sedimentary
Fossilized Echinoid (Sea Urchin)
Echinoidea (Class)
Hardness: 3 (calcite composition), Color: Tan to reddish-brown (iron staining), Luster: Dull/Earthy, Pentameral (5-fold) symmetry, heart-shaped or globular form.
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Physical properties
Hardness: 3 (calcite composition), Color: Tan to reddish-brown (iron staining), Luster: Dull/Earthy, Pentameral (5-fold) symmetry, heart-shaped or globular form.
Formation & geological history
Formed during the Mesozoic or Cenozoic eras when the region (North Carolina) was covered by shallow seas. The biological shell was buried in lime-rich sediment and mineralized over millions of years.
Uses & applications
Educational value, biological study, and popular among fossil collectors.
Geological facts
These are often called 'lucky stones' or 'sand dollars' by locals. This specific specimen appears to be a 'heart urchin' (Spatangoid) or a similar mold/cast fossil common to the Coastal Plain.
Field identification & locations
Identified by the distinct star-shaped pattern (ambulacra) on the surface. Commonly found in limestone quarries or riverbeds in eastern North Carolina.
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