🔎 UNIDENTIFIED Possible fossil found in East Tennessee?

[MrMarsHill]

Just to start, I KNOW this is a natural occurrence of some kind. My parents and I went to one of our spots we search for arrowheads and the like on the Nolichucky River in Erwin Tennessee. Just across the state line near where we live in North Carolina. We found 1 arrowhead and a few other relics on this trip, but this rock really caught our eye. We have been searching the creeks and rivers in the area for years and haven't found anything like this before. I am well aware it is a natural formation of some kind. I just wonder if this is some kind of fossil possibly? Some other type of erosion etc? I know we don't really have a real specific fossil spot in our area from my research. But this has us puzzled. The "holes" are very strange and appear to come in sets of three multiple times on this stone. I have no real knowledge of rocks and minerals, but I know this is UNUSUAL in our area. The "holes", for lack of a better term, are about .5" diameter for the smallest and around 1" diameter for the larger "holes". I'm unsure of the material, but it is solid and hard rock of some sort. I appreciate any info and I will gladly add any info I possibly forgot. I have the rock in front of me now, so I can get more info instantly if needed. Thanks in advance for any info!

 

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[Older The Better]

If nobody else has a guess maybe there was once a shell in each of those rings and when the shell weathered or fell out it left a ring? It usually works in reverse with the shell standing up better but who knows… between that and maybe some kind of sponge or coral…

 

[faribo]

I think you would get the best answer if you went over to the fossil forum and asked there. There are some people there who are on the level of Jeff of PA here.

 

[blauer]

Try posting in the geological forums.

 

[MrMarsHill]

Thanks for the guesses and suggestions! I always try to post in "what is it" after my failed research and BEFORE making assumptions on where to post 😆. Now I feel safe to drop this in the fossils and geo sections! I was surprised when noone was atleast making guesses... makes it seem like I may actually have something kind of interesting! Ill be sure to update this post if I get any clear answers. Thanks again!

 

[Kray Gelder]

They are concretions. They are usually spherical or ovoid by themselves, but these still in a piece of mother rock have been dissected by getting bashed about tumbling in the river. You're looking at their cross section, basically.