sedimentary
Fossilized Favosites (Honeycomb Coral)
Favosites (extinct genus of tabulate coral)
Hardness: 3-4 (calcite based); Color: White, gray, or tan; Luster: Dull to earthy; Structure: Hexagonal or polygonal tube-like cells (honeycomb pattern); Composition: Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3).
- Hardness
- 3-4 (calcite based)
- Color
- White, gray, or tan
- Luster
- Dull to earthy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 3-4 (calcite based); Color: White, gray, or tan; Luster: Dull to earthy; Structure: Hexagonal or polygonal tube-like cells (honeycomb pattern); Composition: Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3).
Formation & geological history
Formed in warm, shallow marine environments during the Ordovician to Devonian periods (approx. 450 to 360 million years ago). The specimen is a petrified coral colony that has been replaced by minerals over geological time.
Uses & applications
Primarily used as educational geological specimens, decorative garden stones, or collectibles for fossil enthusiasts.
Geological facts
Favosites are known as 'honeycomb corals' because of the way the individual coral polyps lived in hexagonal tubes. They are excellent index fossils used for dating sedimentary rock layers.
Field identification & locations
Identify by looking for the distinct 'honeycomb' grid pattern on the surface. These are commonly found in the Great Lakes region of the US (especially Michigan and Ohio) and in limestone quarries globally.
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