sedimentary
Gastropod Fossil (Snail)
Gastropoda (Internal mold/Steinkern)
Hardness: 3-4 (if calcified/limestone); Color: tan, brown, or ochre; Luster: dull to earthy; Structure: spiral or coiled shell shape; Cleavage: none.
- Hardness
- 3-4 (if calcified/limestone)
- Color
- tan, brown, or ochre
- Luster
- dull to earthy
Identified More sedimentary →
Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
Physical properties
Hardness: 3-4 (if calcified/limestone); Color: tan, brown, or ochre; Luster: dull to earthy; Structure: spiral or coiled shell shape; Cleavage: none.
Formation & geological history
Formed during the process of permineralization or as an internal mold (steinkern) where sediment fills the shell of a prehistoric sea snail and hardens into stone over millions of years. Commonly found in sedimentary basins dating from the Paleozoic to the Cenozoic eras.
Uses & applications
Primarily used for educational purposes, paleontological study, and as a popular entry-level collector's item. Larger or more unique specimens may be used in jewelry or home decor.
Geological facts
Gastropods are one of the most successful groups of animals, with a fossil record spanning over 500 million years. This specific specimen appears to be an internal mold, representing the sediment that filled the shell rather than the shell material itself.
Field identification & locations
Identify by the distinct spiral coiling pattern. To find them, search in limestone or shale outcrops where ancient seas once existed. They are often found in gravel pits or beach erosion areas.
More like this
Other sedimentary specimens
Sandstone or Siltstone
Arenite (if sandstone)
Sedimentary
Chert Breccia
Brecciated Chert (Microcrystalline Silica)
sedimentary
Sandstone
Arenite (primarily SiO2)
sedimentary
Sandstone Grain
Clastic Sedimentary Rock Grain (SiO2 dominated)
sedimentary
Shale or Slaty Mudstone
Argillaceous sedimentary rock
sedimentary
Sandstone
Arenite
sedimentary