How to identify a fossil?

[Tinkerbell]

Whilst walking along the beach at Whitby earlier this year I found a pebble (dark red, possibly originally clay, with what appears to be a fossil embedded in it.

Where can I find info which might help me to identify it. To me it looks like a fossilised beetle or similar. It's approx. 5cm long by 4cm wide, bearing in mind it has probably been squashed and pushed out of shape a bit. At the front end there appears to be pincer type shapes - or could it be the back end!

(It'll probably turn out to be ancient seaweed, with my imagination working overtime, but whatever it is, I'd like to have in identification but I don't know where to take it, or who to ask).

Tinkerbell

[thunder]

Originally Posted by Tinkerbell

Whilst walking along the beach at Whitby earlier this year I found a pebble (dark red, possibly originally clay, with what appears to be a fossil embedded in it.

Where can I find info which might help me to identify it. To me it looks like a fossilised beetle or similar. It's approx. 5cm long by 4cm wide, bearing in mind it has probably been squashed and pushed out of shape a bit. At the front end there appears to be pincer type shapes - or could it be the back end!

(It'll probably turn out to be ancient seaweed, with my imagination working overtime, but whatever it is, I'd like to have in identification but I don't know where to take it, or who to ask).

Tinkerbell

Take it to your local museum, or university geology department. I am sure they will have somebody who will identify it for you, or give ypoui the name of someone else who can.

henrya

[jack**]

Hi its only a guess but it may be a "trilobite". Give it a search on google and if its anything like yours. There are so many different fossils to be found it is often difficult to ID them with proper knowledge. Hope this helps
Jack

[Meta menardi]

If you are still at Whitby, take it to the Pannett Park Museum. Their collection of fossils is amazing, and the rest of the Museum is SO good, from a piece of rope from a hanging in Victorian times to a device to predict the weather with leeches. It is manned by people who will make time to talk to you, the park is beautiful and the view from the site is very interesting.

[Tinkerbell]

Thanks folks - I live fairly near to Whitby and know Pannett Park Museum so I'll take it in there next time I pay a visit to the town.

I had a look at the Triblobite pics but this thing I have has - it would appear - 4 sections to its back and a head with feelers or pincers, like some beetles we see today. I have been on the net and googled for insect fossil pics, but can't see anything similar so far. Thankfully some of those pictured are no clearer than the fossil I have.

I'll let you know how I get on eventually with its identification, but thanks for the suggestions.

Tinkerbell

[Ukwildlifeo]

Have you got a photo? I may be alble to help, at least to get it in the right group. I could be a fossil lobster (i think Whitby is Jurassic in age) or crab (Back then they still had tails sticking out the back rather than tucked under like modern day species) but Id have to have a look to be sure

[mrs fish]

Interesting find ,I look forward to hearing what it is/was

[Tinkerbell]

I'll get the camera out tomorrow and see what I can manage - it may make more sense to see what I'm talking about.

Tinkerbell

[Tinkerbell]

[Tinkerbell]

I hope the picture helps - the head and pincers are near the 290 - as I see it - and there appears to be four unequal areas to the main body, with one longish leg to the left of the photo and a smaller to the right. Fingers crossed someone may be able to help.

Tinkerbell

[Ukwildlifeo]

Im sorry to say I'm not sure that is even a fossil. I think its just a mineral growth. Still if your going to the museum might be worth asking just in case, as there is the outside chance that it could be a trace fossil (ie fossil burrow) but it doesn't look much like that either

[Tinkerbell]

Aaaaaw!

Tink

[Meta menardi]

I don't see it as a fossil either. I think it is some kind of iron ore in the rock. I have seen similar vein structures on the moors at Farndale and other places. Still an attractive thing to find, though, like watching clouds in the sky and trying to make patterns.

[ChrisJB]

I think it is possibly 'fossilised' mudcracking, that have since filled with a mineral deposit. They are common traces seen in rocks with fluctuating water levels, ie periods of drying out and flooding.
Trilobites will never be found in Jurassic rocks either as the mass extinction at the end of the Permian saw their demise.
Nice to see a bit of geology/palaeontology on WAB.

Regards, Chris

[Ukwildlifeo]

Originally Posted by ChrisJB

I think it is possibly 'fossilised' mudcracking, that have since filled with a mineral deposit. They are common traces seen in rocks with fluctuating water levels, ie periods of drying out and flooding.
Trilobites will never be found in Jurassic rocks either as the mass extinction at the end of the Permian saw their demise.
Nice to see a bit of geology/palaeontology on WAB.

Regards, Chris

I didn't think of mud 'desiccation' cracks (can you tell that word was drummed into me at A level lol). Mind you there usually hexagonal and more uniform in shape.

AGree with your last to points though, especially the second

[ChrisJB]

Originally Posted by Ukwildlifeo

I didn't think of mud 'desiccation' cracks (can you tell that word was drummed into me at A level lol). Mind you there usually hexagonal and more uniform in shape.

AGree with your last to points though, especially the second

Yep, mud cracks are usually hexagonal, though I have I have seen rather less uniform examples during past geology fieldwork (Pembrokeshire I think?). They are sometimes found in association with ripple marks too. There are some good examples in the Coal Measure Series not too far from where I live.

Regards, Chris

[thunder]

The shape makes me think of Sea Urchins and Starfish

henrya

[Stewy]

My girlfriend found this at Lyme Regis a couple of years ago, I know it's just an ammonite print but still nice to find.

[dragonfly]

take photo post to natural history mesum london they identify it for you

[Tinkerbell]

I have had an id from the museum - apparently it is an ironstone peddle. I'll see if I can find out quite what this is. In the meantime I shall continue to keep my eyes open on the beaches at Whitby.

Tinkerbell