odd formation

[mags]

This appears to be skeletal remains that the rock kept forming around. Is that possible? or is this just strange formation?

Attachments:

[arappaho]

Yeah, looks like you found the ankle bone of that German geologist
that went missing down there back in 18 and 74.

Perty odd formation allright.
I'll guess it's all quartz and there was some other mineral in the
crevice where the main "bone" is, that has now weathered away,
but caused the quartz to grow in that form.
Just a beginning guess.
You don't happen to have a black light to test some of these pieces
for fluorescence do you?

Joe

[mikeyrocks]

heyy mags....I've looked at this a few times now figuring how to best answer you.
What I am seeing in this is a depositing formation primarily from solution drip. I'm with arappaho in that it appears to be quartz based which I would describe as chalcedony. I gather a similar material here in Arizona called 'chalcedony roses'. Roses being one of the more sought after shapes anyway, buttons and goblets are others. They appear to be formed by mineral rich water dripping as it migrates deeper into the earth depositing some of its minerals in vugs/cavities along the way. Growing things like you have found here. Minerals are formed, dissolved, and combine in many ways are our planet does it's thing of forming, breakdown and reform. This appears to be one of the reforms. The wonderful thing is natures diversity and variety of what and how that appears to be never ending. Hence it gives us this rather limitless supply of things to discover and ponder over. It sure is keeping my brain busy trying to take as much in as I can.
As arappaho mentions it would be good to test this with a UV light to check its fluorescence possibilities. If it fluoresces a bright greenish color it will tend to help confirm its a chalcedony.
There are 3 wavelengths of UV short, medium and long....this would probably light up best with short wave.