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Posted by Joseph on August 14, 1998 at 18:10:04:
In Reply to: Found Fossel posted by Marion on August 13, 1998 at 21:21:28:
Re your photo and clue about 'being near a fresh water spring. I would guess this is a piece of 'tuffa':this is a porous limestone (calcium carbonate). It is deposited by limestone rich spring water. The natural carbonate cement is a source of lime. As the mineral precipitates out often incorporating plant elements. So yes, there may be traces of plants but the piece as a whole is a rock matrix. Any fossil plant elements would be 'recent' (Holocene, maybe Pleistocene at latest). Try a drop of acid on the specimen; a carbonate'fizz' should result... or maybe I'm wrong and it is a cycad?? : I found this fossel in northern Calif. where a fire break was bulldozed. It weighs about 6 lb. about 6"across 4" deep.There is a fresh water spring and some large rock out croppings. I'm very interested in finding out more about it. Housing tracts are starting to be built in the area. I appeciate any help anyone can give me. Thanks Very Much
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