fossil

Scallop Shell Fossil

Pecten sp.

Hardness: 3-4 on Mohs scale (calcite/aragonite). Color: Varies from white, cream, to rich reddish-brown or orange. Luster: Vitreous to pearly. Structure: Biogenic calcium carbonate with characteristic radial ribs and a fan-shaped symmetry.

Hardness: 3-4 on Mohs scale (calcite/aragonite)
Color: Varies from white, cream, to rich reddish-brown or orange
Luster: Vitreous to pearly

Identified August 3, 2026More fossil →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed from the accumulation and permineralization of marine bivalve shells in shallow marine environments, dating from the Cenozoic era and earlier.

Uses & applications

Used in fossil collecting, educational displays, jewelry, and decorative arts.

Geological facts

Scallops are famous for their ability to swim by clapping their shells together and possessing dozens of simple eyes along their mantle edge.

Field identification & locations

Easily identified by their fan shape and prominent radial ribs. Found in sedimentary limestone and coastal fossil beds worldwide.

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