Bone can be distinguished from cartilage if
In contrast to cartilage, which is avascular, bone is highly vascularized with the help of Haversian canal. Haversian canal is one of many channels formed within the bone by the development of osteoblasts in concentric rings around them and whose function is to facilitate the linking of the living parts. Each canal may contain an artery, a vein and a nerve and the canals ramify throughout the bone communicating with the bone marrow.
Both bone and cartilage contain a fibrous connective tissue covering, which in bone is called the periosteum.
The intercellular matrix of bone contains more collagen than found in cartilage and it is heavily mineralized with calcium salts. So collagen, calcium, and periosteum cannot be the distinguishing features of bone and cartilage.