Rock Identifier
Calamites Pith Cast (Calamites) — fossil
fossil

Calamites Pith Cast

Calamites

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Mohs hardness 3-4 for host rock, brownish-gray color, dull earthy luster, distinctive segmented hollow reed-like stem structure with vertical ribs and node lines.

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Physical properties

Mohs hardness 3-4 for host rock, brownish-gray color, dull earthy luster, distinctive segmented hollow reed-like stem structure with vertical ribs and node lines.

Formation & geological history

Formed during the Carboniferous to Permian periods (approx. 360 to 250 million years ago) when hollow tree-like horsetail pith cavities filled with sediment and mineralized within swamp environments.

Uses & applications

Valued primarily by fossil collectors, educational institutions, and museums for studying Paleozoic swamp ecosystems.

Geological facts

Calamites is an extinct relative of modern horsetails and grew up to 30 meters tall in dense coal-forming tropical forests.

Field identification & locations

Identified by distinct jointed segments and vertical striping embedded in sedimentary rock matrix, frequently found in coal measure shales and sandstones worldwide.

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