GeologyRocksBone, tusk, horn?
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Well, I'm a bit late to
Tue, 05/25/2010 - 06:45Well, I'm a bit late to reply, but anyway: the way you decribe it, especcialy the thin laminations which seem to be peeling and flaking along the laminations, makes me think that this is a fragment of a mammoth's tusk! I've found several very small fragments on the beach in Holland. They also peel off easily. Could you post a photo?
Since it was found on the beach, you should put it into fresh water for at least 6 weeks to get all the salt out. You should refresh the water twice a week. Then you'll have to conserve the fossil. This can be done by mixing woodglue and water in a 1:15-20 ratio and then submerging the tusk in it for about an hour. If you don't take these steps, it'll definitely disintegrate over the years, which'd be a waste!
I'd love to see some photo's of it.
Greetings,
Bram
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Bone, tusk, horn?
Submitted by Matt on Sun, 07/05/2009 - 15:42.My grandad found a fragment of something bony on the beach on the Holderness coast, East Yorkshire. It's pleistocene boulder clay and ice age mammal remains aren't unheard of. I was wondering if anyone could tell me how I could find out what it is. I don't know how to tell the difference between old and new, tusk, horn & bone. For all I know it could be a bit of a cow that fell off the cliffs somewhere...
It's a broken fragment, about 6 inches long, one inch wide and a centimeter thick. It's curved in shape, smooth on its outer side and rough on its inner side. In cross section, you can see thin laminations, each less than 1mm thick. It seems to be peeling and flaking along these laminations. I can put up a picture if it would help.