Re: Fossils
Posted: Thu Oct 24, 2019 9:07 am
Looks like a piece of granite. 
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Fossils
Page 10 of 21
Re: Fossils
Posted: Thu Oct 24, 2019 10:52 am
Looks like a Stromatolite
Re: Fossils
Posted: Fri Oct 25, 2019 11:01 am
Re: Fossils
Posted: Fri Oct 25, 2019 11:04 am
I don't doubt you! 
Re: Fossils
Posted: Fri Oct 25, 2019 11:08 am
Re: Fossils
Posted: Fri Oct 25, 2019 11:15 am
Oh dear! 
Re: Fossils
Posted: Fri Oct 25, 2019 11:50 am
The fossil "world" has some very shadey elements
The annual turnover in sales runs into billions.
In most cases, the locals at main collecting hot spots are paid pittance for their work (digging out and prepping specimens)
And as with most collectables, the rarer and more effort and time that goes into preparing (creating) a specimen, the more expensive it will be.
So if one can create a fake......
On top of that, there is distanct animosity between scientific circles and amateur collectors.
The incident highlighted in the movie "Dinosaur 13" showed this at its worst. (Must be on Netflix)
On a personal level.
I have an expert on a specialist forum that I usually consult before I buy anything.
But as I am learning what to look out for, and getting more experienced, I am starting to buy cheaper things on my own.
The annual turnover in sales runs into billions.
In most cases, the locals at main collecting hot spots are paid pittance for their work (digging out and prepping specimens)
And as with most collectables, the rarer and more effort and time that goes into preparing (creating) a specimen, the more expensive it will be.
So if one can create a fake......
On top of that, there is distanct animosity between scientific circles and amateur collectors.
The incident highlighted in the movie "Dinosaur 13" showed this at its worst. (Must be on Netflix)
On a personal level.
I have an expert on a specialist forum that I usually consult before I buy anything.
But as I am learning what to look out for, and getting more experienced, I am starting to buy cheaper things on my own.
Re: Fossils
Posted: Fri Oct 25, 2019 12:07 pm
Corruption everywhere! 
Re: Fossils
Posted: Fri Oct 25, 2019 12:49 pm
Dzombs!Re: Fossils
Posted: Fri Oct 25, 2019 1:30 pm
It's usualy the higher value items that are faked, no point in copying something that's only going to sell for a few £/$, though it does sometimes happen.
When I say copy / fake. What usually happens is that a mould is made from an original specimen. And then resin replicas are made from this - In unlimited volumes. These are called casts.
Nothing wrong with a cast. Can give collectors access to specimens that would be beyond their financial means, or if only a handful of specimens have been found and aren't openly traded.
But the problem arises when these casts are passed off as originals at inflated prices.
Two areas that are particularly suseptable are the spiney Trilobites, and dinosaur eggs.
But all sorts of fossils can be faked
Also, often a poor specimen is enhanced (putty filling gaps, paint etc) to make it look better than it really is.
When I say copy / fake. What usually happens is that a mould is made from an original specimen. And then resin replicas are made from this - In unlimited volumes. These are called casts.
Nothing wrong with a cast. Can give collectors access to specimens that would be beyond their financial means, or if only a handful of specimens have been found and aren't openly traded.
But the problem arises when these casts are passed off as originals at inflated prices.
Two areas that are particularly suseptable are the spiney Trilobites, and dinosaur eggs.
But all sorts of fossils can be faked
Also, often a poor specimen is enhanced (putty filling gaps, paint etc) to make it look better than it really is.