Fossil Collecting and Fossil Hunting

[DinoToyForum]

The 'coprolite' is almost certainly just a sedimentary structure, a form of siderite. They are found en mass in certain horizons, e.g. http://gsabulletin.gsapubs.org/content/113/6/673.short
Which explains why you got it for a dollar Still, pseudo-fossils are interesting in their own right

[Kayakasaurus]

That's good to know, thank you 

[Pachyrhinosaurus]

I was looking on eBay for trilobites and I noticed some are being sold as having anamolocaris bite marks in them, and realized I had one with a similar mark. Does anyone think this missing piece was a bite mark? I am preparing a presentation next week for my class about trilobites, and thought it would be an interesting detail to add if true. Here's the fossil in question:

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And some 'bitten' ones from the net:


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Any thoughts?

[DinoLord]

It's certainly possible that they're bite marks - a popular theory concerning Anomalocaris is that it was a predator of various benthic arthropods like trilobites. However other researchers question Anomalocaris' ability to actually break hard trilobite shells - there are a lot of articles and papers that can be found if you're really interested in the subject.

Out of the supposed trilobite bite marks I've seen, the most definitive ones have signs of healing like the penultimate picture you posted. Others could very well be predated individuals that didn't make it, but it's harder to say as there are lots of other factors that could lead to chunks being lost (poor preservation, weathering, overly callous preparation).

[Tyto_Theropod]

Some of the new additions to my collection - mammoth hair from Siberia and multiple Knightia alta from the Green River Formation.

[Arul]

The real mammoth hair, thats cool  seems like not very diffiicult to collect all of that stuff from your country hehehe thats good  i really want to collect real fossil but yeah so difficult here to get that

[Tyto_Theropod]

Different countries have different laws. I'm not sure about Indonesia, but in many places, such as Argentina, the fossil trade is pretty much banned entirely.

In some ways this is a good thing, as it means people aren't going to go and destroy important sites by hammering the rock or damage what could be important remains in order to make money (case in point Irritator).

On the other hand, my personal opinion is that it shouldn't be illegal to collect fossils that are relatively common and that aren't going to be of all that much scientific value. Yes, so I have an Hadrosaur ungual. But the thing is, Hadrosaur remains are very common. There are plenty of Hadrosaur unguals already in the possession of museums and other institutions, and it's unlikely that you could discover a whole new species from just one ungual. So I don't see why people shouldn't be able to have things like that. It's even more the case with things like the more common species of ammonite.

As to fossil huntings, I feel it's okay as long as people follow some basic rules: don't hammer the bedrock, and if you make a significant find, REPORT IT TO YOUR LOCAL MUSEUM OR UNIVERSITY!

With these guidelines in mind, I don't see why people shouldn't enjoy collecting and hunting for fossils. It's a great way to fire up an interest in geology and nature.

Sorry about the rant, I just wanted to get my opinion across.

You might be interested to know that I have seen Indonesian ammonites for sale, however I don't know where you'd dig them up or if you'd be allowed to. As I said, it depends a lot on your country's laws.

[Arul]

Yes that is correct  prehistoric creature fossil is actually very rare in here, the most fossil that can find is maybe a caveman fossil (skull, skeleton) or a "historical treasure (furniture, blade, sometimes gold, etc)" from the old kingdom who lived few thousand year ago in indonesia. Sometimes villagers/citizen found a historical stuff or fossil like i said, but i think unfortunately most of them decide to sell it illegaly and not report it to the local museum/university...

[DinoLord]

Unfortunately there aren't many fossils in Southeast Asia due to the acidic rainforest soil. This particularly makes Pleistocene fossils a rarity, hence the lack of material from species like Gigantopithecus (of which absolutely no post-cranial material is known). I have however seen Indonesian ammonites for sale. Also I know that many Chinese dealers will buy the common polished Madagascar ammonites wholesale; maybe you have access to some sellers who could buy from these Chinese sources?

[Tyto_Theropod]

I doubt it. It's illegal to export fossils from China, and doing so is punishable by death. It's not a good idea to buy fossils exported from China as the whole industry is very shady and many of them are faked.

[DinoLord]

I doubt it. It's illegal to export fossils from China, and doing so is punishable by death. It's not a good idea to buy fossils exported from China as the whole industry is very shady and many of them are faked.

I'm pretty sure that law only applies to fossils that actually originate from China. I think in the case of these Madagascan fossils it's no different than reselling other merchandise. I agree that one probably shouldn't seek out actual Chinese fossils...

[Pachyrhinosaurus]

I bought a display case at a yard sale a few months ago and finally rearranged things to make it fit. I didn't think  I had enough to fill it at first, but here it is right now:

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I also changed my ammonites on the top shelf from being in wood plate stands to small plastic ones in order to reduce the risk of falling. I am using a new stand for the middle ammonite as well. I have another stand like it but with room for both halves of an ammonite which I hope to fill soon.

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[Tyto_Theropod]

Oh, how I envy you! I don't have any fixed accommodation right now, let alone room for a display case! My fossils have to be shoved at the back of a cupboard at my parents'! 

[Pachyrhinosaurus]

I can't say I have lots of space either, but I do what I can with what I have as far as displays go. I actually ran across this case by chance at a yard sale, though initially it was not for sale and just there to display the things which were.
Some additions:

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The one on the left hasn't been ID'ed by me yet. It is from Nevada. Triassic. I hope to buy a large chunk of matrix with these soon. The other is a douvilleiceras from Madagascar. It isn't that large but I can't say I've seen one for sale before.

[amargasaurus cazaui]

I doubt it. It's illegal to export fossils from China, and doing so is punishable by death. It's not a good idea to buy fossils exported from China as the whole industry is very shady and many of them are faked.

I'm pretty sure that law only applies to fossils that actually originate from China. I think in the case of these Madagascan fossils it's no different than reselling other merchandise. I agree that one probably shouldn't seek out actual Chinese fossils...

Still not quite correct on this.....it is illegal to export or import fossils that are considered treasures of the Peoples republic of China....you can acquire commercial material that was taken there to resell, but as Dinolord said, not actual fossils from China. That being said, however, there is nothing wrong with acquiring Chinese fossils in general, but this is the dividing line...many fossils on the world market were out there prior to the laws being enforced or placed. If you understand the fossils you are collecting and are savy enough to be collecting them, there is nothing wrong with acquiring these fossils as long as they are in the world marketplace already. The idea of buying from reputable dealers with a no conditions return policy is a must. And yes, it is best policy to avoid any type of purchase where the material has recently been sourced from China....you need to acquire things that were on the market prior to the emplacement of restrictions. If you cannot make that determination, then you shouldnt be messing with it.by example would be the eggs and dinosaur I have, all legally sourced prior to the ban. Nowdays all but impossible to acquire, but in the day mine were gotten legally

[stargatedalek]

I hate to be that person, but with all the horrible things that the Chinese government does to its people I really can't imagine feeling bad for getting around some of their laws. Many of the people smuggling fossils aren't black market dealers or smugglers by trade, but people with poor livelihoods who have no choice but to do this or starve. You take a huge risk in regards to the quality control of any fossils, but I personally don't feel any moral obligations to respect the Chinese government, why respect someone who doesn't respect their own citizens?!

[Tyto_Theropod]

True, but that wasn't my main reasoning. I feel that by buying Chinese fossils, you run a high risk of ending up with fakes - and often for a very high price.

[stargatedalek]

Oh yes I definitely don't recommend it, however I will scoff and scowl at you if you actually do anything out of respect for Chinese law.

[amargasaurus cazaui]

Again, it pays to know what you are buying and dealing with before purchasing it....having said that, it is just as possible to purchase fake fossils from ...by example Morroco, and their mass market mosaurus jaws for instance etc. ..in America people that sell dinosaur bone often sneak in various types of jaspers, and woods that appear similar to bone but are not. The issue is not just with Chinese fossils, and a smart collector will take the time to learn what he/she is doing before purchasing, regardless where the material is from.

[laticauda]

I am know the proud owner of a Moasaur tooth from Kansas, I'll post a pic eventually but first a question concerning trilobite fossils.

What is a mud trilobite fossil.  Is it an immpression that was filled in by mud?  It was a term I saw and wasn't sure what it ment.  My only experience with trilobites is a little trilobite fossil still in the matrix that I found in a local stream, (that I droped and cracked it through the middle, and then glued it back togther.)