Is this a fossil?

[BabaYagasLittleSister]

Strange stone I found beside a river. Could it be a fossil?

Looks more like erosion by water.

I don't think so tbh

Could it be some sort of fossilised sponge like plant?

I don't think it's a fossil, no. What would it be a fossil of?

I don’t think so.

It’s still a cool stone anyway.

It looks like a hagstone.

The holes are caused by years of water erosion.

There are some fantastic Facebook groups where experts will identify stones and fossils etc.

Maybe have a look on there?

It does not look as if has been created by fossilisation. There are several ways, though my understanding is fossilisation rarely leaves something looking like that. Water erosion I think, similar to some rocks you can find on UK beaches. The red mark at the bottom might be a fossilised leaf though.

It looks like sedimentary rock.

The holes could be what remains of tubes made by worm-like creatures whilst it was still mud in an estuary or on the sea floor. Perhaps the holes then filled with a different type of silt or sand, which has then eroded away faster than the surrounding stone, leaving the holes.

There is also a creature called a piddock, which burrows into soft rock, leaving holes.

<caveat: I am probably talking rubbish but you never know>

Oh interesting, thanks everyone. My daughter is desperate to find a fossil! Better luck next time.

Head to the coasts, there are loads better chances of finding fossils around the coasts of the UK.