Gembone, also known as gem bone, agatized dinosaur bone, or dinogem, is mineralized bone, often dinosaur bone, which occurs when minerals from groundwater are deposited within the bones.[1] It is one of five gemstones created from organisms (the others being pearl, ammolite, amber and jet).[2] Minerals replacing organic materials in gembone include iron minerals such as hematite, marcasite, and pyrite, and silica in cryptocrystalline form in agate and jasper, or as the amorphous mineraloid opal.[3][4] Aside from their use in jewelry, scientists can use this type of specimen to perform research into the anatomic structure of ancient species.[5]
| Common name | Gembone |
|---|---|
| Species | Varies |
| Place discovered | Worldwide |
Controversy edit
Due to the rarity and irreplaceability of dinosaur bones, the acquisition, ownership and use of gembone is a contentious topic.[6] In many countries it is illegal to dig up and sell dinosaur bones without permission, for example the United States, where it is illegal to dig for bones on public land without a permit from the Secretary of the Interior.[7] As with all dinosaur specimens, collectors may find specimens by making legal deals with private landowners or by purchasing illicitly obtained fossils.[8][9] In recent years, several new species of saurids have been identified from mineralised dinosaur fossils, highlighting the importance of these specimens to science.[3][10] Scientists are also concerned that a lot of context is being lost when fossils are pulled out of the ground and sold by amateur hunters, while the collectors state that the fossils will just be lost to the ages if left to erode in the ground.[11] In 2020, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled that under Montana law, dinosaur fossils are not minerals because, regardless of the mineral content of the skeleton, they are "valuable because of characteristics other than mineral content".[12][13][14]
References edit
- ^ "Curious Collections: True Blue Fossils". American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
- ^ "Organic Gemstones: Amber, pearl, jet, dinosaur bone and more!". geology.com. Retrieved 2021-02-12.
- ^ a b "Exclusive: Sparkly, opal-filled fossils reveal new dinosaur species". Science. 2018-12-04. Archived from the original on December 4, 2018. Retrieved 2021-02-12.
- ^ South Australia Museum Opals exhibition: 100 million years back in time The Sydney Morning Herald, 2015-09-11. Retrieved 2024-03-24.
- ^ "Molecular Expressions Microscopy Primer: Specialized Microscopy Techniques - Phase Contrast Photomicrography Gallery - Agatized Dinosaur Bone". micro.magnet.fsu.edu. Retrieved 2021-02-12.
- ^ "ThinkGeek Selling Dinosaur Bone Fragments Paleontologists". The Mary Sue. 2014-11-01. Retrieved 2021-02-12.
- ^ "Rockhounding". Utah.com. Retrieved 2024-03-24.
- ^ "Inside the homes (and minds) of fossil collectors". Culture. 2019-09-17. Archived from the original on September 20, 2019. Retrieved 2021-02-12.
- ^ Webster, Donovan. "The Dinosaur Fossil Wars". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 2021-02-12.
- ^ "Gem-like fossils reveal stunning new dinosaur species". Science. 2019-06-03. Archived from the original on June 4, 2019. Retrieved 2021-02-12.
- ^ Black, Riley (2013-01-09). "Psst … Hey, Buddy, You Wanna Buy a Dinosaur?". Slate Magazine. Retrieved 2021-02-12.
- ^ @NatGeoUK (2020-11-17). "'Duelling Dinosaurs' fossil, hidden from science for 14 years, could finally reveal its secrets". National Geographic. Retrieved 2021-02-12.
- ^ "Montana Supreme Court: Dinosaur fossils worth millions aren't minerals". Missoula Current. 2020-05-22. Retrieved 2021-02-12.
- ^ "Murray v. BEJ Minerals, LLC". Justia Law. Retrieved 2021-02-12.
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