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Post by snowmom on Mar 2, 2015 4:44:20 GMT -5
It has happened twice now. I have sent small rocks to somebody and had them thank me for the coprolite. I said "huh?" and had no idea what they were talking about. The rocks I find here are extensively damaged by glacier and water wear. What are clues I should be looking for in the rocks I find that would make them clearly identifiable as coprolite? They won't have the classic pie or log or pellet shape and there will probably be only a partial rind if any... pictures might help. I have been researching coprolite on the internet and am starting to understand a bit of it, but I think I need help sorting it out. Pictures of fractured or fragmented coprolite rough would be most welcome, as well as any other input. (and showing off any photos of coprolite you happen to have is welcome too!)
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quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,340
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Post by quartz on Mar 3, 2015 16:32:52 GMT -5
Here's a couple pics. of our chunk, origin of find ukn, gifted by friend. Larry
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Post by snowmom on Mar 3, 2015 17:04:17 GMT -5
Larry, ( Quartz ) is that thing as humongous as it looks? holy apatasaurous! ( or have they changed the name again?) I see chunks, cloudy areas, and the seemingly always present bits of red around so many of the chunky areas. Wonder what chemical in the digestive system turned red as it petrified? I see the exterior shows a sort of squeezed end and vague impressions of the sphincters. I have been going through my rock pantry trying to find if I have anything that at all resembles excrement... hmmmm. I have a couple of 'maybe' rocks I will look at more closely and maybe post here for confirmation or ridicule. (as the case may be) Is the exterior 'rind' a different density or texture from the inside areas?
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Post by Pat on Mar 3, 2015 17:05:59 GMT -5
I've seen many that look like quartz sample. Interesting.
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delo
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2014
Posts: 134
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Post by delo on Mar 3, 2015 17:43:39 GMT -5
Looking forward to see more replies on this thread. There's a lot of coprolite here in Utah, but when hounding I'm never sure what I'm supposed to look for or if I've picked any up.
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Post by jakesrocks on Mar 3, 2015 17:59:44 GMT -5
Have you tried the smell and taste tests yet ? If it's soft and squishy, it's too fresh to be coprolite. Thatsa lotta poo.
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Post by gingerkid on Mar 3, 2015 18:15:47 GMT -5
Have you tried the smell and taste tests yet ? ROFL, jakesrocks! scratch 'n' sniff test. If it's soft and squishy, it's too fresh to be coprolite. Here's a small specimen of dino dung that's in my collection, snowmom. It's between the size of a baseball and golf ball. Have a couple of slabs and one from spiritstone that is an unusual color. Will have to take pics of the slabs. This website has some criteria listed for coprolite. petrifiedwoodmuseum.org/tracefossils.htm
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garock
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since February 2006
Posts: 1,168
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Post by garock on Mar 3, 2015 18:32:43 GMT -5
I once had a specimen of coprolite and it looked like maybe it was cat dropping ! Took it to work and showed it to office ladies. One lady looked at me with that "What the Hay". She had it in her hand and I could see was stressing. I told her it was coprolite or petrified poop ! She dropped it on to the carpet and then took off hollering to the bathroom. She said she washed and washed her hands. I told her it was a rock now and she did not have to worry about it being "nasty". I was laughing so hard tears were coming from my eyes ! There is a rock, jewelry and museum in Franklin NC that has lots of neat coprolite specimens. Some material has been cut and polished and makes some great cabs. Some of the slabs and specimens of coprolite glow under a black light. Cool "stuff" !
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Post by gingerkid on Mar 3, 2015 19:21:09 GMT -5
I once had a specimen of coprolite and it looked like maybe it was cat dropping ! Took it to work and showed it to office ladies. One lady looked at me with that "What the Hay". She had it in her hand and I could see was stressing. I told her it was coprolite or petrified poop ! She dropped it on to the carpet and then took off hollering to the bathroom. She said she washed and washed her hands. I told her it was a rock now and she did not have to worry about it being "nasty". I was laughing so hard tears were coming from my eyes ! ROFL, garock!! I'm in tears from laughing at your coprolite story. Needed a laugh today and greatly appreciate it!!
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Post by rockjunquie on Mar 3, 2015 22:03:34 GMT -5
Hey Snowmom, if you want to see examples, check out eBay, too. After you see a hundred or so, you can usually pick them out. I'm talking about the insides, not the outsides. By the time I get a rock, it's already cut open.
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quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,340
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Post by quartz on Mar 3, 2015 23:39:32 GMT -5
snowmom, it's 6 1/2 x 5" across the cut face [widest], and 5 3/4 deep. Weighs 15#. Outside texture looks a lot like a dried turd, gray on outside. Hey lookie at what I just learned to do, thanks to jamesp and @shotgunner.
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Post by snowmom on Mar 4, 2015 6:08:51 GMT -5
This is all great info, keep 'em coming. Laughing so hard but still assimilating the info.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 4, 2015 7:24:49 GMT -5
I am just guessing here but it has passed every test except for the taste. It tastes a lot like dirt. It is about an inch and a half in diameter so if it is from a human they were fairly large or in a bit of pain. No telling how long it was because one end was broken off. Jim
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
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Post by jamesp on Mar 4, 2015 10:31:45 GMT -5
Jim + copralite = funny. Amusing thread Painful to pass:
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quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,340
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Post by quartz on Mar 4, 2015 12:04:17 GMT -5
I didn't mean to associate people such as jamesp and @shotgunner with the content of this thread, tried to express thanks for the ability to highlight names, think that is kinda neat. It's the timing of it. Thanks too, to MrP for bringing it up, wondered how to do that too.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,154
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Post by jamesp on Mar 4, 2015 12:44:07 GMT -5
I didn't mean to associate people such as jamesp and @shotgunner with the content of this thread, tried to express thanks for the ability to highlight names, think that is kinda neat. It's the timing of it. Thanks too, to MrP for bringing it up, wondered how to do that too. Shotgunner educated me recently Larry. Easy way to get one's attention.
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Post by jakesrocks on Mar 4, 2015 17:04:38 GMT -5
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Fossilman
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Post by Fossilman on Mar 4, 2015 17:38:05 GMT -5
LMAO,I probably walked over dino poop,when dino bone and fossil hunting in Montana....And didn't know it...
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Post by snowmom on Mar 4, 2015 18:26:24 GMT -5
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 4, 2015 22:28:18 GMT -5
It must have started out rougher because I can see the blood in it. Jim
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