When it comes to the term "fossil", iut is used pretty loosely when it comes to Ivory. In real terms, fossilized means that all of the original organic content of the animal or plant has been replaced by stone. With "Fossil" mammoth or walrus, neither of which has really been around long enough to create actual fossils, The term fossil just means that it is pretty old.
Much of the time there has been some mineral impregnation into the ivory, which gives it color, as well as the acidity of the ground and so on. I can look it up but there is a name for the blue mineral that is commonly found in mammoth.
Also, I have been asked if there is a difference between Mammoth and Mastodon ivory, and from what I have seen, just looking at the tusks, you would not be able to tell. They both were in Alaska at about the same time, but the Mastodons occured in smaller numbers and were more woodlands orientated.
To date I have never seen any ivory that has actually turned to stone, I have seen some that looked as white as fresh elephant ivory, and some that has been decayed to the point of being black, and many different stages in between, along with all sorts of mineral colorations that have impregnated the ivory over the years.
Recently a piece of walrus that I sold, a small, sort of drab looking piece, held a surprise inside for the maker, a pattern of glorious vivid blue and white. The maker was Don Cowles, and I will try to get a pic to you guys.
Any other questions, just mail me.
YeK
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Native Sun Ivory and Knife Supply
nativesun@alaska.com
AKTI # A000348
www.angelfire.com/ak3/nativesun/index.html
I have to be good, I gave my mom and my fiance knives for their birthdays.
