Fire Starter?

[RonJon]

Or maybe something else?

[Scorpion68]

Hey Ronjon - no expert on fire starters but that sure looks like scorch marks around that impression near the bottom end and in the middle surface. Let's wait and see what some of the more knowledgeable artifact collectors/hunters have to say. Whatever it is, it sure looks interesting. ...Chuck

[CMD]

Off the top, the little circle with the dimple in the middle reminds me of a fossil crinoid column. A cross section of the column. Here's what I mean, taken from this page:

http://www.catnapin.com/Fossil/Echinoidermata/ffCrinoids.htm

[pkfrey]

Your right. An impression of a fossil segment of a crinoid stem. The scorched area is probably just discoloration from where ever the stone was laying.

[RonJon]

Hey Ronjon - no expert on fire starters but that sure looks like scorch marks around that impression near the bottom end and in the middle surface. Let's wait and see what some of the more knowledgeable artifact collectors/hunters have to say. Whatever it is, it sure looks interesting. ...Chuck

That's what I thought I saw too.

[RonJon]

Off the top, the little circle with the dimple in the middle reminds me of a fossil crinoid column. A cross section of the column. Here's what I mean, taken from this page:

http://www.catnapin.com/Fossil/Echinoidermata/ffCrinoids.htm

That's exactly what it looks like, thank you for the post!

[Scorpion68]

It never ceases to amaze me what shows up on this website and the breadth of expertise. Charlie - that input on the Crinoid impression was awesome. I've never seen anything like that before but you can bet I'll remember it. What a process. Mother nature strikes again and we are all a little smarter. ...Chuck