So I dug up a mammoth tusk the other day....UPDATE: More pics, bottom of pg 6 - Page 2

General » General Discussion

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - So I dug up a mammoth tusk the other day....UPDATE: More pics, bottom of pg 6 (Page 2 of 8)

Posted: 8/13/2017 11:16:09 PM EDT

[#1]

Tag. Awesome thread OP

Posted: 8/13/2017 11:16:48 PM EDT

[#2]

Badass man! Looking forward to the final product.

Posted: 8/13/2017 11:17:08 PM EDT

[#3]

In!

What do they go for when they are cleaned up?

Posted: 8/13/2017 11:17:22 PM EDT

[#4]

Awesome

Posted: 8/13/2017 11:17:52 PM EDT

[#5]

Awesome find! I just treated a ancient Bison skull that I found a month ago. I used Butvar and Acetone. Is it the same process on ivory?

Attached File

Posted: 8/13/2017 11:18:33 PM EDT

[#6]

Quote History

Quoted:
sweet! wanna make me some 1911 grips with it? help regain almost a tiny bit of what i"m sure you invested.

View Quote

Ya gotta admit that with a .45 with mastodon grips, you could pretty much name your price in the EE.

Posted: 8/13/2017 11:19:11 PM EDT

[#7]

Quote History

Quoted:
What depth was this one fouund?

View Quote

Hard to say, exactly, but around 50' down. The valley we work has been mined before, and the tailings and overburden from previos work can change the depth drastically. As an example, we uncovered a short section of railway, that had been mostly pulled in the early 1900's, but this section was missed. We found it under some 25' of mud, from a flood caused by dredging operations in the 30's or 40's. There were ties made of spruce logs that still smelled like they had been milled yesterday. The permafrost preserves everything.

Posted: 8/13/2017 11:19:31 PM EDT

[#8]

Quote History

Quoted:
In!

What do they go for when they are cleaned up?

View Quote

...and what did you end up paying for it?

Posted: 8/13/2017 11:20:04 PM EDT

[#9]

Quote History

Quoted:
Dang, that's pretty cool!!

I have a coons dick somewhere in a drawer. Want to see it.?

View Quote

Thanks, but I think I'll pass!

Posted: 8/13/2017 11:20:37 PM EDT

[#10]

What do they do with all the broken and partial fragments and tusk pieces? Is there an established market since they are found semi-regularly at the mines? I'm sure others find them at the same rate.

Posted: 8/13/2017 11:21:11 PM EDT

[#11]

Get striker to approve a gofundme for cloning this bad boy.

Posted: 8/13/2017 11:21:42 PM EDT

[#12]

MAke the ultimate drinking horn from it

Posted: 8/13/2017 11:21:48 PM EDT

[#13]

Awesome! I'm the fbx area and if you need a hand with the project, send me an IM. Super cool.

Posted: 8/13/2017 11:21:57 PM EDT

[#14]

Quote History

Quoted:
It belongs in a museum!

View Quote

So do you!

(Sorry, couldn't resist)

Posted: 8/13/2017 11:21:58 PM EDT

[#15]

Quote History

Quoted:
Sweet. I thought I read somewhere you can't collect them from public or res lands.

Underground mine?
Year round?
Hiring cdl or articulated truck drivers?

View Quote

You are correct, collecting from public lands gets you some pretty hefty fines.

Above ground, open pit. Year round, but we only have 5-8 guys going at any given time. Sorry, not hiring right now!

Posted: 8/13/2017 11:22:12 PM EDT

[#16]

Growing up in Nebraska, and having both father and grandfather in the concrete business, several Wooly Mammoth teeth would be pumped up at the gravel pits owned by the company. It was great for show and tell!!! Never found a tusk though. Very cool.

Posted: 8/13/2017 11:22:43 PM EDT

[#17]

Quote History

Quoted:
Very cool. The wife and I found some fossilized bison and camel teeth and bones while gold mining this summer in AK.

View Quote

That's awesome! Where were you prospecting?

Posted: 8/13/2017 11:23:28 PM EDT

[#18]

Looking online the ones that are complete with the tip and polished can go for $12K to $50K.

Posted: 8/13/2017 11:23:29 PM EDT

[#19]

Very cool.

Posted: 8/13/2017 11:23:44 PM EDT

[#20]

I knew if I read ARF all day there would be one thread worth clicking on

Posted: 8/13/2017 11:25:29 PM EDT

[#21]

Quote History

Quoted:
Awesome find! I just treated a ancient Bison skull that I found a month ago. I used Butvar and Acetone. Is it the same process on ivory?https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/49272/20170627_090816-279857.JPG

View Quote

my family has found several bison skulls on our property over the years.

Posted: 8/13/2017 11:25:37 PM EDT

[#22]

Quote History

Quoted:
Awesome find! I just treated a ancient Bison skull that I found a month ago. I used Butvar and Acetone. Is it the same process on ivory?https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/49272/20170627_090816-279857.JPG

View Quote

That's a great skull! From what I've found, butvar and acetone is the way to go for tusks. How did it go for your project? I've never worked with the stuff before.

Posted: 8/13/2017 11:25:53 PM EDT

[#23]

im curious about what these things are worth. and could it possible be worth more recovering the bones and tusks than gold.

need to retrieve the dna and grow a real mammoth or mastodon

Posted: 8/13/2017 11:26:22 PM EDT

[#24]

That is cool as hell.

OST on 2

Posted: 8/13/2017 11:28:15 PM EDT

[#25]

Amazing find.

Posted: 8/13/2017 11:28:25 PM EDT

[#26]

Thanks for sharing!

Posted: 8/13/2017 11:29:05 PM EDT

[#27]

You win all the internets for the day an awesome find.

Posted: 8/13/2017 11:29:22 PM EDT

[#28]

This is a tag.

Posted: 8/13/2017 11:31:32 PM EDT

[#29]

Quote History

Quoted:
Me too

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
sweet! wanna make me some 1911 grips with it? help regain almost a tiny bit of what i"m sure you invested.

Me too

I think quite a few of us would be interested in at least knowing a ball park figure of what you'd charge for such a thing.

Posted: 8/13/2017 11:31:41 PM EDT

[#30]

Quote History

Quoted:
Amazing thread. As a geologist, I give my stamp of approval.

Going to have it radio-carbon dated? I'm thinking between 15 Kya to 50-ish. Let us know.

View Quote

Earth isn't that old.

Posted: 8/13/2017 11:32:55 PM EDT

[#31]

That is Sofa King COOL !

Just do NOT say you found it anywhere near a reservation (if there are any in your area)

Posted: 8/13/2017 11:34:36 PM EDT

[#32]

Very cool project. Looking forward to watching your progress.

Posted: 8/13/2017 11:35:31 PM EDT

[#33]

So are you working on the Hoffmans crew

Posted: 8/13/2017 11:36:41 PM EDT

[#34]

IF the drying goes poorly just think of all the 1911 grips you can make!

Seriously cool project!

Posted: 8/13/2017 11:36:56 PM EDT

[#35]

In on this awesome thread! Thanks op!

Posted: 8/13/2017 11:39:32 PM EDT

[#36]

Neat thread!

Posted: 8/13/2017 11:39:44 PM EDT

[#37]

Congratulations Mr. Blackheart

Posted: 8/13/2017 11:40:19 PM EDT

[#38]

https://www.fossilrealm.com/collections/mammoth-tusks-for-sale

Posted: 8/13/2017 11:40:25 PM EDT

[#39]

Hnnnnnng

So jealous!

Posted: 8/13/2017 11:40:47 PM EDT

[#40]

Quote History

Quoted:
That's a great skull! From what I've found, butvar and acetone is the way to go for tusks. How did it go for your project? I've never worked with the stuff before.

View Quote

It worked fine. I treated a skull several years ago with model airplane cement and acetone. I liked using the butvar more because it didn't leave a shine on the bone like the cement did. Have plenty of butvar and acetone on hand, you wouldn't believe how much the bone soaks up. One other piece of advice, be sure to really let the tusk dry and dry slow. If there is any moisture in the bone/tusk the mix will leave a white "blush" on the surface. It looks like crap, there's a couple little spots on my skull because a month wasn't enough dry time.

Posted: 8/13/2017 11:41:11 PM EDT

[#41]

Quote History

Quoted:
That is Sofa King COOL !

Just do NOT say you found it anywhere near a reservation (if there are any in your area)

View Quote

No reservations in AK, but there are Native Corporation owned lands. This tusk came from 100% privately owned property, and is 100% legal for me to buy, own, sell, and display as I see fit.

Posted: 8/13/2017 11:41:32 PM EDT

[#42]

Very cool

Posted: 8/13/2017 11:42:21 PM EDT

[#43]

Quote History

Quoted:
So are you working on the Hoffmans crew

View Quote

I haven't ever used my ignore button....until now!

Posted: 8/13/2017 11:42:43 PM EDT

[#44]

that is awesome...gold is nice but...hope you find the mammoth under that tusk too.

Posted: 8/13/2017 11:43:16 PM EDT

[#45]

I want a set of 1911 grips bad. How much, OP?

Posted: 8/13/2017 11:44:03 PM EDT

[#46]

For clamping you might consider this.

https://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=clamptite&index=aps&tag=geminipcstand-20&ref=pd_sl_7dwfmzclir_e

It uses wire wrapped, tightened and then folded to lock. You can control the clamping force by the number of wraps and how tight you make it.

Posted: 8/13/2017 11:44:29 PM EDT

[#47]

Quote History

Quoted:
https://www.fossilrealm.com/collections/mammoth-tusks-for-sale

View Quote

There ya go! This one is closest to what I have: https://www.fossilrealm.com/collections/mammoth-tusks-for-sale/products/gigantic-curvy-blue-mammoth-tusk-from-alaska-9-45-feet-long

Posted: 8/13/2017 11:45:31 PM EDT

[#48]

Quote History

Quoted:
No reservations in AK, but there are Native Corporation owned lands. This tusk came from 100% privately owned property, and is 100% legal for me to buy, own, sell, and display as I see fit.

View Quote

You are a VERY luck man !