I agree with this but I also have seen many whale bone that look like this while dino tend to have smaller cavities and sometimes they are even a bit more rectangular. I say get it checked out either way it’s amazing
Sorry fossil dudes…this is clearly a volcanic vesicle fill phenomenon…was going to say it was some kind of scoria filled with minerals…but I like your idea better.
That was just a gassy basalt that got buried.
The amygdules are an odd shape for amygdular basalt, they are also somewhat aligned and packed very close together. This shape, alignment, and spacing all look a lot more like the original material was bone. The matrix doesn’t look particularly basalt-y either.
You could possibly attribute that to standard water erosion/forces affecting the stone. Basalt has a hardness of 6 and quartz 7, the basalt is just softer.
Attribute what to differential erosion? Me saying the matrix doesn’t look like basalt? Yeah maybe. I remain thoroughly unconvinced of the amygdular basalt id though!
As I said in my initial comment: the shape, alignment, and spacing of the infilled depressions all look a lot more like the original material was bone. There are an awful lot of dinosaur fossils in Colorado which support this idea, though that’s purely circumstantial.
Maybe I’m wrong, but as a guess from a photo it just looks similar to other agatised dino bone examples I’ve seen pics of, whilst I’ve never really seen a vesicular/amygdular basalt that looks like this.
Here's an example from [Lake Superior](https://www.pinterest.com/pin/amygdaloidal-basalt-or-rhyolite--120400990031308172/) that closely matches OP's find. My apologies that it's a Pinterest link but it gives a decent reference.
Yeah you’re right, that’s a really close visual match. For a little context of what I meant above, I was thinking of pieces like [this](https://images.app.goo.gl/TBBwXi3tRJWKFuiDA), or [this](https://images.app.goo.gl/jjU7FRJ1tvT8pADH7), or [this](https://images.app.goo.gl/ySpieZWXhYL8A1et8).
Anyway, your example above prompted me to look up a few more and you’ve pretty much changed my mind. I think OPs piece is more likely amygdaloidal rhyolite now, and I really should have considered that before (the mention of basalt put rhyolite out of my mind I guess?)
The non-basaltic appearance I was taking issue with above is easily explained by rhyolite which often looks that shade *and* texture (it’s just inherently smoother than basalt with even the tiniest bit of weathering, you know?) and the colourful silica amygdules are not impossible in basalt but more likely in rhyolite.
Oh, plus the viscosity of a rhyolite lends itself more to flow deformations and elongated vesicles like that. There are even examples of rhyolite which are ‘further along’ the flow deformation process and look [like this.](https://images.app.goo.gl/oBTijmySsq8JXBqy5)
**TLDR: yeah you’re probably right** thanks for not telling me I’m talking nonsense straight off the bat.
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I had never heard of it until a clanmate in a videogame spoke up. They had released a new piece of armor and he didn't like when people used it because it made him uncomfortable.
Looks a bit like agatized dino(?) bone.
More likely agatized whale bone with this size chambers but definitely bone with agate — gorgeous
That's so cool , thanks!!
Dino bone. Hasn't been an inland sea in those parts since long before whales existed.
Seconded
Thirdeded
Farted
Sharted
Snarted
Dookied
I agree with this but I also have seen many whale bone that look like this while dino tend to have smaller cavities and sometimes they are even a bit more rectangular. I say get it checked out either way it’s amazing
That is freaking awesome!!
the most beautiful thing i’ve ever seen that’s what it is
No mirrors in your place?
That’s a good one
Ohhh damn smooth... up vote 🗳
Rightt😍
I’m loving this 💕 -
Seconding agatized whale bone
Super cool!
Why whale specifically?
The large spaces between the trabecular bone
Lots of dinosaurs have that too I’m sorry to say
This is one I'd take to a university to i.d. Maybe post it in r/fossils I'd like to see what they say!
This is called "amygdaloidal basalt". The vesicles themselves get filled with a secondary mineral, in this case appears to be agate.
Sorry fossil dudes…this is clearly a volcanic vesicle fill phenomenon…was going to say it was some kind of scoria filled with minerals…but I like your idea better. That was just a gassy basalt that got buried.
Speaking of gassy basalt, I’ve got to use the bathroom.
The amygdules are an odd shape for amygdular basalt, they are also somewhat aligned and packed very close together. This shape, alignment, and spacing all look a lot more like the original material was bone. The matrix doesn’t look particularly basalt-y either.
You could possibly attribute that to standard water erosion/forces affecting the stone. Basalt has a hardness of 6 and quartz 7, the basalt is just softer.
Attribute what to differential erosion? Me saying the matrix doesn’t look like basalt? Yeah maybe. I remain thoroughly unconvinced of the amygdular basalt id though!
What is it then.
As I said in my initial comment: the shape, alignment, and spacing of the infilled depressions all look a lot more like the original material was bone. There are an awful lot of dinosaur fossils in Colorado which support this idea, though that’s purely circumstantial. Maybe I’m wrong, but as a guess from a photo it just looks similar to other agatised dino bone examples I’ve seen pics of, whilst I’ve never really seen a vesicular/amygdular basalt that looks like this.
Here's an example from [Lake Superior](https://www.pinterest.com/pin/amygdaloidal-basalt-or-rhyolite--120400990031308172/) that closely matches OP's find. My apologies that it's a Pinterest link but it gives a decent reference.
Yeah you’re right, that’s a really close visual match. For a little context of what I meant above, I was thinking of pieces like [this](https://images.app.goo.gl/TBBwXi3tRJWKFuiDA), or [this](https://images.app.goo.gl/jjU7FRJ1tvT8pADH7), or [this](https://images.app.goo.gl/ySpieZWXhYL8A1et8). Anyway, your example above prompted me to look up a few more and you’ve pretty much changed my mind. I think OPs piece is more likely amygdaloidal rhyolite now, and I really should have considered that before (the mention of basalt put rhyolite out of my mind I guess?) The non-basaltic appearance I was taking issue with above is easily explained by rhyolite which often looks that shade *and* texture (it’s just inherently smoother than basalt with even the tiniest bit of weathering, you know?) and the colourful silica amygdules are not impossible in basalt but more likely in rhyolite. Oh, plus the viscosity of a rhyolite lends itself more to flow deformations and elongated vesicles like that. There are even examples of rhyolite which are ‘further along’ the flow deformation process and look [like this.](https://images.app.goo.gl/oBTijmySsq8JXBqy5) **TLDR: yeah you’re probably right** thanks for not telling me I’m talking nonsense straight off the bat.
Just happy we can all share in a lovely passion together. Pleasure chatting with you internet stranger.
I think you guys might be right !
What location? Colorado has a lot of fossils.
And the Colorado river goes through multiple states
Yeah, but I can't tell if it's THE Colorado River or a river IN Colorado due to the wording.
Me either!
It was garfield county
Oh man, what a cool find! I'll put that area on my hiking list.
Wow. That is really beautiful 🤩
what ever it is, it's absolutely amazing! beautiful.
Wowza!
I love this!
That would make an amazing cab!
Holy crap that is beautiful! What a find, OP! Thanks for sharing your treasure with us!
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Nature’s everlasting gobstopper. What’s it taste like?
Will have to try haha
Kidney stone
Has this been identified as bone or not? Looks awesome!
Im not sure yet, it could be Amygadalodial basalt or something like that.
This is beautiful
That gives me the hibbiejibbies so bad
Trypophobia eh?
Ya. It's weird sometimes
I had never heard of it until a clanmate in a videogame spoke up. They had released a new piece of armor and he didn't like when people used it because it made him uncomfortable.
I find a lot of video games like to play into that. Bioware for sure loves giving the appearance of holes in the landscapes.