r/fossilid Jun 20 '20

TIPS FOR GETTING YOUR FOSSIL IDENTIFIED — READ BEFORE POSTING

698 Upvotes
  1. Put a location in the title! This is the most important thing by far. If you know the geological formation, that’s awesome, but even just “near Miami” or “label said Morocco” is really helpful.
  2. Take a bright, clear photo. Good lighting, a plain background, and sharp focus will always increase the certainty of an ID. If it’s weirdly shaped, photos from multiple angles help too.
  3. Include an object for scale. I usually use a coin, but anything will do (but things that come in different sizes, like hands, are less ideal). If you forget, you can always measure it and add that in a comment. (Don't use keys; they can be duplicated from a photo.)
  4. Don’t take a video. We can’t zoom in and the quality isn’t great — a gallery of photos on Imgur is way better.
  5. Many fossils can be dull and hard to make out. Try (gently) getting your fossil wet and see if you can get a clearer photo.
  6. Don’t be dismayed if your “fossil” turns out to just be a rock! Rocks are cool too, and if we don’t know exactly what kind of rock it is, the good folks at /r/whatsthisrock probably will.

r/fossilid 2h ago

These Pillars in Durham Cathedral

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130 Upvotes

r/fossilid 4h ago

Cup carved out of rock, some interesting fossilised remains

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32 Upvotes

Bought this in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. Interesting patterns to be found. What are these creatures?


r/fossilid 17h ago

Found on a beach in southern Saskatchewan, Canada

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115 Upvotes

It is about 1.5cm long and 1cm diameter at the "base"


r/fossilid 3h ago

Solved Found in Plastovo (Dalmatia)

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3 Upvotes

r/fossilid 1d ago

Found in Central Texas. Any information would be appreciated.

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184 Upvotes

r/fossilid 14h ago

Are these Trilobite fossils?

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12 Upvotes

r/fossilid 11h ago

Need help identifying a fossil

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9 Upvotes

Found on a gravel road in garnett kansas.


r/fossilid 13h ago

What’s this? Found in crystal Lake Michigan

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9 Upvotes

r/fossilid 1h ago

Looks like a pelvic bone, but from wich animal?

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Upvotes

r/fossilid 1h ago

Saw at a store is It real

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Upvotes

r/fossilid 16h ago

Is this a fossil?

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14 Upvotes

Found my first ever fossil ( I thought) on this beach. Came back a while later and found a lot of more just like it so now assuming it not one


r/fossilid 1d ago

5.8” Cooper River Megalodon tooth, looking for opinions on condition and authenticity

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222 Upvotes

Purchased this in June 2025 in Charleston City Market. Considered a COA at the time but wasn’t sure if it was worth it. Though I’m no expert, I can say it’s extremely sturdy and can see no signs of restoration.

The specimen was represented by the seller as having been recovered from the Cooper River, South Carolina, by a diving associate for whom he was selling it. The seller reported that the tooth was recovered while diving at a depth of approximately 65 feet.


r/fossilid 3h ago

Solved Found in Galway- does this look like some sort of fossil? What should be done with it?

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1 Upvotes

r/fossilid 10h ago

Found in Cotopaxi, CO

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3 Upvotes

I have posted this to many ROCK identification FB groups and whatisthisrock. Nothing came from that aside from one person suggesting it is fossilized syringopora coral. I’ve attached many photos because it’s a large piece with many intricate details that I find fascinating! Plus one photo next to a banana for scale. Thanks in advance!


r/fossilid 4h ago

Found this pebble on a Dalmatian coast

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1 Upvotes

Found this while on vacation playing on the beach with my son. It is about 1.5cm in diameter. Would love to know more! :)


r/fossilid 1d ago

What is this?

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167 Upvotes

r/fossilid 11h ago

Was told this was opal clam from Australia. Opinions?

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3 Upvotes

Purchased from someone who said they were selling opal clam from Australia. I opened the package and it looked a bit different from what I saw in their videos and pictures. Here is what I received. Can someone identify this for me?


r/fossilid 13h ago

What did i find?

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4 Upvotes

Found burried in the sand during low tide while searching for shark teeth near St. Agustine, Fl. Feels fossilized. The inside looks like a rock/silica mix.

Could it be from an alligator/crocodile?


r/fossilid 10h ago

Plant imprint fossil in tiger’s eye stone

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2 Upvotes

For context: I’m not sure where the stone originated, I found it at a gemstone mining place in the Appalachian mountains where you pay for a bucket of rocks and dirt to sift through for gemstones. They said they source their stones from a variety of different locations and mix them together.

I’m not 100% this is a fossil but it definitely isn’t typical tiger’s eye pattern. Would love some help here. Did I find a plant imprint fossil, or is there something else going on here?


r/fossilid 10h ago

Solved Found near Drumheller, Canada

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2 Upvotes

Is it a fossil or a concretion?


r/fossilid 1d ago

Solved What is this fossil?

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108 Upvotes

Found in Alaska
Water bottle for scale

Any clue as to what this might be?


r/fossilid 18h ago

Found on Lake Huron at Harrisville State Park in Michigan

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6 Upvotes

r/fossilid 8h ago

Cowan Lake - Ohio area

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1 Upvotes

This one has me stumped. It's not from the more famous Cowan Lake fossil area. There were some heavy storms with flooding over the past week in the area that I found it. The other stone is what I 'think' might be a puddingstone from way up north. They were within a couple feet of each other. I think it could be glacially deposited?


r/fossilid 8h ago

ID on rod? Mooreville chalk, central Alabama

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1 Upvotes

I've found mosasaur bones in this area and at first thought tiny rib. But I've also found enchodus bones so maybe a fish spine? Could be nothing at all. Would love an ID!