| Agatized Coral aka Fossil Coral |
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Click on any photo to see a larger version
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| Item # AC11119921 Rare Michigan Agatized Fossil Coral Specimen $120.00 |
| Michigan Agatized Coral We got this specimen many years ago from a gentleman in Michigan who said this was found in the Little Traverse Bay region of Lake Michigan. This appears to be part of a coral reef that was originally deposited during the Devonian period, about 350 million years ago. This specimen does not have the distinctive mottled pattern of the six-sided coral fossils normally found in the area in the Petoskey group. However other forms of fossilized coral are also found in the same location. It is a fascinating piece with a circular pattern in the light grey exterior limestone and a chalcedony botryoidal blue white and golden interior This specimen weighs 1.8 lbs (814g) and measures 6.4 x 4.7 x 2.7 inches (16.4 x 12 x 6.8cm) |
Coral is made by millions of tiny animals called polyps that live in colonies which grow rapidly. One
polyp can become a colony of many thousands in a year. Each polyp builds a home of limestone around
itself using calcium from the water. The home surrounds the polyp like an apartment with a floor and walls
and ceilings. After the polyp dies its ceiling becomes the foundation for another polyp to build a home on.
This is much like building high rises, adding new floors with each generation of polyps. This process
continues making more limestone formations and eventually forms a coral reef.
Agatized coral occurs when silica in the ocean water hardens, replacing the limestone corals with a
form of quartz mineral known as Agate, a variety of Chalcedony. This is a long fossilization process
estimated to take 20 to 30 million years. This process results in the formation of a "pseudomorph,"
meaning that one mineral has replaced another without having lost its original form. This actually is a
chalcedony pseudomorph after coral, sometimes appearing as limestone geodes lined with botryoidal
agate or quartz crystals and drusy quartz fingers or eventually becoming completely agatized. The colors
may be; Red, blue, gray, pink, tan, white, beige, tan, brown, cream and black. Agatized Corals have
been found all over the world where warm oceans have ever existed. In 1979 Florida named agatized
coral to be the Florida State Stone. Agatized coral is a true piece of our earth’s history.
polyp can become a colony of many thousands in a year. Each polyp builds a home of limestone around
itself using calcium from the water. The home surrounds the polyp like an apartment with a floor and walls
and ceilings. After the polyp dies its ceiling becomes the foundation for another polyp to build a home on.
This is much like building high rises, adding new floors with each generation of polyps. This process
continues making more limestone formations and eventually forms a coral reef.
Agatized coral occurs when silica in the ocean water hardens, replacing the limestone corals with a
form of quartz mineral known as Agate, a variety of Chalcedony. This is a long fossilization process
estimated to take 20 to 30 million years. This process results in the formation of a "pseudomorph,"
meaning that one mineral has replaced another without having lost its original form. This actually is a
chalcedony pseudomorph after coral, sometimes appearing as limestone geodes lined with botryoidal
agate or quartz crystals and drusy quartz fingers or eventually becoming completely agatized. The colors
may be; Red, blue, gray, pink, tan, white, beige, tan, brown, cream and black. Agatized Corals have
been found all over the world where warm oceans have ever existed. In 1979 Florida named agatized
coral to be the Florida State Stone. Agatized coral is a true piece of our earth’s history.
| Item # AC11119931 Mature Agatized Ocean Polished Coral $229.00 |
| Item # AC11118774 Withlacoochee River Florida Agatized Coral $125.00 |
| Mature Agatized Coral We got this specimen many years ago and have been totally fascinated by this rare find. This appears to be part of a coral reef that lived at least 35 million years ago. This piece almost looks like a sea sponge formation. It is totally agatized with walls at least 1/4" (6.8mm) thick. The cut face is polished by machine while the outer formation is naturally polished by the oceans water movement. There are botryoidal formations inside with a white coating that is partially gone. (possibly happened when cut face was being polished) There are fortification lines visible in the cut face. This is an extremely old specimen which we have treasured as part of our personal collection...Truely an Amazing Piece! This specimen weighs 1.4 lbs (650g) and measures 5.7 x 3.6 x 3.1 inches (14.5 x 9.3 x 3.1cm) |
| Excellent Withlacoochee River Florida Agatized Coral This is an excellent specimen of a fully agatized fossil coral colony where the internal chambers that once housed the polyps have been converted to amber chalcedony. This specimen shows the internal stacked chambers preserved in translucent amber agate form. The rich color is stunning as is the detail. This is from the Oligocene Period about 38 million years ago. The cut face is polished and there is a thin top or end section with actual openings which aid in viewing the amazing internal structures. This example has botryoidal preservation of the internal chambers of the original coral head visible in several areas. This specimen weighs 1 lb (449g) and measures 4.4 x 3.9 x 3.6 inches (11.2 x 9.9 x 9.1cm) |
| Notice to Our Customers We will be closed from May 18th through August 15th 2012 to relocate our business. Orders placed during this time will not be shipped until after August 15th. Purchases or Reservations will be honored in the date order they are received. 1st purchaser is served 1st. |