fossil

Fossilized Brachiopod

Phylum Brachiopoda

Hardness varies by mineral replacement (typically Mohs 3-4 for calcite or 7 for quartz), color ranges from grey to tan and reddish-brown, dull to vitreous luster, bilateral symmetry with a pedicle and brachial valve.

Identified August 6, 2026More fossil →

Explore Fossilized Brachiopod in the encyclopedia →

Identify your own rocks.

Get a report just like this from any photo, free.

App Store Google Play

Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed in ancient marine environments when the shells of shelled marine invertebrates were buried in sediment and mineralized over millions of years, commonly dating from the Paleozoic Era.

Uses & applications

Used primarily in educational exhibits, paleontological research, and as collector specimens.

Geological facts

Brachiopods are one of the most common fossils found in Paleozoic rocks and superficially resemble clams, though they belong to a completely different phylum.

Field identification & locations

Found worldwide in sedimentary limestone, shale, and sandstone formations, particularly in marine deposits; look for symmetrical, bivalved fossil outlines.