sedimentary
Belemnoit (Fossil)
Belemnoidea (Order), Rostrum / Guard
Hardness: 3 (made of calcite); Color: Tannish-grey, brown, or white; Luster: Dull to earthy (weathered); Structure: Bullet-shaped or cigar-shaped with a radial crystalline structure internally.
- Hardness
- 3 (made of calcite)
- Color
- Tannish-grey, brown, or white
- Luster
- Dull to earthy (weathered)
Identified More sedimentary →
Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
Physical properties
Hardness: 3 (made of calcite); Color: Tannish-grey, brown, or white; Luster: Dull to earthy (weathered); Structure: Bullet-shaped or cigar-shaped with a radial crystalline structure internally.
Formation & geological history
Belemnites were cephalopods that lived during the Devonian to the end of the Cretaceous period. This specimen is the 'rostrum,' the hard internal shell part that fossilized in marine sedimentary environments.
Uses & applications
Primarily used for educational purposes, scientific study of paleo-climates, and as collector specimens in the fossil trade.
Geological facts
Folklore often called these 'Thunderbolts,' believing they fell from the sky during storms. They are related to modern-day squid and cuttlefish but had a hard internal counterweight.
Field identification & locations
Identify by the distinctive 'bullet' shape and circular cross-section. Found globally in coastal areas and quarries containing Mesozoic era sedimentary rock layers.
More like this
Other sedimentary specimens
Sandstone or Siltstone
Arenite (if sandstone)
Sedimentary
Sandstone
Arenite (primarily SiO2)
sedimentary
Chert Breccia
Brecciated Chert (Microcrystalline Silica)
sedimentary
Sandstone Grain
Clastic Sedimentary Rock Grain (SiO2 dominated)
sedimentary
Shale or Slaty Mudstone
Argillaceous sedimentary rock
sedimentary
Sandstone
Arenite
sedimentary