Originally Posted by Bogertophis
Well now you're just showing off...
Photo #89
Pictured: A small single gene Fire ball python and a nice chunk of petrified dinosaur bone.
Petrified dinosaur bone is always in high demand and is often made into various jewelry due to its attractive organic patterning.
Gem quality specimens with good color and patterning (like the one shown above) can carry a laughably high price tag to lapidary artists.
I happen to find this piece in a random box of petrified wood I bought off of Ebay--before tumbling and polish it was indistinguishable from pet. wood.
Side Story:
My gf and I were at an overpriced antiques consignment store recently and there was a box of random rocks in one consigners booth marked $2/each.
I pored over the box for a few minutes and picked out two mottled brown-red pieces and brought them to the front counter.
The woman at the register said "Hmmm...these are interesting rocks" (aka ugly) as she bagged them up for me. "Do you know what they are?"
'You bet!' I said grinning. 'These are dinosaur bones with some red hematite, probably from Utah'.
I thought she would laugh in disbelief (or make a 'bone' related joke), but instead her eyes immediately widened and then rapidly narrowed.
As I tried to take the bag away from her she held fast, a short tug of war ensued as I could see the wheels in her mind trying to void the sale.
She let go after 15 seconds (an eternity), and as we left her shoulders slumped and she stared blankly into the distance.
We did not even get the customary 'have a nice day' as we went out the door.
I thought it was amusing, especially since the two bones I bought are poor quality and only probably worth about $10...given the inflated prices in the store...I bet they would have tried to sell them for $200 each...
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