fossil

Crinoid Stem Fossil

Crinoida (columnal ossicles)

Hardness: 3-4 (calcite); Color: Tan, brown, grey, or white; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Trigonal (calcite); Specific gravity: 2.6-2.7

Hardness: 3-4 (calcite)
Color: Tan, brown, grey, or white
Luster: Vitreous to dull

Identified August 3, 2026More fossil →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 3-4 (calcite); Color: Tan, brown, grey, or white; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Trigonal (calcite); Specific gravity: 2.6-2.7

Formation & geological history

Formed from marine organisms known as crinoids (sea lilies) that lived from the Ordovician period to the present, most abundantly in shallow Paleozoic seas. Their stem segments frequently separate after death and accumulate as fossiliferous limestone.

Uses & applications

Used in educational exhibits, fossil collecting, and occasionally as lapidary material or jewelry

Geological facts

Often referred to colloquially as 'Indian bead' or 'St. Cuthbert's beads'. In some ancient cultures, they were strung together as necklaces.

Field identification & locations

Found easily in limestone and shale deposits worldwide, particularly in North America and Europe. Look for small circular, pentagonal, or star-shaped disks with a central hole.