Pretty sure its a snail but I am curious what its made of and the proper terminology and any other info I can get
Anotyer Louisiana creek bed find .land snail? Petrified?
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WaterScoop
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TheCannonballGuy
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At the Link I gave you in a reply to your previous post, the fossils-&-minerals seller tells you what created the "calcite-replaced" seashells he is selling.
Fossil Seashell Cast Lot with Botryoidal Calcite Crystals - Meteorites for Sale, Galactic Stone & Ironworks
Calcite-replacement is what has happened to your fossil finds. During the underground fozzilization process, the original calcium material of your fossils got dissolved and chemically replaced by Calcite (a different chemical form of calcium). That "replacement" process is the way Petrified Woods happens. Unlike seashell calcium, Calcite is usually transparent or semi-transparent (also called "translucent," which basically means "lets light pass through it").
If you look closely at the seller's photo of his calcite-replacement fossil oyster shell (copied below, strictly for the purpose of providing Education), you'll see it is almost transparent. You could shine a light through like you're doing with your calcite-replacement fossil snail shell.
Even though you're in swampy Louisiana with no cliffs, rock-outcroppings, or boulders around, that part of Louisiana is composed of river silt on top of deteriorated limestone... which contained the fossils you are finding in creeks there. Your fossils were chemically more resistant to being dissolved than the limestone they were buried in... so they remain behind when the limestone is eroded/dissolved away.
Fossil Seashell Cast Lot with Botryoidal Calcite Crystals - Meteorites for Sale, Galactic Stone & Ironworks
Calcite-replacement is what has happened to your fossil finds. During the underground fozzilization process, the original calcium material of your fossils got dissolved and chemically replaced by Calcite (a different chemical form of calcium). That "replacement" process is the way Petrified Woods happens. Unlike seashell calcium, Calcite is usually transparent or semi-transparent (also called "translucent," which basically means "lets light pass through it").
If you look closely at the seller's photo of his calcite-replacement fossil oyster shell (copied below, strictly for the purpose of providing Education), you'll see it is almost transparent. You could shine a light through like you're doing with your calcite-replacement fossil snail shell.
Even though you're in swampy Louisiana with no cliffs, rock-outcroppings, or boulders around, that part of Louisiana is composed of river silt on top of deteriorated limestone... which contained the fossils you are finding in creeks there. Your fossils were chemically more resistant to being dissolved than the limestone they were buried in... so they remain behind when the limestone is eroded/dissolved away.
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That's awesome. I had looked at that thinking about the other post and looking at the flow stone shape as y'all called it but I honestly didn't think about it relating to this one. The colors are pretty close as well. This has me wanting to find the source. I asked around and heard of one small cave in my area so maybe there's a creek bank with some more goodies. The lake will be down two years so I have plenty of time to explore . my friends girlfriend picked up a very primitive arrow head in perfect shape close by and I found some tools. Ill keep you guys posted if I find anything related
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P.ALLEN
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that fossil is definitely worth some money, you've got a good spot with great rocks, I'd hit it hard and find some other goodies.
Edit: as stated above it's a species of nautilus, but given it's condition and mineralization, it's definitely going to be worth $100 plus on the fossil market, possibly even more. Like I said, hit that place hard, maybe even get a screen and a shovel and go to town that way. I would use 1/4 inch galvanized screen in a 24 x 24 or 12 x 12 box (I make mine out of old baseboard trim and heavy duty staples).
Edit: as stated above it's a species of nautilus, but given it's condition and mineralization, it's definitely going to be worth $100 plus on the fossil market, possibly even more. Like I said, hit that place hard, maybe even get a screen and a shovel and go to town that way. I would use 1/4 inch galvanized screen in a 24 x 24 or 12 x 12 box (I make mine out of old baseboard trim and heavy duty staples).
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Wow! That's awesome! I don't think I could sell any of my findings but its always good to know they're valuable. I guess I should have made my posts in the rock and gem section but I had somehow missed it. I really enjoy talking to you guys and reading about others finds. I'm just sentimental to these things bc both sides of my family have been here since before we were a country and the land I live on is the same land my native ancestors inhabited. I'm a primitive minded person can't help but think if this was a 1000 years ago I would be wearing my finds with the tusks and whatnot of my best kills in honor of the land gracing me with them. I know that probably seems weird but I have that same sense of pride with them. I really appreciate all of the information you guys are giving me. Ill take your advice and see what I come up with
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TheCannonballGuy
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OneLove wrote:
> Ill take your advice and see what I come up with.
Please let us know what else you find. Although I haven't gone rock-hounding/fossil-hunting in many years, I'm delighted by your translucent calcite-replacement fossils and crystals. You can continue to add photos and reports onto this discussion-thread.
> Ill take your advice and see what I come up with.
Please let us know what else you find. Although I haven't gone rock-hounding/fossil-hunting in many years, I'm delighted by your translucent calcite-replacement fossils and crystals. You can continue to add photos and reports onto this discussion-thread.
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Thanks cbg! I've been lurking around the site and its contagious. I've always been into wandering the woods and finding all types of things. I have eagle eyes and a way with patterns so odd things always stand out to me. I have been trying to spread out my findings. My dad has buckets of artifacts. My collection is a lot smaller and weirder lol. In my area the natives weren't very civilized , in fact you can Google it. We're no man's land. The last frontier ,even after the west. Bonney and Clyde were headed here and killed a couple hours away. The james boys hid out here . Desoto landed and came up the river I live on long before Columbus landed . jean lafite or however its spelled supposedly hid out here along with other pirates and outlaws. I don't know of any Yankee wins around here and I know of at least ten marked battlefields and hundreds of unmarked graves. This land was a melting pot of displaced slaves, sailors, indians, soldiers , and criminals . its also a major military training area that predates ww2 and a frontier logging community . my family has always been here and was actually displaced by the base. Any given day you can find a ww2 helmet , an arrow head , or civil war relic all in the same area and you might find a gun from the 30s, pirate treasure , or a part of the spaceship that rained down on us about 15 years ago. This site has me captivated bc you guys have the knowledge to figure these thongs out and it just gives me that much more motivation to get out there. Thanks again and I'm honored to be here. Also cbg , as I've been lurking I've realized your wealth of knowledge and I'm honored by your comments.
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