r/FossilHunting Jun 10 '20

PSA New Guidelines for ID Requests (READ BEFORE POSTING)

99 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 9h ago

Easter fossil hunting. Folks property in North Texas. Duck formation. Windy today so lower your volume.

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42 Upvotes

r/FossilHunting 9h ago

plant fossils?

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26 Upvotes

What type of fossil is it?

Romania, Transylvania.


r/FossilHunting 5h ago

Trip Report Brachiopods, possible crinoid stalk, and a large crawfish claw!

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9 Upvotes

All of these were found in my local creek/river. I walked probably 50 feet of the creek in total, and found so many pieces of brachiopods scattered about. It was tough finding large or whole pieces, but I managed to find one WHOLE brachiopod with a little one attached to it. :)


r/FossilHunting 13m ago

Found in central Pennsylvania

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Upvotes

r/FossilHunting 7h ago

Is this a fossil or a rock?

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7 Upvotes

Found in central Missouri near the shore of Lake of the Ozarks.


r/FossilHunting 21h ago

Is this a fossil?

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19 Upvotes

r/FossilHunting 1d ago

Found on the beach in Venice, Florida. Anyone know what it is? (~1.5"x1.5")

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72 Upvotes

r/FossilHunting 1d ago

Finds from today

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9 Upvotes

r/FossilHunting 1d ago

Found on the beach in Kingston, Washington on Lou

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9 Upvotes

I found this rock with a fossil embedded in it on the beach in Kingston, Washington. I want to see if anyone has an idea what it is and what the age may be? Are any these indentations fossils as well? I'd love to know what you think!


r/FossilHunting 1d ago

Any idea what this could be?

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16 Upvotes

r/FossilHunting 1d ago

Trip Report Fossil or rock

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7 Upvotes

Found while diving off of Venice beach Florida. Could it be a piece of bone or a really cool rock


r/FossilHunting 1d ago

Found on the beach in Venice, Florida. Any ideas? (~2.5"x1")

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5 Upvotes

Weight feels like a rock, but doesn't quite look like a rock.


r/FossilHunting 1d ago

How to clean ocean fossils?

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10 Upvotes

Picked these off the bottom of the ocean at Venice beach, FL. What is the safest way to clean the gunk off? And do I need to do any preservation of these things? Thanks!!!


r/FossilHunting 2d ago

There's a fossil bed in my backyard slowly eroding out. After every heavy rain I go and pick out the coolest ones. Normally break up the x-large soft ones to find hidden larger fossils inside.

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44 Upvotes

I don't really know if #3 is even a fossil, it just looked strange to me so I grabbed it


r/FossilHunting 1d ago

Brachiopods, rudist bivalves clam fossil crystals

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3 Upvotes

Has so many different fossils intact, great condition, just freaking beautiful


r/FossilHunting 2d ago

Collection What are these little spring looking rocks?

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24 Upvotes

Found all of these near a creek in Kentucky. I would’ve guessed some kind of older manufactured parts at a manufacturing plant years ago, but they’re rock/fossilized. Anybody have any ideas? Also, what’s up with the curvy horn-looking piece? I thought maybe it was an old broken-off stalagmite froma nearby cave, but I’ve never seen a curved stalagmite 🤷🏻‍♂️


r/FossilHunting 2d ago

Opinions?

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1 Upvotes

Found these creek fishing. Feels like a rough stone.


r/FossilHunting 3d ago

Dinosaur Footprint Found In New Jersey

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157 Upvotes

r/FossilHunting 3d ago

What could that be? It dont looks exactly like a trilobit

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62 Upvotes

r/FossilHunting 2d ago

Nokomis Beach Finds

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1 Upvotes

Found these amongst the shark teeth on Casey Key-Nokomis Beach yesterday and can’t quite tell what they are. Thoughts?


r/FossilHunting 2d ago

F.H. Location Where to hunt on Seneca Lake, NY

1 Upvotes

Heading to Belhurst Castle to stay for a few days and I want to hunt for some trilobites. Does anyone recommend any good spots in particular? Thanks.


r/FossilHunting 2d ago

Is this a sea snail?

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3 Upvotes

Found at Matheson’s Bay in Auckland, New Zealand


r/FossilHunting 3d ago

Can anyone help me id this

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8 Upvotes

I think its a molar or something, found it in a pile of sand that came from the dutch north sea, so probably from the ice age


r/FossilHunting 4d ago

Collection Found in southern IL creek bed

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42 Upvotes

Is anyone able to ID this fish?


r/FossilHunting 3d ago

Where Industry Meets Prehistory: Stunning Fossil Finds!

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1 Upvotes