Posted by Joseph, on August 16, 1998 at 16:13:11:
In Reply to: Re: Found Fossil. Tufa posted by Marion on August 15, 1998 at 22:25:12:
: Re: what to do. Go to the hardware store; buy "Muriatic Acid"; add a couple of drops to your specimen. If it has 'fizz', probably tufa; if not 'could' still be organic. My experience is that fossil cycads, etc. tend to have silica replacement more often than carbonate; ) A silica replaced cycad would not fizz
: :
: : : 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
: : : : Marion : : benji says joseph is correct.he says, maroin- go for it now, before the bubble breaks!
: : which way do you suggest I go before the bubble breaks? I'm new at this.
: Please e-mail me vonkistle@webtv.net
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