fossil
Fossilized Echinoid
Echinoidea (likely of the order Echinoidea)
Hardness: 3-4 (calcite composition), Color: White to dull grey, Luster: Dull or earthy, Structure: Pentaradial symmetry with small plate-like patterns or pore structures.
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Physical properties
Hardness: 3-4 (calcite composition), Color: White to dull grey, Luster: Dull or earthy, Structure: Pentaradial symmetry with small plate-like patterns or pore structures.
Formation & geological history
Formed from the mineralized remains of marine sea urchins. These fossils date back to the Paleozoic through Cenozoic eras and form in shallow marine sedimentary environments like limestone or chalk beds.
Uses & applications
Educational specimens, museum exhibits, biological studies, and collector items. Small specimens are often used in jewelry or as lucky charms.
Geological facts
Known in some traditions as 'Fairy Loaves' or 'Shepherd's Crowns,' these were once believed to protect against lightning or ensure bread rose successfully in the oven.
Field identification & locations
Identify by looking for a dome shape with a pattern of five radiating lines or a porous, honeycomb surface. Commonly found in chalk pits, limestone cliffs, and coastal eroded sediments.
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