sedimentary
Favosites Fossil (Honeycomb Coral)
Favosites (Extinct genus of Tabulate Coral)
Hardness: 3-4 (calcite-based). Color: Light gray, tan, or white. Luster: Dull to earthy. Crystal structure: Hexagonal/polygonal chambers visible in cross-section. Cleavage: None (fossilized).
- Hardness
- 3-4 (calcite-based)
- Color
- Light gray, tan, or white
- Luster
- Dull to earthy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 3-4 (calcite-based). Color: Light gray, tan, or white. Luster: Dull to earthy. Crystal structure: Hexagonal/polygonal chambers visible in cross-section. Cleavage: None (fossilized).
Formation & geological history
Formed through the replacement of organic coral structures with minerals (usually calcite or silica) in shallow marine environments. Dates primarily from the Silurian to Devonian periods (approx. 430-360 million years ago).
Uses & applications
Educational specimens, decorative stones, items for private fossil collections, and lapidary work (when silicified and polished).
Geological facts
Favosites is known as 'honeycomb coral' because the closely packed polygonal cells resemble a bee's honeycomb. These corals were colonial organisms that played a major role in reef building hundreds of millions of years before modern reefs existed.
Field identification & locations
Identify by looking for a 'honeycomb' pattern of small holes or tubes on the surface of a weathered water-worn pebble. Commonly found in the Great Lakes region of the US (especially Michigan and New York) and parts of Canada.
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