sedimentary
Fossilized Syringopora (Piping Organ Coral)
Syringopora (Extinct Genus of Tabulate Coral)
Hardness: 3-4 (Calcite replacement) to 6.5-7 (Silica replacement); Color: Brown, tan, cream, or grey; Luster: Dull to waxy; Texture: Mass of small, parallel or radiating tubes (corallites) connected by thin transverse plates.
- Hardness
- 3-4 (Calcite replacement) to 6
- Color
- Brown, tan, cream, or grey
- Luster
- Dull to waxy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 3-4 (Calcite replacement) to 6.5-7 (Silica replacement); Color: Brown, tan, cream, or grey; Luster: Dull to waxy; Texture: Mass of small, parallel or radiating tubes (corallites) connected by thin transverse plates.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the fossilization of colonial coral in marine environments during the Silurian to Carboniferous periods (approx. 440 to 300 million years ago). The biological structure was replaced by minerals like calcite or chalcedony during lithification.
Uses & applications
Educational specimens for schools, decorative garden stones, and popular for amateur fossil collectors and geologists.
Geological facts
Syringopora is often called 'Organ Pipe Coral' because its vertical tubes resemble the pipes of a church organ. Unlike modern colonial corals, these were part of the extinct Tabulata subclass.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by looking for a honeycomb or bundle-of-straws appearance on the surface. Commonly found in limestone outcrops in the Midwest USA, the UK, and Europe. Use a hand lens to see the connecting horizontal bridges (tabulae) between tubes.
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