fossil

Fossil gastropod in granite-like stone

Gastropoda indet.; enclosing rock likely polished granite or gneiss

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

The specimen is a marine snail shell fossil with ribbed spiral sculpture, embedded or placed on polished, coarse-grained stone. Shell material is commonly calcite; the host shows quartz, feldspar, and dark mica, with hardness about 6–7, vitreous luster, and no obvious cleavage at the surface.

Identified August 15, 2026More fossil →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

The gastropod lived in a marine environment and was fossilized after burial and mineral replacement, likely during the Paleozoic–Cenozoic; the exact age cannot be determined from the image. The surrounding igneous or metamorphic stone formed separately and was later cut and polished.

Uses & applications

Primarily decorative, educational, and collectible; polished fossil-stone slabs are used for countertops, tiles, and ornaments. Value depends on preservation, authenticity, size, and whether the fossil is naturally embedded.

Geological facts

The shell’s spiral whorls and growth ribs are characteristic of gastropods. The surrounding slab may be commercial granite rather than the fossil’s original matrix.

Field identification & locations

Identify it by the coiled shell, repeated ribs, and mineralized texture; a hand lens and acid test on exposed shell can help distinguish calcite from resin replicas. Similar fossils occur worldwide in marine sedimentary rocks.