False Fossils

Almost everyone would like to discover a dinosaur or at least a fossil. Unfortunately, most 'fossils that are brought to the Inquiry Centre are rocks with shapes or mineral structures that resemble animals. These are known as 'pseudofossils': 'pseudo' meaning 'false'. For a scientific explanation on how they form see the Pseudofossils fact sheet. Here are a few recent ones.

Box and Circle Concretions

The box and circle concretions were collected by the Miller family West of Winton in North-west Queensland. They look like hieroglyphics and would make attractive bathroom tiles.

Landscape Rock

This rock was kept by a family for many years and recently given to the Museum. It resembles a drawing of a forest but is only crystals of manganese oxides growing along a crack. These growths are known as 'dendrites'.

What is it?

No one in the Museum knows what this is. Both the geologists and the zoologists have rejected it. It was found about 80 km West of Emerald about 1.5 metres under soil while Ted Hinchliffe was fossicking for sapphires. It appears to be ceramic and vaguely resembles deer horn. One wild guess is that it is a piece of a handle from an old manicure set.

If you have any better suggestions please contact the Museum.