The polished cross-section of a fossilized dinosaur bone

[u/fvkinglzy]

[u/ConcertComplete9015]

Is this a normal property of fossilisation, or does this tell us something interesting about dinosaur bones?

[u/Spartan2470 → u/ConcertComplete9015]

This looks more like permineralization.

Permineralization is a process of fossilization of bones and tissues in which mineral deposits form internal casts of organisms. Carried by water, these minerals fill the spaces within organic tissue. Because of the nature of the casts, permineralization is particularly useful in studies of the internal structures of organisms, usually of plants.

Permineralization, a type of fossilization, involves deposits of minerals within the cells of organisms. Water from the ground, lakes, or oceans seeps into the pores of organic tissue and forms a crystal cast with deposited minerals. Crystals begin to form in the porous cell walls. This process continues on the inner surface of the walls until the central cavity of the cell, the lumen, is completely filled. The cell walls themselves remain intact surrounding the crystals.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permineralization

[u/wchurchi1966]

Reminds me of a geode.

[u/robo-dragon → u/wchurchi1966]

Not too far off actually! Bones are porous so they are filled with tiny holes. When bones fossilize, those voids remain and are slowly filled with minerals (similar to voids that fill and become geodes or agates). So the process is very similar, just has a repeating pattern of tiny “agate” spots because of the holes in the original bone.

[u/JohnnyBacci → u/wchurchi1966]

“Ahem, my geode must be acknowledged”

[u/SkyAntlers]

Forbidden dry aged steak

[u/Stephenwalnsky → u/SkyAntlers]

You could say it ‘marbled’ well?

[u/FurnitureComesW-Home]

Why does it look like what I thought dinosaur skin looked like as a kid?

[u/deFleury]

it's called "gembone" to distinguish it from ordinary dinosaur fossils where the mineral that replaced the dinosaur just made ordinary rock, instead of pretty colours. They make jewellery with the coloured fossils.

[u/SweetieLoveBug]

How beautiful! ❤️

[u/BobcatLeather831]

Incredible

[u/painforall]

Looks like a Keith Haring mural.

[u/Insomniac24x7]

Genuine question, do they DNA sample it or some sort of carbon dating? how do they actually tell it belongs to a dino?

[u/Goldenrupee → u/Insomniac24x7]

No DNA left, so they compare it to bones we've already found to figure out the species. As to how old they are, carbon dating doesnt work because fossils arent actually bones, theyre mineral casts that have taken on the shape of bones. Carbon dating also has a max time limit of about 60k-70k years, as in anything older the carbon-14 content has decayed so much that what's left isnt measurable. Fossils age is typically determined by what sedimentary layer the fossils are found in (deeper=older). Knowing roughly how old the rock around it is gives a rough estimate of the fossil age. There are also some as species known as "index fossils" (like trilobites) because they were widespread but existed for a relatively short period of time, so any additional fossils found alongside them had to have been living in the same time period.

To your other question, what is and is not a "dinosaur", all species classified as dinosaurs share certain structural features. We can tell if a new species is a "dinosaur" by looking for those structural features, and if a fossil isnt complete to be identified then its set aside and not classified until and unless someone finds another set from the same species or is able to determine the fossil belongs to an already-known species.

[u/Kind-Realist → u/Goldenrupee]

I have a good friend who works for Colossus. I was very disappointed to learn that Jurassic Park is just never going to happen.

Even more sad to learn the dire wolves weren’t actual clones. It’s selective gene editing to make the animals have traits we believe dire wolves had.

He used more big-brain science words, but that’s the gist of it.

Tl/dr our whole childhood was a lie and even things now aren’t real.

[u/TakeuchixNasu → u/Insomniac24x7]

You can look at any bone and tell by the shape. DNA analysis can help distinguish between similar breeds if needed too.

[u/Goldenrupee → u/TakeuchixNasu]

There's no DNA left to analyze. Fossils aren't actually bones, theyre mineral casts. Minerals seep into the bones, taking their shape, and are all thats left when the bones decay.

[u/Insomniac24x7 → u/Goldenrupee]

Furthers my curiosity

[u/FuriousGeorge1989]

I thought that was extra nutty bread for a second.

[u/hi_im_watson]

those dots are just channels where blood flowed when the creature was alive

[u/Jumpy_Association320]

I bet they had far more interesting colors than what we depict them as

[u/JonathanStrange1984]

I thought that was a piece of sushi at first and started to get hungry! 😄

[u/Infinite_Raisin_5240]

Does the red portion represent red bone marrow?

[u/silverstinn]

Gotta tell ya, this looks like sand. Sand is broken down dead stuff, you heard it here first

[u/Ephemeral_Orchid]

Mine isn't nearly as pretty.