Dinosaur bone is a fossilized biological material where the original bone structure has been replaced by silica, typically chalcedony or quartz.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 polished cross-sections. It is commonly found in Mesozoic-aged sedimentary deposits where groundwater rich in dissolved minerals permeated the skeletal remains.
Is this dinosaur bones?
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 bones with a known reference. Dinosaur Bones 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 Bones leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Dinosaur Bones 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 Bones vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside dinosaur bones
Minerals reported to co-occur with dinosaur bones. 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
- Typical price
- $10-100 for slabs, $500+ for large polished specimens
Where rockhounds find dinosaur bones
2 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Utah
- Colorado
- Wyoming
- Madagascar
- Morocco
Field-hunting tip
Look in sedimentary country — that is the host setting where dinosaur bones 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 bones?+
Where is dinosaur bones found?+
Can I find dinosaur bones in the United States?+
How much is dinosaur bones worth?+
What rocks look like dinosaur bones?+
What minerals are found with dinosaur bones?+
What kind of rock does dinosaur bones form in?+
What is dinosaur bones used for?+
Find dinosaur bones on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
