Pseudofossils

(Fossils that really aren't!)

Scale, Skin and Turtle-like Patterns

  Scale-patterned rocks are often associated with the weathering of nodules, but they can also be related to ancient mud cracks when wet sediment is exposed to the drying sun. Scales, be it reptilian or fish, are relatively rare as fossils.

Turtle-like Scale Patterns

Limestone with mud cracks

                         Harrison County, Indiana                                             Woodford County, Kentucky

Calcareous Nodules - Oldham County, Kentucky

            Ironstone Nodule - Jefferson County, Kentucky              Limestone with cracks - Meade County, Kentucky

Skin-like Patterns

Bumpy skin? No, these are clusters of geodes in chert - Marion County, Kentucky

Rusted pyrite spots in limestone - Harrison County, Indiana

        Sandstone casts of with sole-marks (sediment load)           Fractured Chert - Montgomery Co., Arkansas

                                             Arkansas

“Not-Quite Ready for Primetime Fossils”

Bone-Like                Egg-Like                Wood-Like               

Faces & Oddities              Fossils that are not what they appear

Pseudofossil Main Page

Created February 22, 2010, Updated October 15, 2010