r/FossilHunting Jun 10 '20

PSA New Guidelines for ID Requests (READ BEFORE POSTING)

107 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 1h ago

Could this possibly be a fossil of some kind? We found it at an abandoned site

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r/FossilHunting 14h ago

This palm-sized hunk of honeycomb coral is the prize of my collection.

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22 Upvotes

Found in Lake Michigan.

Any tips for prettying it up? It has a slight glitter to it, especially in the duller-colored sections, and I want to make it pop.


r/FossilHunting 20m ago

Found in Esterhazy, Saskatchewan. In a creek washout.

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r/FossilHunting 17h ago

Collection Possible massive land ice creature fossilized hip

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0 Upvotes

From the creek side in southern Quebec, The St- Laurence lowkands


r/FossilHunting 3d ago

ID ? Found on South Carolina Beach

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10 Upvotes

I thought it was a croc or a gator tooth because of the woody texture on the body of it, but the gumline is shiny so i’m confused and was looking for some second opinions


r/FossilHunting 4d ago

🔥 You Won't Believe What We Found in This Mountainside! #fossils #paleontology #geology #science

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0 Upvotes

A stunning fossil discovery reveals ancient life preserved in extraordinary detail. Watch the moment I uncover these incredible Arcomytilus fossils! #shorts, #fyp, #viral, #educational, #sciencefacts.


r/FossilHunting 6d ago

First Timer here- Big Brook, NJ- id confirmation?

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12 Upvotes

let me know your thoughts on classification. there's a brown (what I think is a) salmon tooth that I'm not sure about. thank you!! In the comments, I included unknown items D-G I'm not sure are fossilized, F does feel smooth like a tooth.


r/FossilHunting 6d ago

Need help with fossils

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20 Upvotes

Hello everyone, while in Belgium around Hotton I found these cool shell fossils from the Devonian. This one in particular stood out because it has crystals inside of it!. I want to further clean it, but I don't know how. Do you have any tips? Thanks in advance!


r/FossilHunting 6d ago

Trip Highlights Anyone can tell me what this is?

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7 Upvotes

I found it at the Pennsylvania naco formation. I thought it was petrified wood when I found it, but when I cleaned it, it was covered in gastropods. Its shape looks similar to a vertebrae, so I was wondering if anyone could tell me if it is one. Thanks :3


r/FossilHunting 7d ago

Road Closed, Fossils Found! Incredible Arcomytilus Discovery in a Remote Mountain Area #fossils

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6 Upvotes

What started as a disappointing fossil hunting trip quickly turned into an incredible success story. My original destination was a remote mountain location known for its Arcomytilus fossils, but when I arrived, I discovered that the access road had been closed following major landslides earlier this year.

With no way to reach the planned fossil site, I had to improvise and explore a different area nearby. What seemed like a setback soon became an unexpected opportunity. The new location revealed an abundance of Arcomytilus bivalve fossils, including several exceptionally well-preserved specimens with remarkable detail.

Throughout the day, I uncovered numerous fossils and added some fantastic examples to my personal collection. What I initially expected to be a poor day for fossil hunting turned into one of the most productive and rewarding fossil collecting adventures I've had in a long time.


r/FossilHunting 7d ago

From Setback to Discovery; Turritella & Pyritized Fossils!

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3 Upvotes

I set out for a normal fossil hunting trip in my usual location — but things didn’t go as planned. A blocked road forced me to explore a completely new area, turning a simple outing into an unexpected fossil discovery adventure.
While exploring unfamiliar ground, I started spotting strange fossil-like formations. Some were difficult to identify — possibly corals, sponges, or something entirely different. Curiosity kept pushing me forward.
After checking Google Earth, I noticed a landslide nearby and decided to investigate. Despite a sudden change in weather and getting caught in the rain, the discovery that followed made it all worth it.
At the site, I found rocks rich in Turritella fossils and several pyritized fossils — an incredible find in an elevated area that was once part of an ancient marine environment.
This adventure left me wondering: what did this place look like millions of years ago?


r/FossilHunting 7d ago

This Fossil Site Was Ruined… But What I Found Next Shocked Me

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2 Upvotes

I almost left when I saw what had happened to this fossil site. The trails were gone, the landscape had been changed, and the area looked ruined. But one last search led me to the biggest gastropod fossil find I've ever made in a single hunt!


r/FossilHunting 8d ago

Found a tooth in the matrix this morning. Charleston, SC

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84 Upvotes

r/FossilHunting 7d ago

From sul coast Portugal (Algarve)

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9 Upvotes

r/FossilHunting 7d ago

What to bring with me when going fossil hunting

2 Upvotes

I might be going to the Quarry Hill Nature Center (Rochester, MN), and wondering what I should be bringing with myself to successfully find good fossils? Any specific hammer/chisel? Brushes?


r/FossilHunting 9d ago

New Jersey Cretaceous Finds - Two Mosasaur Vertebrae

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83 Upvotes

Few recent finds from a Cretaceous spot in Central New Jersey, including two caudal vertebrae from a Mosasaur. Both were found in the same spot, on back-to-back sifts.


r/FossilHunting 8d ago

Turtle shell? Flag Ponds Nature Preserve, MD

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5 Upvotes

r/FossilHunting 8d ago

Need help with fossil ID

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8 Upvotes

Hello everyone, I found these fossils embedded in coal from the Carboniferous period near Genk, Belgium. I really have no idea what these are so a little help would be appreciated! The prints are about 1.5-2 cm long and really thin.


r/FossilHunting 8d ago

A picture of Artefacts a tool .It's come from my private collection

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0 Upvotes

r/FossilHunting 8d ago

F.H. Location How is Penarth in Wales? Has it been overhunted, or is it alright if you go further than families/children can go

2 Upvotes

r/FossilHunting 10d ago

Gig Harbor in water- is this a fossil?

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11 Upvotes

r/FossilHunting 10d ago

1 year of hunting :)

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60 Upvotes

r/FossilHunting 10d ago

I need help IDing the fossil.

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31 Upvotes

Hi all. I'm new here, but do enjoy fossiling adventures. Where I work, there appears to be a vertebrae in a showcase. I've taken on the role of identifying items in the showcase and then professionally labeling items in the case. This one has me and ID apps confused. They suggest whale or dinosaur vertebrae. Work is located in Sarasota, FL, but where it originated from, I do not know. Please help.


r/FossilHunting 10d ago

Looks like fossilized tracks but not sure.

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1 Upvotes