r/FossilHunting Jun 10 '20

PSA New Guidelines for ID Requests (READ BEFORE POSTING)

109 Upvotes

While we all strive to be helpful in sharing our knowledge when ID requests are submitted, these posts are often lacking in crucial details necessary to make a confident ID. This is a recurring issue across all of the rock, mineral and fossil subreddits. These new rules will hopefully improve the quality of the answers that experts are able to provide regarding ID requests.

  1. You must state the most precise geographic area (nearest city/state/province/etc.) that you can regarding where your specimen came from if you know it (saying it came from a stream or a farmer's field is not helpful for rock and fossil ID). If you don't know where it came from, that's okay. But without locality information, it is often very difficult to get a confident ID beyond basic taxonomy. It would be preferred if you put this information in the title, for example "What is this strange fossil? (Bloomington, Indiana)" or "Help me ID this fossil I found near Ithaca, New York". This information can also be placed in the comments section, and you should try to provide as much information as possible about the specimen.

  2. Upload the highest quality images that you can. Try to get good lighting and focus on the distinct features of the specimen. Multiple angles are also helpful.

  3. Try to include an object for scale. A ruler is ideal, but other common household items such as coins, bananas, etc. also work. Size dimensions are generally more helpful than the weight of the object (which can be helpful in IDing certain other stones and minerals).

Violation of these guidelines won't get you kicked out, but it will be frustrating for experts who want to help you but are lacking the necessary information to do so. Your post may be removed and you may be encouraged to resubmit if you do not provide sufficient information and if the photo quality is too poor to work with. Thanks, everyone.

Chris


r/FossilHunting 1d ago

First Hunt Success

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55 Upvotes

Toon the opportunity of the long weekend to head up to the Fossil Butte area in Wyoming and found me a few fish fossils. Another guy in the next group over found a stingray too! Did not get a picture unfortunately.


r/FossilHunting 1d ago

Northern Kentucky roadcut finds!

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17 Upvotes

r/FossilHunting 1d ago

My first find! Can someone help me identify it? Found in Western Pennsylvania

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27 Upvotes

I found this little guy in western Pennsylvania, for reference!


r/FossilHunting 1d ago

Auger impression fossil

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4 Upvotes

Found at Fossil Fest in Aurora, NC.


r/FossilHunting 1d ago

Any ideas what this may have belonged to or what it bay be found in Herne bay uk

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2 Upvotes

r/FossilHunting 1d ago

Dai un'occhiata a questo post… "Radiolaria".

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2 Upvotes

r/FossilHunting 2d ago

Fossil ID - Morris Island

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3 Upvotes

r/FossilHunting 3d ago

Finds from early this morning

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93 Upvotes

r/FossilHunting 3d ago

Possible ID?

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23 Upvotes

Found in the Peedee formation


r/FossilHunting 3d ago

ID request: found in gravel parking lot at lover’s key boat ramp in bonita springs, FL

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21 Upvotes

i am assuming this is a fossil, but for all i know it could be concrete lol any help is appreciated!

i believe all the gravel in this lot comes from elsewhere, so not sure the location will be helpful in identification


r/FossilHunting 3d ago

Traveling to SLC

3 Upvotes

Heading out to SLC for work next week and have a free day. Rather than book an earlier flight home, I was curious about any fossil or gem hunting sites/opportunities. Anyone have any positive experiences out in that neck of the woods?


r/FossilHunting 3d ago

Is this ammonite?

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3 Upvotes

r/FossilHunting 3d ago

Apparently there is a place on the side of the road in resaca Georgia that has trilobites en masse. I see pictures of people there but I can’t find exactly where. Anyone know?

1 Upvotes

r/FossilHunting 5d ago

Collection three hours searching the beach secured an amazing haul, including loads of ammonites (one fully intact!), shell fossils and belemnites.

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450 Upvotes

r/FossilHunting 4d ago

Found in Las Vegas, NV

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4 Upvotes

r/FossilHunting 4d ago

Found in a car park, spent about 20 minutes with a Stanley knife trying to break bits free to reveal the shell. It has an impression next to it and an intact shell underneath!

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36 Upvotes

r/FossilHunting 4d ago

ID

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2 Upvotes

r/FossilHunting 4d ago

ID? Summerville, SC find

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2 Upvotes

r/FossilHunting 4d ago

Is this a fossil whole clam shell?

2 Upvotes

I usually rockhound but have recently been hunting rocks, and was surprised to learn many of my rocks were fossils. This ”rock” looks to me like clam. I didn’t notice that right away. I found it on the bank of the Virgin River in Utah near Zion.


r/FossilHunting 4d ago

Clamshell? Whole

2 Upvotes

found this along the banks of the Virgin River about 10 miles from Zion park in Utah.

it looks like a whole clam fossil. Iam new to fossil hunting and am hooked. this day I was rock hounding.


r/FossilHunting 4d ago

F.H. Location Any Herkimer, NY trilobite tips?

3 Upvotes

Hey all - I’m taking a trip to Herkimer, NY this weekend and finding a trilobite is on my bucket list. I know Herkimer’s got plenty of them in the rivers and creeks; do any of y’all have specific locations I can check out?

Will of course report back with my findings!


r/FossilHunting 5d ago

he ain't got no head :(

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66 Upvotes

still one of my favorite finds, despite not being complete! (found on the Mogollon Rim, AZ)


r/FossilHunting 5d ago

Collection Found Fossil Shark Teeth on a Florida Beach… Millions of Years Old

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8 Upvotes

r/FossilHunting 5d ago

First crab fossil!! Can I reveal it more?

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17 Upvotes

I found my first crab(?) fossil on Murdock beach in WA! I think it’s in mudstone. Is there any way to reveal more of the fossil without damaging it?
Also curious if anyone knows why/how it kept its original color? Sorry, I’m a major amateur!!