sedimentary
Gastropod Internal Mold (Steinkern)
Class Gastropoda fossil mold (Phylum Mollusca)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness: 3-4 (calcitic/silty); Color: Tan to off-white; Luster: Dull, earthy; Structure: Spiral/coiled shape mimicking a snail shell; Cleavage: None (conchoidal to irregular fracture)
- Hardness
- 3-4 (calcitic/silty)
- Color
- Tan to off-white
- Luster
- Dull, earthy
Identified More sedimentary →
Explore Gastropod Internal Mold (Steinkern) in the encyclopedia →Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
Physical properties
Hardness: 3-4 (calcitic/silty); Color: Tan to off-white; Luster: Dull, earthy; Structure: Spiral/coiled shape mimicking a snail shell; Cleavage: None (conchoidal to irregular fracture)
Formation & geological history
Formed when sediment fills a snail shell and hardens, followed by the dissolution of the original shell. Typically found in marine sedimentary layers ranging from the Paleozoic to Cenozoic eras.
Uses & applications
Educational tools, geological mapping, paleontological study, and amateur fossil collecting.
Geological facts
Commonly known as a 'steinkern' or 'stone heart'. These represent the negative space inside the creature rather than the actual shell itself.
Field identification & locations
Identify by looking for spiral step-like ridges and a lack of shell material. Often found in limestone or shale outcrops near ancient seabeds.
More like this
Other sedimentary specimens
Fossiliferous Sedimentary Rock
Sedimentary limestone with invertebrate fossil imprint
fossil
Sandstone or Siltstone
Arenite (if sandstone)
Sedimentary
Quartz pebble
Silicon dioxide (SiO2)
sedimentary
Generic Pebble / Rock Fragment
Lithic fragment / Weathered rock
sedimentary
Sedimentary Sandstone
Arenite (Sedimentary Rock)
sedimentary
Shale (or Mudstone/Siltstone)
Sedimentary Mudrock (SiO2, Al2O3 base with clay minerals)
sedimentary