Dinosaur coprolite consists of fossilized biological waste that has undergone permineralization, typically replaced by silica or calcite. Collectors look for identifiable textures such as structural inclusions, spiral patterns, or internal bone fragments that indicate a digestive origin. It is commonly found in sedimentary environments where rapid burial in mineral-rich water facilitated the fossilization process.
Is this dinosaur coprolite?
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 coprolite with a known reference. Dinosaur Coprolite sits at Mohs 3-5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Dinosaur Coprolite leaves a white to brownish streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Dinosaur Coprolite typically shows a dull to waxy luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: brown, tan, black, gray, reddish-brown.
- 5Look at form & habitTypical habit: massive.
Often confused with
Dinosaur Coprolite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Jasper is the harder of the two (Mohs 6.5-7 vs. 3-5); streak differs — Dinosaur Coprolite leaves white to brownish, Jasper leaves white; luster reads dull to waxy on Dinosaur Coprolite and waxy on Jasper.
How to tell apart: Agate is the harder of the two (Mohs 6.5-7 vs. 3-5); streak differs — Dinosaur Coprolite leaves white to brownish, Agate leaves white; luster reads dull to waxy on Dinosaur Coprolite and waxy on Agate.
How to tell apart: Flint Nodules is the harder of the two (Mohs 7 vs. 3-5); streak differs — Dinosaur Coprolite leaves white to brownish, Flint Nodules leaves white; luster reads dull to waxy on Dinosaur Coprolite and waxy on Flint Nodules.
Often found alongside dinosaur coprolite
Minerals reported to co-occur with dinosaur coprolite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Mohs hardness
- 3-5
- Density
- 2.0-3.0 g/cm³
- Streak
- White to Brownish
- Luster
- Dull to Waxy
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal habit
- Massive
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Uses
- Lapidary, Collector, Scientific Research
- Host rock
- Sedimentary Strata
- Typical price
- $10-100 per specimen
Where rockhounds find dinosaur coprolite
Classic worldwide localities
- Utah, USA
- Arizona, USA
- Madagascar
- Canada
- Poland
Field-hunting tip
Look in sedimentary strata country — that is the host setting where dinosaur coprolite typically forms. If you start seeing quartz, calcite, pyrite 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.
Common questions
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Find dinosaur coprolite on the map
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