fossil

Fossilized gastropod (snail)

Silicified or calcite-replaced gastropod fossil; exact genus indeterminate

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Small coiled shell with visible whorls and growth lines, cream to ochre-brown, with a dull to slightly waxy luster. Original shell is likely calcite or aragonite altered during fossilization; hardness commonly about 3–7 depending on replacement mineral.

Identified September 16, 2026More fossil →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed when a marine or freshwater snail was buried in sediment and mineral-rich groundwater preserved or replaced the shell. The age cannot be determined from the photograph; fossils of this type range from Paleozoic to Cenozoic deposits.

Uses & applications

Used mainly for education, collecting, jewelry, and decorative specimens; it has little industrial value.

Geological facts

The spiral geometry and repeated whorls identify a gastropod rather than a mineral crystal. Brown staining commonly comes from iron oxides in the surrounding sediment.

Field identification & locations

Look for a continuous spiral shell, aperture, growth lines, and sediment matrix; a vinegar test is unreliable and may damage carbonate fossils. Common in limestone, shale, and sandstone fossil beds worldwide.