fossil

Gastropod Fossil

Phylum Mollusca, Class Gastropoda

Hardness: 3 (calcite composition), Color: white to light tan, Luster: dull to earthy, Crystal structure: usually replaced by microcrystalline calcite or silica, Cleavage: none, Specific gravity: ~2.7

Identified July 8, 2026More fossil →

Explore Gastropod Fossil in the encyclopedia →

Identify your own rocks.

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

App Store Google Play

Physical properties

Hardness: 3 (calcite composition), Color: white to light tan, Luster: dull to earthy, Crystal structure: usually replaced by microcrystalline calcite or silica, Cleavage: none, Specific gravity: ~2.7

Formation & geological history

Formed through the process of permineralization or recrystallization of a prehistoric snail shell in a sedimentary environment, typically in marine or freshwater silt and mud deposits.

Uses & applications

Scientific study of paleoenvironments, educational tools, and common collector items.

Geological facts

Gastropods are one of the most successful lineages of organisms on Earth, appearing in the Late Cambrian period over 500 million years ago and surviving to the present day.

Field identification & locations

Identified by its distinctive spiral or coiled shape (whorls). Commonly found in limestone, shale, and sandstone outcrops. Collectors should look for preserved suture lines between the whorls.