fossil

Petrified Tabulate Coral

Favosites (Honeycomb Coral)

Hardness: 3-4 (calcite) to 7 (if silicified); Color: Tan/Grey; Luster: Dull to earthy; Structure: Colonial coral with vertical tubes called corallites.

Hardness: 3-4 (calcite) to 7 (if silicified)
Color: Tan/Grey
Luster: Dull to earthy

Identified July 20, 2026More fossil →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 3-4 (calcite) to 7 (if silicified); Color: Tan/Grey; Luster: Dull to earthy; Structure: Colonial coral with vertical tubes called corallites.

Formation & geological history

Formed during the Silurian to Devonian periods (approx. 350-430 million years ago). These were reef-building marine organisms that became mineralized over millions of years.

Uses & applications

Collocting, educational specimens, and small lapidary ornaments.

Geological facts

Favosites is an extinct genus of tabulate coral. The name comes from the Latin word for 'honeycomb' because of the shape of the individual corallites.

Field identification & locations

Identified by the distinct vertical ribbing or hexagonal honeycomb patterns. Often found in limestone deposits in the Great Lakes region of the USA or in Morocco.