I have a number of questions. please answer as many possible according your expertise.
1. i have seen for sale fossils of ginger and garlic in an antiquity shop. they look like ginger/garlic but is rock hard. the price is about $8 each, which seems like to be very cheap. the shopkeeper says they were found near a cave.
a)how do I determine whether they are really fossil or not?
b)if they are really fossil, then what is the expected range of age?
c)how much do you estimate to be the real value of if they are real fossils?
a. measure the density.
c) Given these views of Darwin, we can derive an expectation of the ratio of transitional to non-transitional fossils found. I include in the following only those factors which yield a differential expectation of discovery of transitional fossils displaying the action of natural selection.
EFR = (NSTP * NSPP * AP * SEVR * FSDP) and
ETF = EFR * OFS
where EFR is the "expected fossil ratio",
NSTP is the "natural selection time proportion",
NSPP is the "natural selection population proportion",
AP is the "area proportion",
SEVR is the "subsidence vs. elevation variation ratio",
FSDP is the "formation to species duration proportion",
ETF is the "expected number of transitional fossils",
and OFS is the number of "observed fossil species".
1. To determine whether the ginger and garlic specimens are truly fossils, you can follow these steps:
a) Examine the texture: Fossils are typically rock-hard or mineralized. Check if the specimens show signs of being petrified, like a stone-like consistency.
b) Look for physical features: Compare the specimens to images of real ginger and garlic fossils. Fossils usually retain some recognizable features, such as shape, texture, or pattern. Check if the specimens resemble the real thing.
c) Conduct a simple hardness test: Fossils are usually harder than common rocks. You can scratch the surface of the specimen with a steel nail or a pocket knife. If there are no visible scratches, it might indicate that it's a fossilized material.
2. If the specimens are indeed fossils, it's challenging to provide an exact age range without more information. However, ginger and garlic fossils are not common and are typically found preserved in amber or as impressions in sedimentary rocks. Their age could vary from several million to tens or even hundreds of millions of years depending on the geological context.
3. Estimating the real value of fossils can be complex and depends on factors such as rarity, quality, scientific significance, and market demand. It often requires the expertise of paleontologists, geologists, or professional appraisers. A low-priced item, like the $8 specimens you mentioned, could suggest that they are either less rare or potentially not authentic fossils. To get a more accurate valuation, it would be best to consult with an expert or a specialized institution that deals with paleontological artifacts.