fossil

Fossilized gastropod (snail)

Gastropoda; shell commonly preserved as calcite (CaCO₃)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness about 3 for calcite, gray to tan, dull to subtly waxy luster, and typically composed of recrystallized calcite. The coiled shell form and possible spiral growth lines are characteristic, though the specimen is heavily weathered or mineral-filled.

Identified August 16, 2026More fossil →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

A marine or freshwater snail shell was buried in sediment and later lithified and mineralized, commonly during the Paleozoic–Cenozoic. Exact age and species require locality and preparation details.

Uses & applications

Primarily used for education, paleontology, and collecting; uncommon attractive specimens may be displayed as natural-history objects rather than used industrially.

Geological facts

Fossil gastropods preserve the animal’s coiled shell architecture, even when original aragonite has converted to calcite or been replaced by other minerals.

Field identification & locations

Look for a continuous spiral whorl, aperture, and shell symmetry; acid may weakly fizz on exposed calcite, but testing can damage it. Common in marine limestone, shale, and sedimentary exposures worldwide.