fossil
Silicified Snail Fossil
Gastropod (likely replaced by Chalcedony/Quartz - SiO2)
Hardness: 6.5-7 (Mohs scale), Color: Creamy white to pale yellow, Luster: Dull to waxy, Crystal Structure: Microcrystalline (Cryptocrystalline), Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture
- Hardness
- 6
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6.5-7 (Mohs scale), Color: Creamy white to pale yellow, Luster: Dull to waxy, Crystal Structure: Microcrystalline (Cryptocrystalline), Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture
Formation & geological history
Formed through permineralization or replacement where silica-rich groundwater fills the voids of a buried shell or replaces the calcium carbonate structure over millions of years, often in sedimentary environments.
Uses & applications
Used primarily as decorative items, educational specimens for paleontological study, and as items for amateur fossil collecting.
Geological facts
This specimen shows 'Beekite' rings—white, orbicular concentric deposits of chalcedony that often form on the surface of silicified fossils. They are a classic marker of silica replacement in sedimentary rocks.
Field identification & locations
Identify by looking for the preservation of spiral biological forms (gastropoda) combined with the hardness of quartz (it will scratch glass). Commonly found in limestone or chert-rich sedimentary beds.
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