Home PageAbout MindatThe Mindat ManualHistory of MindatCopyright StatusWho We AreContact UsAdvertise on Mindat
Donate to MindatCorporate SponsorshipSponsor a PageSponsored PagesMindat AdvertisersAdvertise on Mindat
Learning CenterWhat is a mineral?The most common minerals on earthInformation for EducatorsMindat ArticlesThe ElementsThe Rock H. Currier Digital LibraryGeologic Time
Minerals by PropertiesMinerals by ChemistryAdvanced Locality SearchRandom MineralRandom LocalitySearch by minIDLocalities Near MeSearch ArticlesSearch GlossaryMore Search Options
The Mindat ManualAdd a New PhotoRate PhotosLocality Edit ReportCoordinate Completion ReportAdd Glossary Item
Mining CompaniesStatisticsUsersMineral MuseumsClubs & OrganizationsMineral Shows & EventsThe Mindat DirectoryDevice SettingsThe Mineral Quiz
Photo SearchPhoto GalleriesSearch by ColorNew Photos TodayNew Photos YesterdayMembers' Photo GalleriesPast Photo of the Day GalleryPhotography
╳Discussions
💬 Home🔎 Search📅 LatestGroups
EducationOpen discussion area.Fakes & FraudsOpen discussion area.Field CollectingOpen discussion area.FossilsOpen discussion area.Gems and GemologyOpen discussion area.GeneralOpen discussion area.How to ContributeOpen discussion area.Identity HelpOpen discussion area.Improving Mindat.orgOpen discussion area.LocalitiesOpen discussion area.Lost and Stolen SpecimensOpen discussion area.MarketplaceOpen discussion area.MeteoritesOpen discussion area.Mindat ProductsOpen discussion area.Mineral ExchangesOpen discussion area.Mineral PhotographyOpen discussion area.Mineral ShowsOpen discussion area.Mineralogical ClassificationOpen discussion area.Mineralogy CourseOpen discussion area.MineralsOpen discussion area.Minerals and MuseumsOpen discussion area.PhotosOpen discussion area.Techniques for CollectorsOpen discussion area.The Rock H. Currier Digital LibraryOpen discussion area.UV MineralsOpen discussion area.Recent Images in Discussions
Identity HelpCharleston Illinois
4th Sep 2023 20:21 UTCAmanda Drake
I found this and I feel like it’s from the ice age if that’s possible it appears to be the head that was decapitated and you can see where it layed on one side decaying and it appears to have been a claw ran through the top of its head I see 2 eyes 2 holes for nostrils and it’s lips and mouth and it’s teeth. My family thinks I am crazy but I really believe I’m not. Can anyone share their wisdom with me on this to make since to me?
Questions Answered
Can it scratch glass? : No
Can you scratch it with your fingernail? : No
Is it light/heavy for the size? : Heavy
4th Sep 2023 21:50 UTCDon Windeler
Welcome to MinDat -- hope you can find some useful background and information here.
In this photo I really just see what looks like a chert or (given your hardness results) maybe a fine-grained limestone. No fossil or skull to me. What I'd suggest is that you're experiencing "pareidolia", basically the tendency for the human brain to want to find images or interpretations of things it sees to impose something familiar on it. Very common with rocks and minerals, as sometimes they can actually represent fossils.
For some light-hearted discussions, see this thread https://www.mindat.org/mesg-567249.html where members shared some of their favorite examples of seeing things in their rocks, as well as rocks with faces in https://www.mindat.org/mesg-509094.html .
For a poorer example, see https://www.mindat.org/mesg-579511.html where an individual refused to listen to the suggestions the multiple experts on the site made regarding his finds -- I'm not sure whether they really believed it and were desperate for validation or were just trolling the site, but the thread was ultimately closed as no longer going anywhere useful.
Personally I love specimens with obvious pareidolia -- they make for fun conversation starters with visitors.
Cheers,
D.
5th Sep 2023 02:17 UTCtodd Van Duren
4th Sep 2023 22:40 UTCGeorge Gentry
4th Sep 2023 23:21 UTCKeith Compton 🌟 Manager
Certainly no skull or fossil.
Certainly looks like chert / chalcedony but if you are sure it doesn't scratch then maybe a limestone/marble.
Not nuts ... just a good imagination ((-:)
4th Sep 2023 23:28 UTCPaul Brandes 🌟 Manager
These types of images that some people see on rocks have come to be known as Mimetoliths. R.V. Dietrich created a wonderful web site a number years ago on the subject.
5th Sep 2023 20:38 UTCEd Clopton 🌟 Expert
Mindat.org is an outreach project of the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.
Copyright © mindat.org and the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy 1993-2024, except where stated. Most political location boundaries are © OpenStreetMap contributors. Mindat.org relies on the contributions of thousands of members and supporters. Founded in 2000 by Jolyon Ralph.
Privacy Policy - Terms & Conditions - Contact Us / DMCA issues - Report a bug/vulnerability Current server date and time: May 10, 2024 13:55:41
Copyright © mindat.org and the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy 1993-2024, except where stated. Most political location boundaries are © OpenStreetMap contributors. Mindat.org relies on the contributions of thousands of members and supporters. Founded in 2000 by Jolyon Ralph.
Privacy Policy - Terms & Conditions - Contact Us / DMCA issues - Report a bug/vulnerability Current server date and time: May 10, 2024 13:55:41