RWA3006
Cave Dweller 
Member since March 2009
Posts: 4,692 
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Post by RWA3006 on Sept 28, 2023 9:03:15 GMT -5
Is it possible to identify the critter who laid the turd? Are there obvious indicators? Thanks. Good question Pat. I don't know if there's a way to nail down the identification precisely, but where these are found are abundant bones from a big variety of hadrosaurs among other species. Many hadrosaurs had peg-like teeth which served to rake small conifer boughs off the larger limbs and we see these twigs and branches preserved in some of the coprolites. In the fossil record it's documented that some hadrosaurs had gizzard stones and I often find them imbedded within the coprolites when I cut them open, so that's also some fairly decent evidence pointing towards the general species. |
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RWA3006
Cave Dweller
Member since March 2009
Posts: 4,692
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Post by RWA3006 on Sept 28, 2023 12:34:43 GMT -5
I've been cutting a lot of coprolites lately. Here's a batch laid out ready for sorting and grading.  |
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rockbrain
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Member since January 2022
Posts: 3,220
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Post by rockbrain on Sept 28, 2023 14:37:44 GMT -5
That's quite a collection right there! It looks like you also set up for several jokes but I'm just going to let them go and defer to Jason.
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RWA3006
Cave Dweller
Member since March 2009
Posts: 4,692
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Post by RWA3006 on Sept 28, 2023 18:06:31 GMT -5
That's quite a collection right there! It looks like you also set up for several jokes but I'm just going to let them go and defer to Jason. I'm sure he won't disappoint and if he won't humor us we can usually count on Rickb. |
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Post by jasoninsd on Sept 29, 2023 21:29:57 GMT -5
That's quite a collection right there! It looks like you also set up for several jokes but I'm just going to let them go and defer to Jason. All I've got, is the piles of sh!t in my backyard don't look like that! LOL It's definitely a plethora of poo. |
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RWA3006
Cave Dweller
Member since March 2009
Posts: 4,692
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Post by RWA3006 on Sept 30, 2023 11:36:24 GMT -5
I've had the good fortune to be able to cut a lot of coprolites the last few months and I get a few questions about what I do with them. I usually process them in batches that will fill a five gallon bucket because that happens to be how much fills my tub of kitty litter. As I cut the coprolites I take them from the saw and bury them in the kitty litter. Once the tub is full of turds buried in kitty litter I pull them out and fill a five gallon bucket. Next I fill the bucket with water and pour it out which carries off a lot of the oil filled dust and debris. Now I fill the bucket of cut turds with soapy water and I scrub them one by one with a brush and drop them into another bucket of water for a rinse. When full I carry it to the tailgate of my truck where I pull the wet specimens out to inspect and grade them.  |
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RWA3006
Cave Dweller
Member since March 2009
Posts: 4,692
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Post by RWA3006 on Sept 30, 2023 12:24:27 GMT -5
The vast majority of the coprolites I cut are nice specimens but not quite good enough to go into my collection. I retain about the best two or three percent of them for my collection and the rest are sold, traded, gifted or whatever. The criteria I use to grade them is color, contrast, clarity and scientific value.
For color, I look for vibrant colors that provide visual beauty, and for contrast I look for interesting patterns that are unusual. The aspect of clarity is the term I use to describe the degree of agatization of the specimen. When a specimen is highly agatized it will take a better polish and has regions of clarity where one can peer into the specimen a few millimeters. It will seem more glassy and semi transparent.
I also inspect the specimens for scientific value. This is where the fossil has features that convey information about the subject that may take the form of insect activity or diet or even behavior. Gastroliths are other curiosities that are often observed.
Here are some photos of coprolites that are most typical of what I find. None of these will find a home in my collection but are fun curiosities and souvenirs. They are also popular for breaking up and tumbling.
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RWA3006
Cave Dweller
Member since March 2009
Posts: 4,692
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Post by RWA3006 on Sept 30, 2023 12:25:21 GMT -5
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RWA3006
Cave Dweller
Member since March 2009
Posts: 4,692
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Post by RWA3006 on Sept 30, 2023 12:25:57 GMT -5
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RWA3006
Cave Dweller
Member since March 2009
Posts: 4,692
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Post by RWA3006 on Sept 30, 2023 12:26:37 GMT -5
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RWA3006
Cave Dweller
Member since March 2009
Posts: 4,692
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Post by RWA3006 on Sept 30, 2023 12:34:09 GMT -5
Now that you've seen photos of average specimens it would only be right to show some eye candy of top tier specimens. I usually have to go through about 40 to 50 specimens to get one like the following. I hope you enjoy the following photos....
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RWA3006
Cave Dweller
Member since March 2009
Posts: 4,692
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Post by RWA3006 on Sept 30, 2023 12:34:43 GMT -5
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RWA3006
Cave Dweller
Member since March 2009
Posts: 4,692
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Post by RWA3006 on Sept 30, 2023 12:35:16 GMT -5
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RWA3006
Cave Dweller
Member since March 2009
Posts: 4,692
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Post by RWA3006 on Sept 30, 2023 12:35:48 GMT -5
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Post by Pat on Sept 30, 2023 18:54:45 GMT -5
Just for fun:
Coprolite
Copro meaning dung; from Latinized Greek kopros (dung).
Lite from lithos meaning stone.
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Post by jasoninsd on Sept 30, 2023 20:19:26 GMT -5
RWA3006 - Randy, thank you SO much for posting the pictures showing the different "grades" of what you've been cutting. When viewed "side by side", it's pretty clear which ones are the crème de la crème...so to speak. This one is a clear standout to me: 
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Post by RickB on Sept 30, 2023 20:25:12 GMT -5
RWA3006 - Randy, thank you SO much for posting the pictures showing the different "grades" of what you've been cutting. When viewed "side by side", it's pretty clear which ones are the crème de la crème...so to speak. This one is a clear standout to me: Definitely a double flusher. |
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RWA3006
Cave Dweller
Member since March 2009
Posts: 4,692
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Post by RWA3006 on Sept 30, 2023 21:15:26 GMT -5
RWA3006 - Randy, thank you SO much for posting the pictures showing the different "grades" of what you've been cutting. When viewed "side by side", it's pretty clear which ones are the crème de la crème...so to speak. This one is a clear standout to me: Yes, I think that one is extraordinary. The exception is the last photo because it has neither color or contrast, but what it does have is a peculiar and distinct pattern of pelletized material that gives it scientific value for the study of diet and perhaps even the specific species of critter it came from. I'll have to get it under a microscope. |
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RWA3006
Cave Dweller
Member since March 2009
Posts: 4,692
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Post by RWA3006 on Oct 3, 2023 7:12:08 GMT -5
TURD TUESDAY Fresh off the saw just now.  |
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RWA3006
Cave Dweller
Member since March 2009
Posts: 4,692
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Post by RWA3006 on Oct 3, 2023 7:14:03 GMT -5
Judging from all the pudding in the saw it's due for another cleaning. Seems I just cleaned it the other day.  |
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Maybe you can post some pictures here