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Post by mohs on Jan 2, 2012 22:02:05 GMT -5
Hi Guys The neighbor brought a fossil by for me to look at Now I'm no expert but it was
about six inches long and attached to a gray matrix base that was carved away The fossils itself was brownish and you could see scales
were all wondering if it a fake?
of course I was going to take a picture but the batteries in my new camera were dead Life!
eventually I will get picture to post
but is there lots of fakes out there and any general tips how to tell?
thanks Ed
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grayfingers
Cave Dweller
Member since November 2007
Posts: 4,575
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Post by grayfingers on Jan 3, 2012 9:22:05 GMT -5
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,685
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Post by Fossilman on Jan 3, 2012 11:40:16 GMT -5
Yes,people can copy fossils so well that most could never tell the difference........If I ever bought a copy,it would have to be from a pro dealer...... Can't wait to see the pic.......
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cabjunky
has rocks in the head
Regency Rose Plume
Member since November 2008
Posts: 683
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Post by cabjunky on Jan 4, 2012 16:43:24 GMT -5
That is a great website with alot of information on fake fossils. Thanks for posting the link.
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Post by mohs on Jan 4, 2012 22:51:28 GMT -5
There was a knapper in England 19th century that produced lots of points arrowhead ect.. and sold/fooled lots of people as authentic
Think his name was knapper Jack
hopefully the neighbor will bring the fossil back by soon I have a camera now
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Post by mohs on Jan 4, 2012 23:48:34 GMT -5
Hey Geoff Yeah, I traded the Nikon in for a Canon long story on that transaction Ha Ha !
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,685
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Post by Fossilman on Jan 5, 2012 16:08:55 GMT -5
I can see if some people sell a reproduction of a fossil or dino,if the other person can't afford the real deal(knowing its a reproduction).But to sell anything with the intent of ripping a guy off by saying its real is bad news!
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rockhound97058
freely admits to licking rocks
Thundereggs - Oregons Official State Rock!
Member since January 2006
Posts: 760
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Post by rockhound97058 on Jan 6, 2012 1:22:31 GMT -5
The Chinese, and Moroccans are very good at "creating" fossils. If you visit Quartzite/Tucson shows and find the Moroccan Dealers you will be flooded with fakes. In some respect the fakes can be a OK deal. For instance in my shop I have many Trilobites which are (as they say it) replicas. Even though we still pay a fair price for them, you get a nice display piece for educational purpose for lets say $50.00 when some of the rare species in a rare real fossil can sell for several thousands. Another very popular fake on the market for the past few years are the Mosasaur Jaws. My understanding is the actual "tooth" is the real fossil, however they create the jaw bones and arrange them in a artistic display.
As mentioned there is ways to tell fakes. Sometimes I use a UV light as the epoxy veins shine real well!
Jason
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Saskrock
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2007
Posts: 1,852
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Post by Saskrock on Jan 6, 2012 15:05:26 GMT -5
Sorry to hear you didn't get that great fossil specimin Geoff. $10 sounds more than reasonable. Here is a free one for you of equal quality to make you feel better. Just print it off. Actually when I get looking this one might be better, more detail on the head is visible.
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cabjunky
has rocks in the head
Regency Rose Plume
Member since November 2008
Posts: 683
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Post by cabjunky on Jan 6, 2012 16:05:14 GMT -5
Geoff, Nice avatar, it definately looks more authentic than the one you bid on on e-bay. I think you were overly generous with the $10.00 bid. ;D
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Saskrock
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2007
Posts: 1,852
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Post by Saskrock on Jan 7, 2012 13:26:21 GMT -5
Glad to see you liked it. :cheesy:
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Post by mohs on Jan 7, 2012 17:56:02 GMT -5
well Vincent van Gogh did do a painting called 'stilll life' but this is certainly not an authentic van Gogh :nono:
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Saskrock
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2007
Posts: 1,852
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Post by Saskrock on Jan 8, 2012 12:18:35 GMT -5
Why didn't you say you wanted a Van Gogh? Here you are edMostly an authentic Van Gogh for you too. (Just Print it off) Its called Sunflowers. If there is any doubt as to its authenticity I have also provided a old picture of it hanging above Vincents couch in his old house in Arles, and a certicicate of authenticity. Vincents livingroom
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Post by mohs on Jan 14, 2012 15:58:08 GMT -5
After a hilarious detour my neighbor brought that fossil back so I could get some pics What you guys think? Is it real or is it Memorex? Ed
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Simon
spending too much on rocks
Member since March 2009
Posts: 352
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Post by Simon on Jan 15, 2012 11:08:28 GMT -5
There may be something fishy about it, but it really is hard to tell the scale of it. Larger pics would be better. What Canon did you end up with?
Simon
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grayfingers
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Member since November 2007
Posts: 4,575
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Post by grayfingers on Jan 15, 2012 11:50:12 GMT -5
lol, The scales have me wondering as well... I'm not knowledgeable about fossils, but it looks more like a petrified fish to me, like one sees when a dead carp washes ashore and dries out in the sun.
I would think a fossil might not be so three dimensional, with such a fat belly too. I hope those members who have expertize will weigh in.
Bill
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Post by jakesrocks on Jan 15, 2012 12:42:27 GMT -5
Details look too good to be a real fossil. I wonder about the rounded body too. Not at all what you'd expect from something that's been buried under tons of rock for millions of years.
Don
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Post by mohs on Jan 15, 2012 14:05:34 GMT -5
Larger pics would be better. What Canon did you end up with? Simon Hi Simon ! I got a Canon PowerShot 150 IS 12x zoom. Mostly, Most people wouldn't care for it Its bulky, large, and a bit heavy kind of like me but I did get 60 shots from the AA batteries that was included with the camera using rechargeable now and they just won't stall I think the fossil is fishy too I don't think its some ancient extinct specimen but I do think its real seems like a lot work to fake and for what purpose? maybe its a cast of dead bass? I'll post a larger pic It wasn't very good photography I could have gotten a closer shot geesh ! what the difference between petrified and a fossil ?
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Post by mohs on Jan 15, 2012 14:09:32 GMT -5
well that didn't work but I think you get the idea Ha ha
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grayfingers
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Member since November 2007
Posts: 4,575
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Post by grayfingers on Jan 15, 2012 14:15:26 GMT -5
Ed, My use of the term "petrified" was incorrect. Dehydrated would better describe what I was thinking. Though the fish may be made up of replacement minerals, to me it looks more like a dried fish.
From the web: What's the difference between fossilized and petrified? It can be a little confusing. A fossil is any evidence of life that has been preserved in rock. So fossils include not just organisms themselves, but also the burrows, marks and footprints they left behind. Fossilization is the name for a number of processes that produce fossils. One of those processes is mineral replacement. This is common in sedimentary and some metamorphic rocks, where a mineral grain may be replaced by material with a different composition, bur still preserving the original shape.
When a fossil organism is subjected to mineral replacement, it is said to be petrified. For example, petrified wood may be replaced with chalcedony, or shells replaced with pyrite. This means that out of all fossils, only the creature itself could be fossilized by petrification.
And not all fossil organisms are petrified. Some are preserved as carbonized films, or preserved unchanged like recent fossil shells, or fixed in amber like fossil insects.
Scientists don't use the word "petrified" much. What we call petrified wood, they'd rather call fossil wood. But "petrified" has a nice sound and I like to hear it. It sounds right for a fossil of something familiar that looks lifelike (like a tree trunk).
Bill
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