fossil

Marine gastropod shell

Calcium-carbonate shell, primarily aragonite; species cannot be determined from the image

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Small, tapered, spiraled shell with a glossy white exterior and orange interior. Shell material is about Mohs 3–4, with a finely layered crystalline structure; hardness, luster, and cleavage descriptions apply to the shell, not a rock.

Identified September 26, 2026More fossil →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed by a marine gastropod secreting calcium carbonate as it grew; the shell appears recent rather than fossilized. Gastropods occur in marine environments worldwide.

Uses & applications

Collected as a natural-history specimen and used in crafts or shell jewelry; this small example has little commercial value.

Geological facts

The orange coloration is natural pigment within the shell. Most gastropod shells are composed mainly of aragonite, a form of calcium carbonate.

Field identification & locations

Identify by the coiled, tapered form, spiral ridges, and aperture; this image does not show enough detail for reliable species identification. Not a rock in the strict geological sense, but it is a geological/natural-history specimen.