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Evan Mosbrucker posted an image in the group
Alf Museum from the myFOSSIL app 2 years, 8 months ago 2 years, 8 months ago2 years, 8 months agoTurtle? We found this rock by the river in Az. To me, many rocks we find look as if they were once animal heads. This one I believe is a full turtle in its shell. My friend doesn’t believe it could’ve possibly been a turtle so we made a bet for $1000. We are looking for a professional answer as this is a large bet, thanks to anyone for their input. Also please state who you are and why your opinion is trusted. We were hoping to hear from 3 people for peace of mind to the loser of this bet.
Not a turtle. It is a metamorphic rock which doesn’t contain fossils. The bands are due to heat and pressure causing the original rock material to become plastic and twist under pressure. Any fossils in the original material is destroyed by the heat and pressure. The greenish blue color is probably due to copper content. Also sorry to say but Tucson is a poor place to look for fossils. Virtually all the rock in the area is either igneous or metamorphic (no fossils). There is a thin band of Cretaceous in the foothills of Mt. Lemmon.
Thank you for the response..this may have been found in Riverside, CA if that would make a difference. Could it possibly be permalization of a turtle say if it had been frozen or something first.
definitely a metamorphic rock, sadly. Bill Heim above has already mentioned everything there is to say about it too. the vaguely carapace-like shape of it is only coincidence.
Hope you got your $1000 ready
Hi @evan-mosbrucker . @bill-heim is right, because of the swirls, this is a metamorphic rock. A turtle carapace would show the individual shell plates.
i can get that rock all day long at the spokane river.its a rock .sorry