fossil

Fossil Coral (Favosites)

Favosites sp. (Phylum Cnidaria, Class Anthozoa)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness: 3 (calcite matrix); Color: Tan, beige, or light grey; Luster: Dull/earthy; Structure: Distinctive honeycomb/grid-like pattern formed by individual coral tubes (corallites).

Hardness: 3 (calcite matrix)
Color: Tan, beige, or light grey
Luster: Dull/earthy

Identified July 15, 2026More fossil →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 3 (calcite matrix); Color: Tan, beige, or light grey; Luster: Dull/earthy; Structure: Distinctive honeycomb/grid-like pattern formed by individual coral tubes (corallites).

Formation & geological history

Formed in warm, shallow marine environments primarily during the Silurian to Devonian periods (approx. 430 to 360 million years ago) through the permineralization of ancient coral reefs by calcium carbonate.

Uses & applications

Primarily used for educational study, geological collecting, and occasionally as decorative items or paperweights when polished.

Geological facts

Favosites is commonly known as 'honeycomb coral' due to the shape of the chambered cells. They were colonial coral and did not have the septa (radiating lines) found in modern corals.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by looking for sedimentary rocks (limestone/shale) with a mesh or grid-like impression. Common in the Great Lakes region of North America and ancient reef beds in Europe and Asia.