Dinosaur bone is fossilized biological material in which the original bone structure has been replaced by silica, typically chalcedony or quartz. Collectors look for the distinct honeycomb or cell structure of the cancellous bone preserved in a polished cross-section. It occurs in Mesozoic sedimentary deposits where mineral-rich groundwater permeated the skeletal remains.
Is this dinosaur bone?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch dinosaur bone with a known reference. Dinosaur Bone sits at Mohs 5.5-7, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Dinosaur Bone leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Dinosaur Bone typically shows a waxy luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: brown, red, black, tan, gray, white.
- 5Look at form & habitTypical habit: massive.
Often confused with
Dinosaur Bone vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside dinosaur bone
Minerals reported to co-occur with dinosaur bone. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- SiO₂
- Mohs hardness
- 5.5-7
- Density
- 2.5-2.8 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Waxy
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal habit
- Massive
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Common
- Uses
- Lapidary, Collector, Ornamental, Display
- Host rock
- Sedimentary
Where rockhounds find dinosaur bone
2 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Utah
- Colorado
- Wyoming
- Madagascar
- Morocco
Field-hunting tip
Look in sedimentary country, the host setting where dinosaur bone typically forms. If you start seeing quartz, chalcedony, calcite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a massive habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in Wyoming. Start trip planning there.
Common questions
How do you identify dinosaur bone?+
Where is dinosaur bone found?+
Can I find dinosaur bone in the United States?+
What rocks look like dinosaur bone?+
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Find dinosaur bone on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
