fossil

Fossil Snail

Gastropoda fossil

Hardness: 3-4 on Mohs scale (for calcified shell), Color: Off-white, beige, or gray, Luster: Dull to vitreous, Crystal structure: Orthorhombic/Hexagonal (calcite or aragonite matrix)

Identified July 31, 2026More fossil →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 3-4 on Mohs scale (for calcified shell), Color: Off-white, beige, or gray, Luster: Dull to vitreous, Crystal structure: Orthorhombic/Hexagonal (calcite or aragonite matrix)

Formation & geological history

Formed via permineralization or replacement where the original shell material of a gastropod is preserved or replaced by minerals like calcite or silica over thousands to millions of years in sedimentary environments.

Uses & applications

Educational purposes, fossil collecting, decorative displays, and paleontological research.

Geological facts

Gastropods are among the most successful animal groups, with a fossil record stretching back over 500 million years to the Late Cambrian period.

Field identification & locations

Found worldwide in sedimentary rock formations, particularly in ancient lake beds, shallow marine deposits, and limestone layers. Look for coiled spiral shell shapes embedded in rock matrix.