Rock Identifier
Coral Fossil / Coral Fragment (Scleractinia / Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3)) — fossil
fossil

Coral Fossil / Coral Fragment

Scleractinia / Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3)

Hardness: 3-4 on Mohs scale; Color: Off-white to light gray/beige; Luster: Dull to earthy; Structure: Porous, honeycombed cellular structure with corallite pores; Specific Gravity: ~2.7

Hardness
3-4 on Mohs scale
Color
Off-white to light gray/beige
Luster
Dull to earthy
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Physical properties

Hardness: 3-4 on Mohs scale; Color: Off-white to light gray/beige; Luster: Dull to earthy; Structure: Porous, honeycombed cellular structure with corallite pores; Specific Gravity: ~2.7

Formation & geological history

Formed through the biogenic precipitation of calcium carbonate by marine coral polyps, often smoothed and weathered by ocean wave action along marine environments.

Uses & applications

Used in aquariums, decorative beach crafts, landscaping, and soil amendments (calcium source). Collectible as marine fossils or beach drift specimens.

Geological facts

Fossilized corals can range in age from recent modern beach specimens to hundreds of millions of years old (Ordovician period to present).

Field identification & locations

Identified by its porous, pitted surface and lightweight calcium carbonate composition. Widely found along tropical and subtropical ocean beaches.

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