fossil

Crinoid Stem Fossil

Class Crinoidea (Echinodermata)

Segmented cylindrical structure, hardness 3 on Mohs scale (if calcified), white to tan color, vitreous to dull luster, features distinct horizontal rings or segments.

Identified July 11, 2026More fossil →

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Physical properties

Segmented cylindrical structure, hardness 3 on Mohs scale (if calcified), white to tan color, vitreous to dull luster, features distinct horizontal rings or segments.

Formation & geological history

Formed through the fossilization of marine animal stems. These animals, related to starfish, lived in shallow seas typically during the Paleozoic era (approx. 250 to 500 million years ago) and were buried in marine sediments.

Uses & applications

Primarily used for educational purposes, scientific study, and by fossil collectors. Some specimens can be used in jewelry or as decorative stones.

Geological facts

Crinoids are often called "sea lilies" because they resemble flowers, but they are actually animals. Their ossicles (individual stem segments) are so common in some limestone beds that the rock is called encrinal limestone.

Field identification & locations

Identify by looking for the stacked disk-like appearance or a central hole (lumen) in cross-section. Commonly found in limestone outcrops, creek beds, and quarries in the Midwestern United States and Europe.