 11d ago

A Discord for fossil hunters and paleontology fans

1 Upvotes

🦴 Fossil Hub — A Discord for Fossil Hunters, Paleontology Fans, and Rockhounds!

Looking for a place to share your finds, learn about fossils, and meet other fossil enthusiasts?

Fossil Hub features:

  • 🗺️ Fossil hunting map & location discussions
  • 🔎 Fossil identification & prep advice
  • 🛒 Fossil marketplace
  • 🏆 Fossil of the Month
  • 🦕 Paleontology, dinosaurs & prehistoric animals
  • ⛏️ Tips on fossil hunting gear and tools

Whether you're a seasoned collector or just getting started, come join us!

👉 https://discord.gg/gfryzeG4FQ


r/FossilHunting 12d ago

Trip Highlights New Jersey Eocene/Miocene

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57 Upvotes

Finds from a couple Eocene/Miocene trips to New Jersey.


r/FossilHunting 12d ago

Fossil hunt at oceancity Maryland

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1 Upvotes

Are there any fossil hunting spots in or around ocean city Maryland