Gembone Explained

Common Name:Gembone
Species:Varies
Place Discovered:Worldwide

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] Aside from their use in jewelry, scientists can use this type of specimen to perform research into the anatomic structure of ancient species.[4]

Controversy

Due to the rarity and irreplaceability of dinosaur bones, the acquisition, ownership and use of gembone is a contentious topic.[5] 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.[6] As with all dinosaur specimens, collectors may find specimens by making legal deals with private landowners or by purchasing illicitly obtained fossils.[7] [8] In recent years, several new species of saurids have been identified from mineralised dinosaur fossils, highlighting the importance of these specimens to science.[9] [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

  1. Web site: Curious Collections: True Blue Fossils. 12 February 2021. American Museum of Natural History.
  2. Web site: Organic Gemstones: Amber, pearl, jet, dinosaur bone and more!. 2021-02-12. geology.com.
  3. https://www.smh.com.au/traveller/inspiration/south-australia-museum-opals-exhibition-100-million-years-back-in-time-20150911-gjkmsl.html South Australia Museum Opals exhibition: 100 million years back in time
  4. Web site: Molecular Expressions Microscopy Primer: Specialized Microscopy Techniques - Phase Contrast Photomicrography Gallery - Agatized Dinosaur Bone. 2021-02-12. micro.magnet.fsu.edu.
  5. Web site: 2014-11-01. ThinkGeek Selling Dinosaur Bone Fragments Paleontologists. 2021-02-12. The Mary Sue. en.
  6. Web site: Rockhounding. 2024-03-24. Utah.com. en.
  7. Web site: 2019-09-17. Inside the homes (and minds) of fossil collectors. https://web.archive.org/web/20190920131639/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/2019/09/dinosaur-fossils-collector-feature/. dead. September 20, 2019. 2021-02-12. Culture. en.
  8. Web site: Webster. Donovan. The Dinosaur Fossil Wars. 2021-02-12. Smithsonian Magazine. en.
  9. Web site: 2018-12-04. Exclusive: Sparkly, opal-filled fossils reveal new dinosaur species. https://web.archive.org/web/20181204142402/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2018/12/exclusive-sparkly-opal-filled-fossils-reveal-new-dinosaur-species-paleontology/. dead. December 4, 2018. 2021-02-12. Science. en.
  10. Web site: 2019-06-03. Gem-like fossils reveal stunning new dinosaur species. https://web.archive.org/web/20190604033106/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2019/06/opal-fossils-reveal-new-species-dinosaur-australia-fostoria/. dead. June 4, 2019. 2021-02-12. Science. en.
  11. Web site: Black. Riley. 2013-01-09. Psst … Hey, Buddy, You Wanna Buy a Dinosaur?. 2021-02-12. Slate Magazine. en.
  12. Web site: @NatGeoUK. 2020-11-17. 'Duelling Dinosaurs' fossil, hidden from science for 14 years, could finally reveal its secrets. 2021-02-12. National Geographic. en-gb.
  13. Web site: 2020-05-22. Montana Supreme Court: Dinosaur fossils worth millions aren't minerals. 2021-02-12. Missoula Current. en-US.
  14. Web site: Murray v. BEJ Minerals, LLC. 2021-02-12. Justia Law. en.

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