fossil

Seashell Fossil

Mollusca (Bivalvia)

Hardness: 3.5-4 on Mohs scale (calcite/aragonite); Color: White to off-white; Luster: Pearly to dull; Structure: Crystalline calcium carbonate with distinct ribbed radial patterns.

Hardness: 3
Color: White to off-white
Luster: Pearly to dull

Identified July 30, 2026More fossil →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 3.5-4 on Mohs scale (calcite/aragonite); Color: White to off-white; Luster: Pearly to dull; Structure: Crystalline calcium carbonate with distinct ribbed radial patterns.

Formation & geological history

Formed in marine sedimentary environments where the calcium carbonate shells of dead mollusks accumulate on the ocean floor and undergo burial and fossilization over thousands to millions of years.

Uses & applications

Used in educational collections, decorative items, shell crafting, and as biological indicators in stratigraphy and paleoenvironmental studies.

Geological facts

Many common beach shells can become sub-fossils relatively quickly if buried in coastal sediment beds, preserving fine exterior details like the ribbed ridges seen here.

Field identification & locations

Found worldwide along coastlines, in beach sand, and embedded in sedimentary rock formations such as limestone. Easily identified by its symmetrical shape and characteristic ridges.