✅ SOLVED Calling all Geologists!

[ANTIQUARIAN]

I found this rock while detecting a farm field on Sunday morning and I have to admit that it took my breath away!
Can anyone help me identifying it's origins? I'd really like to know what type of stone this is and where in Canada this type of rock is commonly found.
I live in Southern Ontario, about 30 miles east of Toronto.

I'm relatively sure it was deposited here by one of the many glaciers that moved through this part of Canada thousands of years ago.
I have detected hundreds of fields and have never seen a rock of this colour before. It obviously has rust scratches from plow damage, but it's the yellow or light brown colour that has me baffled.

I have included pics of the field, the finds and pics of the rock with flash on and off.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Dave

 

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[Broken knee]

Well I may be wrong but it looks like river warn quarts the iron bands are less likely plow strikes but iron inclusions. HH
BK

 

[tamrock]

I'm with BK also. Natural river worn cobble stone. Doesn't look like those lines are on the side of it? Are there any on the other side ?

 

[huntsman53]

IMHO, it looks as if it may be a Dinosaur Egg that broke out of it's hardened rock or fossilized mud encasement.


Frank

 

[roygpa]

I watch too much Game of Thrones. I think it is a Dragon egg. Keep it away from fire and you should be OK. If your name is Khaleesi, then I suggest that you watch GOT, it would take to long to explain here what to do with your egg..

Oh yeah, I do have a geology degree so technically I am qualified to answer your question, per your title of this thread.

 

[kcm]

Awesome find! Really does look like it could be a dinosaur egg.

With that size of rock, I doubt seriously that farm machinery could hit it so many times and not turn it many times over. A disc, however, could easily run over the rock time and time again. You could try taking an SOS pad or a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser and seeing if one of the marks will work off any. That will tell you whether the marks are only on the surface or if they are actually part of the rock. Personally, I also think they are inclusions. Too many do not go in a straight line, which is what I would expect machinery to do.

As for the color, what's the ground like in your area? Is this area known for hard water?

The rounded shape looks to me more like water action rather than glacial. I would tend to think that the extreme forces from a glacier would do more damage to a rock that size, although it might have been originally dropped by a glacier and then later rounded in a river.

Regardless, that is DEFINITELY a shelf trophy!!

 

[hvacker]

There is a fossil forum south of here. You might want to post your picture there.
Interesting find.

 

[Anduril]

IMHO, it looks as if it may be a Dinosaur Egg that broke out of it's hardened rock or fossilized mud encasement.


Frank

I was thinking more along the lines of a fossilized potato.
But then I can't recall ever seeing one of those.

Needless disclaimer: Neither a farmer nor a paleontologist, here.
The only potatoes I recognize come in a bag that says "Frito-Lay's" on the front.

 

[jadocs]

Yeah I'd get it checked out by a fossil expert just in case.

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Well I may be wrong but it looks like river warn quarts the iron bands are less likely plow strikes but iron inclusions. HH
BK

Thanks very much for your insight BK, I really appreciate it!

I'm with BK also. Natural river worn cobble stone. Doesn't look like those lines are on the side of it? Are there any on the other side ?

Thanks to you for your input as well here tamrock and yes, the iron 'marks/scraps' are on both sides of the rock.

IMHO, it looks as if it may be a Dinosaur Egg that broke out of it's hardened rock or fossilized mud encasement.


Frank

Sounds like somebody's already been into the Jack Daniels... thanks Frank.

I watch too much Game of Thrones. I think it is a Dragon egg. Keep it away from fire and you should be OK. If your name is Khaleesi, then I suggest that you watch GOT, it would take to long to explain here what to do with your egg..

Oh yeah, I do have a geology degree so technically I am qualified to answer your question, per your title of this thread.

Thanks for your input here roygpa... I think?

Awesome find! Really does look like it could be a dinosaur egg.

With that size of rock, I doubt seriously that farm machinery could hit it so many times and not turn it many times over. A disc, however, could easily run over the rock time and time again. You could try taking an SOS pad or a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser and seeing if one of the marks will work off any. That will tell you whether the marks are only on the surface or if they are actually part of the rock. Personally, I also think they are inclusions. Too many do not go in a straight line, which is what I would expect machinery to do.

As for the color, what's the ground like in your area? Is this area known for hard water?

The rounded shape looks to me more like water action rather than glacial. I would tend to think that the extreme forces from a glacier would do more damage to a rock that size, although it might have been originally dropped by a glacier and then later rounded in a river.

Regardless, that is DEFINITELY a shelf trophy!!

Man thank you so much for your thoughts regarding this specimen kcm!
I did use a scouring pad on it and the lines did not erase.
We do have a lot of minerals in our ground water and the well water here does require treatment with water softeners.
I think your right when you say that the shape and smoothness of the rock is indicative of water action from a river as opposed to glacial action.

Thanks again for you help,
Dave

There is a fossil forum south of here. You might want to post your picture there.
Interesting find.

Thanks very much for the lead on the Fossil Forum hvacker and for your post.
Dave

I was thinking more along the lines of a fossilized potato.
But then I can't recall ever seeing one of those.

Needless disclaimer: Neither a farmer nor a paleontologist, here.
The only potatoes I recognize come in a bag that says "Frito-Lay's" on the front.

Looks like something from the 'baked potato' family, which just happen to be my favourite too!

Thanks,
Dave

 

[kcm]

It still is not beyond the realm of reason for it to be the fossilized remains of an egg. If there were an egg that somehow got buried with mud and muck, and later even more material...then if minerals started leaching through the shell (probably cracked at this point), then this could potentially be the minerals that infilled the shell. As for the streaked lines, it is again possible that these are where the shell was cracked, which could be showing heavier signs of rust staining.

...For the record, I just woke up from a nap (can't seem to stay awake today!) and I'm just rambling. Pretty certain it's a rock, but should still get it checked out by "someone"! Maybe a University geology lab? Maybe a local rock shop?

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

It still is not beyond the realm of reason for it to be the fossilized remains of an egg. If there were an egg that somehow got buried with mud and muck, and later even more material...then if minerals started leaching through the shell (probably cracked at this point), then this could potentially be the minerals that infilled the shell. As for the streaked lines, it is again possible that these are where the shell was cracked, which could be showing heavier signs of rust staining.

...For the record, I just woke up from a nap (can't seem to stay awake today!) and I'm just rambling. Pretty certain it's a rock, but should still get it checked out by "someone"! Maybe a University geology lab? Maybe a local rock shop?

Thanks again for your insight into this kcm! You definitely spend more time thinking about rocks than I ever will.
Dave

 

[kcm]

Thanks again for your insight into this kcm! You definitely spend more time thinking about rocks than I ever will.
Dave

Hmm...maybe that's why I'm always told I have rocks for brains!

 

[huntsman53]

It still is not beyond the realm of reason for it to be the fossilized remains of an egg. If there were an egg that somehow got buried with mud and muck, and later even more material...then if minerals started leaching through the shell (probably cracked at this point), then this could potentially be the minerals that infilled the shell. As for the streaked lines, it is again possible that these are where the shell was cracked, which could be showing heavier signs of rust staining.

...For the record, I just woke up from a nap (can't seem to stay awake today!) and I'm just rambling. Pretty certain it's a rock, but should still get it checked out by "someone"! Maybe a University geology lab? Maybe a local rock shop?

I agree that a University Geology Department would be the best place to take the rock or egg for identification/verification! I still think it is a good possibility that it is a Dinosaur Egg and I haven't had a drink in almost a month.


Frank

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

I agree that a University Geology Department would be the best place to take the rock or egg for identification/verification! I still think it is a good possibility that it is a Dinosaur Egg and I haven't had a drink in almost a month.


Frank

Thanks again for your input here Frank and you know I was just joking about consuming JD in the morning!

Dave

 

[geologyjohn]

River worn pebble.

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

River worn pebble.

Thank you for confirming this John.
Dave