A vertebrate fossil is the mineralized remains or impression of an ancient animal with a backbone, such as a dinosaur, fish, or mammal. Look for the characteristic porous internal texture of bone or the enamel sheen on teeth, usually in sedimentary layers where rapid burial occurred.
Is this vertebrate fossil?
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 vertebrate fossil with a known reference. Vertebrate Fossil sits at Mohs 3-6, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Vertebrate Fossil leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Vertebrate Fossil typically shows a dull luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: brown, tan, black, gray, white.
- 5Look at form & habitTypical habit: pseudomorphs of bone or tooth structure.
Often found alongside vertebrate fossil
Minerals reported to co-occur with vertebrate fossil. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Mohs hardness
- 3-6
- Density
- 2.0-3.0 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Dull
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal habit
- Pseudomorphs of Bone or Tooth Structure
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Common
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific Research, Decorative
- Host rock
- Sedimentary Rocks
Where rockhounds find vertebrate fossil
1 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Morrison Formation (USA)
- Hell Creek Formation (USA)
- Solnhofen Limestone (Germany)
- Gobi Desert (Mongolia)
- Badlands (USA)
Field-hunting tip
Look in sedimentary rocks country, the host setting where vertebrate fossil typically forms. If you start seeing calcite, quartz, chalcedony in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a pseudomorphs of bone or tooth structure habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in Nebraska. Start trip planning there.
Common questions
How do you identify vertebrate fossil?+
Where is vertebrate fossil found?+
Can I find vertebrate fossil in the United States?+
What minerals are found with vertebrate fossil?+
What kind of rock does vertebrate fossil form in?+
What is vertebrate fossil used for?+
Find vertebrate fossil on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
