Specimen identification needed

[Mattatya]

We were in Lake Roosevelt last month and I came across this bizarre looking fossilized item laying along the beach near a large stream that enters the lake. I have been looking through my books and online and can't seem to find anything related to it. I closes I have come is a mammoth tooth but could be some type of coral with how its hollow inside. It is pretty tore up and most specimens online and in my books show nice detailed fossils.

Roosevelt lake is part of the gorged area from glaciers cuts and melts.
I am stumped, Any thoughts?

[img src="img194.imageshack.us/img194/5544/20121015153610.th.jpg"]







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Thanks for looking,
Matt

[Fossilman]

Its from the sponge family....

[Mattatya]

Thanks Fossil man,

I wish it was a mammoth tooth but highly unlikely with the exposed part.
Being that it's a sponge type that is really cool with how the glaciers cut through that area. I'll keep searching online to see what I can come up with. Inside one of the crevices is crystal formation. I noticed it last night.

Thanks again

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[Fossilman]

I use "The Audubon Society Field Guide To North American Fossils".........lots of information in there with photos to compare with.........

[Mattatya]

Awesome, I just picked up the fossil and mineral guide on amazon. Can't wait to go through them.

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[Fossilman]

I have a mammoth tooth in my collection,their pretty big and most don't have cavities like this piece you have.........
When I lived in Montana and North Dakota,I took stuff to the local museums(that housed fossils) or the University that had fossil science..They would ID all my finds if I didn't know what I had..

[Mattatya]

That would be great to find a resource like that in Seattle area. I'm not sure what the legalities of collecting fossils so I have been quiet about it. This is my first fossil find and got me excited.

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[Fossilman]

Just go online and google it for Washington state......I know in Montana and North Dakota a fella can collect and find invertebrate fossils and a few dino bones.
I think Wyoming is the same,also Oregon........

[jspencer]

Look for a book called The Field Guide to Oregon Fossils. These guides normally cover a lot of fossils found in the area.

[Mattatya]

Thanks jspencer and fossilman for all your help. I'm still tracking down what it is but had to put it on the back burner over the last two weeks since my day work took over my life. I can't wait to jump into the books and keep searching.
Cheers
Matt