Posted by Marion on August 16, 1998 at 17:12:58:
In Reply to: Re: Found Fossil. Tufa posted by Joseph, on August 16, 1998 at 16:13:11:
: : 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
::::Hi Peter. O.K. I did the acid test and no Fizz whatsoever. NEXT ?
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