sedimentary
Gastropod Fossil
Phylum Mollusca, Class Gastropoda (Calcium Carbonate, CaCO3)
Hardness: 3-4 (Mohs scale); Color: Creamy white to light brown; Luster: Dull/Earthy; Crystal Structure: Orthorhombic/Hexagonal (as aragonite or calcite substitution); Cleavage: None (fossilized structure)
- Hardness
- 3-4 (Mohs scale)
- Color
- Creamy white to light brown
- Luster
- Dull/Earthy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 3-4 (Mohs scale); Color: Creamy white to light brown; Luster: Dull/Earthy; Crystal Structure: Orthorhombic/Hexagonal (as aragonite or calcite substitution); Cleavage: None (fossilized structure)
Formation & geological history
Formed through the process of permineralization or recrystallization of a prehistoric sea snail shell within marine sediments. Common in limestone deposits from the Paleozoic to Cenozoic eras.
Uses & applications
Primarily used for educational scientific study and as geological collector's specimens. Larger, well-preserved examples can be used in decorative arts.
Geological facts
Gastropods are one of the most successful groups of animals, existing for over 500 million years. Some fossilized spirals are known as 'St. Cuthbert's beads' in folklore.
Field identification & locations
Identify by characteristic spiral (coiled) symmetry and presence in sedimentary matrix. Found worldwide in ancient seabed layers, particularly in limestone quarries and coastal outcrops.
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