Is this an Artifact?

[crowsnake]

I found this in a strawberry field between Cashiers and Cullowhee, NC. It looks like some type of artifact but I have no idea. Its about three or four inches long. Any ideas?

[arappaho]

Hey crowsnake,

There's no way for me to say anything certain from the pics, but I'd hold on to it until you can have someone look at it up close.
It does look a bit ground on top and on the ends, but it's going
to have to be looked at with some magnification.
Ain't got no idea WHAT it might be, but it MIGHT be something.

Joe

[Dicky the Rockhunter]

looks almost like a small bacculite look for segment wrinkles sometimes not decernable . the right end looks lile a segment -- has 5 points in the interior

I will try to take some pics of some I have and tomorrow and post them

Dicky

[Dicky the Rockhunter]

Here are the pics I promised .

Baculites:
135 m years old . Sea animals with shells having a spiral all the length. Grew up to 6ft long had tentacles for catching food. Were in most seas at that time.

part of my collection , in the upper Lt corner is one similar to yours.



end on showing (poorly) the suture of the segments , note 5 arms going to the surface skin-shell. It is hypothesized that they could loose almost half of their body and it would regenerate.



body of one I have that is 5 inches diameter and 15 inches long. Still has a good peralite shell.

[crowsnake]

Thanks, Joe and Dicky. I'll hang onto it until someone wants it for the Smithsonian.

[Dicky the Rockhunter]

Actually the unpearlited ones make great dividers in your bulk flats storage.
Hopefully this spring we will be able to get the one we found east of the Springs dug out. we found it 2 years ago and did not dig as we wanted nature to expose more and save the peralite. It is about 5 ft long and 7 inches thick.

Dicky

Hay Crow I went to the amozonite just above the Dreamtime yesterday and found a Elk carcase - 8ft long . It was completely eaten . Then we saw the mountain lion prints in the snow- wow big. Then as we went up the mtn side there was the big big big kitty cat , just sitting there glaring at us . We estimate he weighed about 400 lbs . He kinda wandered off toward the Dreamtime as we went by. Then on top of the hill, the wind was blowing at 40 mph and the temp was 20 and worst of all the snow was 8 inches deep and heavily crusted. So after 5 minutes outside of the red Suzuki we found two small 1/4 inch perfect amozonite crystals and quickly go back in . I guess that is what you call cool scary fun.!!! ha ha ha

[arappaho]

Thanks for he pics and story, Dicky.
Glad you didn't end up as Meow Mix.
Joe

[crowsnake]

400 lb cat!? What did ole Brie think about that? I am in love with those amazonite crystals from Pikes Forest. Would love even more to have some smokey/amazonite combinations. Those are truly gorgeous. I need to get back out there soon!