fossil

Small seashell fossil or shell fragment

Likely calcium-carbonate shell material, chiefly aragonite or calcite; exact species indeterminate

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Cream-white, smooth, low-to-moderate luster, with a hollow coiled or tubular form and apparent layered growth. Hardness is approximately 3–4 Mohs; specific gravity about 2.6–2.9.

Identified August 12, 2026More fossil →

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Physical properties

Cream-white, smooth, low-to-moderate luster, with a hollow coiled or tubular form and apparent layered growth. Hardness is approximately 3–4 Mohs; specific gravity about 2.6–2.9.

Formation & geological history

Produced by a marine mollusk and potentially fossilized through mineral preservation; the geological age cannot be determined from this image. Similar shells occur in modern beach deposits and sedimentary strata of many ages.

Uses & applications

Primarily a natural-history or beachcombing specimen; shell material may be used for decoration, crafts, lime, or calcium products, but this small piece has negligible commercial value.

Geological facts

The opening and curved form suggest a fragment of a gastropod or possibly a small tube shell. Carbonate shells fizz weakly in dilute hydrochloric acid, though testing can damage the specimen.

Field identification & locations

Identify it by its curved growth lines, carbonate composition, and organic shell architecture; common along marine coasts and in limestone-rich sediments. It is not possible to assign a precise species without the complete shell and locality.