Identify common local fossils before you leave the trail.

Pick your region. Answer five simple questions. See what your find could be, compare it side by side with similar species, and save it to a personal collection on your phone.

Start identifying Pick a region

Last updated: April 2026 · Field companion v1.2

Regional Lookup

Choose a region to see the fossils most likely preserved there. Local rock layers change fast, so a narrow region is more useful than a global list.

Common in this region

Select a region above to see common fossils for that area.

Compare common finds

Use this table when two possible IDs look similar. Many fossils are confused with rocks or with each other. The notes column explains what to double-check first.

Fossil	Shape	Key clues	Often confused with	Check this first
Ammonite	Flat spiral	Coiled chambers, ribbed surface	Concretion, snail shell	Look for repeating chamber walls
Belemnite	Bullet-shaped	Smooth, dense, pointed	Rock, tooth	Check for thin radial lines inside
Trilobite	Oval, three lobes	Segmented body	Bug-shaped rock	Look for head, tail, and middle segments
Crinoid stem	Stacked discs	Star or circle in the center	Stacked stones	Slice or broken end with star shape
Brachiopod	Two shells, hinge	Unequal shells, ribbed	Clam shell	Look for a larger and smaller shell
Shark tooth	Triangular, serrated	Enamel shine, sharp edge	Dark rock	Check for thin root and smooth enamel
Plant fossil	Leaf imprint	Veins, thin film on rock	Mineral stain	Look for branching vein pattern

Troubleshooting notes

Most field finds are not rare fossils. They are rocks, concretions, mineral stains, or modern shells. These notes help you avoid the most common mistakes.

It looks like a shell but the rock is too light.
It may be a cast or mold. A cast keeps the outside shape but loses the original shell material. Check for missing fine detail and a grainy inner texture.
It has a spiral but no chambers.
It may be a snail fossil or just a snail shell washed down from modern times. Look for original shell material, fine growth lines, and weight.
It has ribs but no symmetry.
Some fossils are preserved in broken pieces. A single curved rib can come from a shell, a crinoid, or a plant stem. Compare several features, not just one.
It looks like bone but feels like rock.
That is normal. Most fossils are mineralized. Real bone holes and tiny internal structure are hard to see without magnification. A 10x loupe helps a lot.
It looks like a leaf but the veins are straight lines.
Straight parallel lines are often plant stems or mineral stains. True leaf fossils usually branch and taper, with veins that split and get thinner toward the edge.
You found it far from any cliff or outcrop.
It may have been moved by water, construction, or human activity. A fossil sitting on top of loose soil may have come from somewhere else. Note the surrounding ground, not just the object.

Scenario walkthrough

Imagine you are walking on a beach after a storm. You find a flat, coiled object half buried in wet sand. Here is how you might use this page in the field.

Open this page on your phone before you head out, so it works without signal.
Pick your region in the Regional Lookup panel. The list updates to common local fossils.
In Quick Identifier, choose Spiral for shape, Visible segments or chambers for pattern, and Radiates from a center for symmetry.
Press Show likely matches. The result suggests ammonite, large shell cast, or concretion.
Compare the result with the table. Look for repeating chamber walls and fine ribs. If the object is smooth inside and heavy, it may be a concretion.
Take a photo with a coin for scale, note the beach name, and add the find to your Collection. Later, you can export the list and compare it with a local field guide.

Your collection

Fossils you save here stay in your browser only. Clearing your browser data will remove them. Use the export button to keep a copy.

No saved finds yet. Add your first one above.

Field assumptions and limits

This page is built for learning and quick field help. It is not a replacement for expert identification or formal geology training.

We assume you are looking at common local fossils, not rare or fragile specimens.
We assume photos and sketches are not always available, so the guide uses simple shape and texture clues.
We assume some finds will remain uncertain. That is normal. Many fossils need magnification, cross sections, or expert review.
We assume you will follow local rules. Some parks and cliffs forbid removing fossils or rocks.
We assume you will double-check promising finds with a local nature center, geology club, or university department.