Hunting for Botryoidal Agatized Coral

[PaleoCris]

I got out for some fossil and gem/mineral hunting, primarily targeting a very cool geological oddity we find here in Florida and Georgia, agatized coral.

This forms when the mineral chalcedony, a microcrystalline type of quartz, replaces the original calcium carbonate of the coral and eventually forms into agate. Grains of sand or perhaps pieces of the original calcium carbonate serve as a nucleus for the agate to begin forming radially around a point, leading to the botryoidal (grape-like) mineral habit you see on the coral we found.

Occasionally, an additional layer of druzy quartz crystals will grow on top of the botryoidal agate. We found two or three pieces of this.



If you don't want to watch a vid, here's some pics:







-PaleoCris

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Nice!

 

[niffler]

Nice agates, I love the nice carnelian colors. You guys always find cool stuff.

 

[PaleoCris]

Nice agates, I love the nice carnelian colors. You guys always find cool stuff.

Thanks Niffler. Some of the colors on these agates just blows me away. I see some posted online occasionally that have three or four different colors on one specimen. Can't wait to get back here and find more.

 

[A2coins]

Wow those are really cool I wish I had those here for my collection Great post Well done

 

[diggummup]

Beautiful specimens. I think I have a piece someone made into a pendant.

 

[PaleoCris]

Beautiful specimens. I think I have a piece someone made into a pendant.

Yep, no doubt about it...That's the same material, just run through a rock tumbler or something like that.

 

[A2coins]

That is really cool

 

[port ewen ace]

looks like what schools serve kids for lunch