GeologyRocks

Welcome to GR.

The first picture looks like a colonial coral - and I bet someone on here will come up with the exact species.

The other two pictures are too out of focus to distinguish any real details.

John

“Civilisation exists by geological consent, subject to change without notice.” -  Will Durant

Thank you for pointing out the blurry images.  I took the pictures with my phone and never bothered to check them out.  I just replaced the images with high quality pics from my digital camera.  

If you want to see the pictures very large for more detail, click on the link to open the images in a browser window. 

 Enjoy! 

Almost certainly a colonial coral. The mineral is almost certainly calcite. Corals precipitate a calcium carbonate skeleton, which once buried is often dissolved by fluid, before calcium calcite is re-precipitated in the resulting holes (vugs).

If it helps it's Permian in age, there's not much int he literature about types etc etc as Permain coral is pretty rare across the globe, but the rocks of NW Indiana are Permian in age so that's a starting point. I'll have a nosey as and when I have time, and see if I can come up with a name

Leah 

So, what are the chances this fossil is worth something?

It's going to be worth something, but how much is a different question. As John will probably agree, it's very difficult to put a price on anything of this nature.  Rarity plays a part, as well as how clearly identifiable it is, but at the end of the day, if it's a field in which you're unfamiliar, you may well be wildly out if you just guess.  Try looking at online catalogues of minerals and fossils for an idea if you're wanting to sell it.  And no, I'm not interested in buying it - I collect all my own specimens.

I appreciate your response. I was able to get an appraisal of my fossil, once I was able to identify it and it appears its worth its weight in diamonds. Now I have to find a buyer. Not thinking about anyone on here, but was informed that a museum in China might have an intrest and the money.

I agree with Gus - the price is realistically what anyone will pay. Fossils are notoriously difficult to gauge.

I sell 2-3" Trilobite sp. Diacalymene for £3-4, but I know of another dealer who sells the same one but at £10.  And he does sell them.   

If you were to take it to a dealer he is going to be think 'Can I buy it off this chap cheaply and sell on at a profit?'. He wants (or has ) to build in a profit margin, because it might not sell for ages (or at all) and during the time its on his shelf it is his capital tied up in something worthless - because it has no profit value until its sold.

Your best bet is to get round fossil shows and look at their prices.  Also the web, although all will try to inflate the price, so at best you will only get an indicator. 

John

“Civilisation exists by geological consent, subject to change without notice.” -  Will Durant

Forgive me if I do not properly word my definitions, as I am new to Geology and Paleontology. After doing extensive research, I was able to come up with a name and some other relevant information pertaining to my fossil. My specimen appears to be a species of Cnidarians called Hexagonaria. This type of coral is from the Devonian period, which is about 350 mya.

Absolutely every museum, professor, and paleontologist I have contacted has been extremely excited about seeing my specimen. Up until a month ago I didn’t even know what I had in my possession.

I am so excited about getting more information and eventually selling my fossil. I think I am going to keep my source a secret and after I sell my fossil I’m dedicating the rest of my life to finding more.

Thank you everyone for your help.

Chris