Accurate Fossil ID Tip

Hello Fossil enthusiasts!

If you are looking to get an accurate fossil ID, I recommend you take half a dozen or so macro photos of your specimen from a number of angles.

It will greatly increase the chances of an accurate and timely ID.

Happy collecting!

Fossil Huntress, thank you so much. Indeed a great tip

thats what i did and still no one can identify it its like a lost cause for it i might as well put it on the shelf with my other fossils and not worry or think about it

tyler keenan wrote:

thats what i did and still no one can identify it its like a lost cause for it i might as well put it on the shelf with my other fossils and not worry or think about it

Don't say that Tyler!! It is NOT a Lost Cause! Please do NOT give up because I'm still trying to ID it. I'm trying to help and if you'd rather give up and make me feel like I'm wasting my time trying to help a friend, than, I guess, so be it!! Listen to me though! These things happen! Sure, your camera may be a piece of junk, but that doesn't mean it's a lost cause! I ask you, not for my benefit, but for yours! You want to be a Paleontologist, right? Than its' time you start acting like one!! Do they give up just because they can't agree upon something? NO!!! That's because they have determination and passion for their work annd they enjoy doing it! So, Please don't give up on me and/or especially YOURSELF!!

Another way to get great photos is to ask your friends, their parents, other folks and see if someone has a digital macro and might be willing to help out.

I know it can be frustrating to have to work without some of the funky toys other folks have, but people are generally good and happy to lend a hand (either to ID a la Raptor) or help you get some pics.

Good luck!

Chin up mate the best part of paleontology is the find, then documenting and the research.

yeay im not going to give up hopes ill keep on looking at pictures of trilobites till i find it!!!

That's the spirit, Tyler!!!!

yeay!!! so far i have found nothing like it what about you how are you doing on it? find any thing out about it??

Actually no word from my friend yet, so no. I'm afraid I don't have anything yet, Tyler. What about you? It seems you may be right about it being a new species, but I won't jump to conclusions just yet. I'll still wait and see what my friend says. He should know more about Trilobites than I do. My expertise is Theropod Dinosaur Biomechanics, evolution, and behavior. I wish I could be more of help.

The Fossil Huntress suggestion is a good one, Tyler! Does perhaps your parents or one of your friends own a camera with a special macro function? I would lend you mine but I'm too far away from you live

I would expect nothing less from you, Copper. I believe it is YOUR participation as well as mine that has sparked so much activity or maybe it's because I'm knowledgeable and I'm not Administration so users feel more at home. What do you think, Copper?


Anywho, Tyler, perhaps you can buy a new digital camera like a Kodak or something like Fossil Huntress and my good friend, Copper, said. Just remember that we may figure this out soon enough. Just don't feel pressured to go out and buy a new camera or whatever, because we said so. Do what you want to do as these are just tips, and when you want to, or can, do it.

well if its new. what will happen to it and what should i do?? and if i get to name it i can have us all think of a good name how does that sound! thanks lewis!

As Raptor said........there is no rush. Be patient and keep collecting. I lost a great collection of rocks, fossils and Indian flint tools in a fire in 1987. I started over then and have many finds since then. Some I still have no idea what they are! But the fun is in the find. To be serious about it, log your location and other useful information. Then by sharing your experiences with others knowledge is passed along. Even by simply posting a picture.

thats very unfortonet! ive never been able to find any arrow heads or indian artifacts. and i live by a historic creek called "heads creek".

Keep on looking Tyler. Didn`t you say that you lived in Mo.? Both of my parents were from northeast Mo. where we did find a few small birdpoints and also an Indian hammer. The stone head had a flat surface for hammering and a sharpened point on opposite face. The bone handle looked to be a fibia from a deer that had been split open and head of hammer inserted for the bone to dry around it. That is how my grandfather told me they were made also. He lived in Okla. for awhile on land my G grandfather won in Cheyenne-Arapaho Land Race of 1892. We found many arrowheads there!! But all of that was lost in the fire so I started over. I have found a couple of dozen points and broken points as well as a skinning tool. So if it`s a real interest of yours it is in your blood and you will never stop collecting. Be patient. When outside looking for fossil or walking in a park just train your eyes to look down and be able to spot the unusual as well as what you are looking for. I have watched others walk right over something that is obvious to me because I am always looking. i`ll sned a pic of what I have for points and such to you later today after I get them out and take pics.

i found some thing that looks like an indian would use it ill put a picture on here later

and yeay i do live in mo near st. louis have you ever herd "heads creek" ive herd a lot of hostorical storys about it

Tyler, here are the flint tools that I have found since 1987 and haven`t really been in known Indian lands. I follow creek beds and look for any mounds, depressions and other signs of ground disturbance or inhabitation. As you can see I have many broken points but they too have meaning to me as much as the perfect points do.

wow nice collection! i like it ive only foune one thing thats seemed to be any indian tool. did you find that indian nickle i have one its got the buffalo on the back thats cool and thanks for puting that on here its a neat picture