My cousin borrowed a fossil for decor and won't give it back | Geology Rocks

Alice Miller · 2026-03-02T00:35:34.464392+00:00

I lent my cousin a small trilobite fossil I found on a hike last year. She wanted it for a centerpiece at a dinner party. Now she says it looks perfect on her shelf and refuses to return it. I tried explaining it's part of my geology collection, not a trinket. She just shrugs and says it's better off being seen. It's frustrating because that fossil has personal value from the find. Has anyone else had family take geology items lightly? How do you handle it without causing a big fight?

the_nathan6mo ago

Holy crap! She thinks your personally found fossil is just decor? That's messed up. Finding a trilobite yourself is the whole point, it's not like some cheap knickknack she bought at a store. The fact she said it's "better off being seen" on her shelf is so selfish, like your connection to it means nothing. I'd be furious if someone treated a find of mine like a generic trinket.

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bailey.sandra6mo ago

That water ring story makes my blood boil.

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wells.olivia6mo ago

I gave my aunt a fossilized fern once and she used it as a coaster. Realized my explanatory lecture was a dumb flex when I saw the water ring.

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