fossil

Fossil scallop shell

Bivalvia, likely family Pectinidae; exact species cannot be determined from the image

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

A small, fan-shaped calcareous shell with strong radial ribs and a symmetrical outline. Original shell mineral was chiefly calcite; hardness about 3 Mohs, pearly to dull luster, low cleavage, and specific gravity around 2.6–2.8.

Identified September 3, 2026More fossil →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

This is likely a marine mollusk shell or fossilized shell, formed by biological secretion and later burial in seafloor sediment. Its geological age cannot be established visually; it may be modern, subfossil, or fossilized.

Uses & applications

Collected as a natural-history specimen and used in educational displays, crafts, and décor; intact examples have little commercial value.

Geological facts

Scallops are bivalves, and their ribs strengthen the shell while producing the characteristic fan shape. Many scallop shells preserve fine growth lines and hinge features useful for identification.

Field identification & locations

Look for paired valves, a hinge, radial ribs, and growth rings; calcite shells fizz weakly in dilute acid, though testing may damage the specimen. Scallop shells occur on modern beaches and in marine limestone or unconsolidated coastal deposits worldwide.