fossil
Seashell Fragment
Calcium carbonate (CaCO3) - primarily Aragonite or Calcite
Hardness 3.5-4, white to pale color with dark banding or patterns, dull to pearly luster depending on the layer exposed.
Identified More fossil →
Explore Seashell Fragment in the encyclopedia →Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
Physical properties
Hardness 3.5-4, white to pale color with dark banding or patterns, dull to pearly luster depending on the layer exposed.
Formation & geological history
Formed biologically by a marine mollusk. Shells are often broken down into fragments by wave action and weathering.
Uses & applications
Commonly collected as beachcombing finds, sometimes used in crafts or jewelry.
Geological facts
Mollusk shells are made of calcium carbonate, which can over geological time compress to form limestone.
Field identification & locations
Identified by curved shape, distinct growth lines, and organic origin. Common on beaches worldwide.
More like this
Other fossil specimens
Crinoid Stem Fossil in Matrix
Phylum Echinodermata, Class Crinoidea
fossil
Sedimentary Outcrop (Sandstone/Shale)
Sedimentary bedrock formation (variable composition)
sedimentary
Chert with Fossil Brachiopod
Microcrystalline Quartz (SiO2) with Calcitic Brachiopod inclusion
sedimentary
Fossilized Crinoid Stem in Limestone
Crinoidea (Class) in Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3) matrix
fossil
Fossiliferous Limestone
Limestone with embedded fossil cross-section
sedimentary
Fossiliferous Limestone with Crinoid stems
Limestone (CaCO3) containing Crinoidea fossils
sedimentary