Gastropods Turritella (Fossils)

Marine snails whether freshwater or terrestrial are called the Gastropods, and are the most diversified class belonging to the mollusks family. These coiled shelled snails dated back to the Cambrian period. Gastropods have become so successfully adapted to almost every kind of existence on earth today. The marine variety of snail mostly lives in shallow waters, but could be found in depths of more than 15,ooo feet deep. Terrestrial Gastropods have colonized to the land and are known as the land snail and slug. Gastropods can be found today, worldwide in seas, oceans, rivers, and on land. . Gastropods usually preserve their entire shell, leaving only an empty mold. Their existence today amazes me.

Megalodon shark tooth, and Great white teeth (fossils)

The jaw of a Megalodon. This picture was taken at the aquarium in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
A piece of Megalodon tooth.

 

Megalodon lived during the Miocene and Pliocene eras, 15 million years ago. Their teeth ranged from 1.5 to 6.5 inches in length, some over 7 inches. Many Megalodon teeth have been discovered in both coasts of the U.S.A. but most occurrences are common in Virginia, the Carolinas, Georgia and Florida.

                                   Great white shark teeth

Misc. Fossilized Sharks Teeth

Sharks are a type of fish that have a skeleton of cartilage and because cartilage cannot be preserved, the sharks teeth and vertebrate are the only fossils left behind. Sharks date back to the Devonian period. These vertebrates are highly Mobile and very complex fish. Sharks have tooth like bones among their scales and numerous generations of teeth. Sharks have multiple rows of teeth in each row there are about 20 to 30 teeth. A whale shark might have 300 teeth per row. That's alot of teeth. Sharks lose many teeth at a time but they also have the ability to replace those that are lost in about 2-3 weeks. When collecting fossils choose locations like beaches, river banks and sand pits.

Orthoceras (fossils)

Orthoceras was an ancient Mollusk that dated back to the Silurian age 400 million years ago. They are the ancestors to the squid and its nickname was straight horn because their characteristics were of being long and straight. These straight shelled nautiloids ranged from less than a centimeter to more than 10 feet in length. Orthoceras could crawl the ocean floors as well as float through the water by propelling its self. Orthoceras fills its chamber inside their shells with air then squirting jets of water out. This way they could feed on the ocean floor and feed while floating. Many of these occurrences have been found in Morocco, and N.Africa and among many other places around the world.

Quartz SiO2 Silicate Group, subgroup Quartz

Smoky Quartz

Quartz

Quartz Crystals
Blue Quartz

Quartz Crystals

Kyanite Al2SiO4 Silicate Group

Physical feature

1. Color- Pale blue, gray , white

2. Streak- White.

3. Luster- Pearly to vitreous.

4. Cleavage- excellent.

5. Transparency- Translucent to transparent.

6. Fracture- None.

7. Hardness- 4(c axis) 7(b axis).

8. Forms- Long, lath-shaped crystals.

Kyanite is a gray greenish-blue. This mineral consisting of aluminium silicate in crystalline forms occurs in metaphoric rock. Kyanite is a very high pressure mineral, which means under extreme pressure the sedimentary rocks will change into metamorphic rocks. Kyanite is used as a refractory. In our modern world we manufacture spark plugs and other heat resistant ceramics from the mineral kyanite. Its also said to have the power of creativity and give one a sense of being calm and tranquil. Many of these mineral occurrences happen in mica schist's. Kyanite can be associated with staurolite, garnet, cornudrum, quarts and micas. Found in Europe, Russia and the U.S.A. (N. Carolina).

Agate SiO2 Silicate group, subgroup Quartz

Physical features

1. Color- Variable.

2. Streak- None.

3. Luster- Waxy.

4. Cleavage- None.

5. Transparency- Translucent to transparent.

6. Fracture- Conchoidal with sharp edges.

7. Hardness- 7.

8. Forms- Cryptocrystalline silica filling geodes.

Agate is a very common silica rich mineral, that is of a microcrystalline variety of quartz, also known as chalcedony. Agate is well known for it's brightly color banding. The bands are created by traces of iron and manganese. Agate formations occur when there is water containing alkali and silica. Iron hydroxide attacks the surrounding magma (lava) which then loses water and begins to crystallize. Many agates can also be hollow, since deposition has not proceeded enough to fill the cavity. When this happens it's known as a geode. Agate are found among volcanic rocks and ancient lavas, and in cavities as a secondary mineral, often found in metamorphic surroundings like granite intrusions, also can be in some sediments worldwide.

Moonstones KAISi3O8 Silicate Group, subgroup Feldspar

Physical feature

1. Color- Colorless, yellow, with a sheen of blue or pink.

2. Streak- White.

3. Luster- Vitreous to silky.

4. Cleavage- Perfect.

5. Transparency- Semi-Transparent.

6. Fracture- Uneven to conchoidal.

7. Hardness- 6 to 6.5.

8. Forms- Are very massive.

Feldspar's are minerals which cover almost two thirds of all the rocks on the earth. They are made up of aluminum silicates. Moonstone is one of many gemstone variety that belongs to the feldspar family. Moonstone is a translucent orthoclase which diffracts reflected light, this is how the moonstone gives off a mysterious shimmer of light. Granite is highly rich in feldspar. The occurrences of moonstone happen in pegmatites. As residual liquids cool from magma (lava) igneous rocks form producing an ideal growing environments. Beaches also have ideal conditions for moonstones occurrences, due to their high specific gravity and resistance to weather. I personally have found many moonstones along freshwater beaches. Although India is know for their moonstones, occurrences happen all over the world.

Freshwater pearls CaCO3 Organics Group

Physical features

1. Color- White to greenish-blue, pink and black.

2. Streak- White.

3. Luster- Pearly.

4. Cleavage- None.

5. Transparency- Translucent.

6. Fracture- Breaks uneven.

7. Hardness- 3.5 to 4.

8. Forms- Oval.

Pearls form inside any living mollusks. Most commonly grown in oysters but also occur in conchs, clams and even mussels. Mollusks live in both subtropical and tropical waters. Pearls form when a particle of sand, or by any other irritant that gets trapped between the shell and the soft outer body parts of the mollusk. In order for the mollusk to ease the irritation it secretes narc. Some pearls may even form a cyst due to encystation, and as the narc continues to secrete around the irritated area, layers begin to build, and after about 7 years a pearl will form. Freshwater pearls are fished out of rivers in Europe and the U.S.A. These pearls (shown above) are from Asia.

Brachiopods- Microspirifer (Fossils)

Brachiopods were one of the most common marine animals throughout the Cambrian period 450 million years ago. These bottom dwellers had two shells or valves that are joined along a common hinge. Brachiopods could be found along the ocean floor, where they would attach themselves with a pedicle (a type of feeler) from their backs. Brachiopods eat their food by filtering water, like a pump, pushing it in and out of its shell. Many reefs are composed of Brachiopods and in other environments where shale is isolated. Brachiopods can be found in clay sediments and in muddy conditions around water. Even though Brachiopods still survive today, they prefer cool, deep water conditions, and can be very rare. Note:) If Brachiopods are preserved well they can have amazingly delicate spines on their twin valves. Known occurrences of Brachiopods are Japan, Australia, New Zealand and the U.S.A. (North Atlantic coastline). Last year when visiting New York (Herkimer) I found many of these marine animals in the sediments along the West Canadian Creek.

Fern fossil

Fossils are the mineralized or otherwise preserved remains of animals, plants and any other living organism. Ferns first appeared during the Devonian, in highly vast areas worldwide which were covered in dense forests. Overtime these fern trees formed what are known as carboniferous coal swamps. Fossil ferns may be abundant and can usually be found where the environment is acidic. Coal deposits are a great location for many plant fossils. Fern fossils range in color from brownish black, whit, gray and tan. Pyrite and Pyrophyllite are the cause for the white coloration of the fern. There are many plant fossil occurrences all over the world. Fern fossils can be found in mudstones and shale. Large amounts have been found in Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

Spinosaurus AegyptiacusTeeth (Fossils)

Selenite CaSO4 2H2O Hydrous Calcium Sulfate (Gypsum). (satin spa, Desert rose)

Desert Rose
Desert RoseSatin Spa

Satin Spa

Swan Lake

Physical features

1. Color- colorless.

2. Streak- white.

3. Luster- Glassy or vitreous.

4. Cleavage- Excellent.

5. Transparency- Transparent to opaque.

6. Fracture- Conchoidal sometimes fibrous.

7. Hardness- 1.5-2.

8. Forms- Massive, flat, prismatic crystals.

There are many varieties of Gypsum, this variety is called Selenite. Gypsum is composed of calcium sulfate dihydrate. This piece of Selenite definitely has an obvious crystalline structure that is colorless. Selenite is a non-metallic mineral that can be easily scratched if not careful while holding. Never leave Gypsum in water for it will degrade itself. The mineral Gypsum is relatively common, although this variety of Selenite is less common due to its clear crystals. Selenite occurrences have been found in beds and sometimes massive in sedimentary rocks, like limestone's, shale, and clay. Gypsum is known in Russia, France and the U.S.A. (New York, Kentucky and Utah).

Citrine SiO2 Silicate Group, subgroup Quartz

Citrine with 18k gold

Physical features
1. Color- yellow to burnt orange.
2. Streak- White.
3. Luster- Vitreous.
4. Cleavage- None.
5. Transparency- Translucent to opaque.
6. Fracture- Conchoidal.
7. Hardness- 7.
8. Prismatic and terminated by rhombohedrons.
Citrine is the yellow or orange type of quartz. Natural citrine gets it's warm golden color from the element iron. Extreme heat can change the composition of the color, whether natural or man made. Most citrine has started out as amethyst then altered to get its color. Citrine is one of the fewest minerals on the earth which does not hold negative energy, it also is said to raise self-esteem and cheerfulness. Citrine is to be a stimulate for the memory and remove unwanted toxins from our bodies. Most occurrences can be found in Brazil, Spain and the U.S.A.

Azurite 2CuCO3.Cu(CO)2 Carbonate Group

Physical features
1. Color- Dark to vivid blue.
2. Streak- Pale blue.
3. Luster- Vitreous.
4. Cleavage- Excellent.
5. Transparency- Transparent.
6. Fracture- Conchoidal.
7. Hardness- 3.5-4.
8. Forms- Massive, prismatic, stalactitic, tubular.
Azurite is a carbonate. This magnificent mineral is deep azure blue. Azurite is soft and has monoclinic, tubular and columnar crystals. Most crystals are massive to nodular, some are even in stalactitic form. Heating Azurite would destroy it. In the ancient orient Azurite was used for dying, staining and painting murals. Many occurrences include Europe, Australia and the U.S.A. (Arizona and New Mexico). Azurite can be associated with many other minerals such as Malachite, calcite, quartz, native copper, limonite, and many other oxidized copper minerals. Azurite also reacts well with hydrocloric acid.

Ammonites (Cophinoceras)

Most fossils are impressions of the original organisms preserved in rock.From the late Silurian to early Devonian Ammonites were extremely abundant, during the Mesozoic era. A few million years later they became extinct. Ammonites had soft bodies and were also known to be agile and intelligent invertebrates. Their bodies had straight or coiled chambered shells and sometimes lined with mineral deposits called (Camerel). Ammonites were creatures of warm tropical waters and probably preyed on fish, crustaceans and other small ocean creatures. These organisms were said to be related to the Coleoidea (Octopus, squid and the cuttlefish). Ammonites were named after the Egyptian God Ammon 'The Rainbow Serpent'. Many of the ammonites today is found in sedimentary rock, like limestone, shale and clay, when found in clay their original mother-of-pearl coating is often preserved. Known occurrences are in Germany, England, and Madagascar.

Fish Fossil (Knightia Eocaenc)

Vertebrates date back to the Devonian period, about 48 million years ago. These vertebrates have internal skeletons and represent some of the most interesting organisms in fossil record. Fish fossils like the Knightia (shown above) are one of the oldest vertebrates, they first appeared in freshwater environments but the spread rapidly from lakes, to rivers and finally to the sea. Many fish fossil such as this herring like Knightia are found in the shale of The Green River formation in Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming.

Trilobite (fossils)

The Trilobite is apart of the invertebrates group, known as Arthropods. Trilobites are one of the most important fossil groups. These segmented Arthropods were the most numerous and successful marine organisms of the Paleozoic era. The name Trilobite derived from the three lobes in which each body segment is divided. They existed during the Cambrian period 570 million years ago, and ranged in size from less than an inch to over three feet. Trilobites lived in mainly shallow waters of the ocean reef. This marine animal is a relative of the modern crab and the lobster. Trilobite occurrences are found in sedimentary rocks, such as limestone's and shale. Many Trilobites have been found in the Hunsruckschiefer Fauna in Germany.

Labradorite NaAISi3O8 to 50 percent CaAIi2si2o8 70 to 50 percent Silicate Group, subgroup feldspar

Physical features

1. Color- Dull gray.

2. Streak- Satin to iridescent.

3. Luster- Colorless.

4. Cleavage- Perfect basal.

5. Transparency- Translucent to transparent.

6. Fracture- Conchoidal

7. Hardness- 6.3

8. Forms- Granular with large crystals.

Feldspar's make up for more than 50 percent of the earths crusts, they are even more common

than quartz. This particular feldspar is Labradorite. Amazingly beautiful, this mineral is dark blue and dull. When viewed in certain angles, the shimmering surface shows iridescent colors, such as blue, green and even dark violets. Most mineral occurrences are basic to intermediate found in igneous rocks with low silica. This piece of labradorite was found in the U.S.A (New York) Scandinavia and Canada have been known for there feldspar's as well. Other minerals that can be associated with Labradorite are biotite, pyrovene and hornbled.

Geodes

Geode Nodule
Geode Nodule

Geodes are oblong shaped rocks, which contain a hollow cavity lined with crystals. Some of the crystals which form on the inside of geodes can contain clear, pure quartz crystals and others have purple amethyst crystals, although agate, chalcedony, and such minerals as dolomite and calcite are also formed. Geodes form in the hollow areas of sedimentary rocks, animal burrows, tree roots, and can be formed as bubbles in volcanic rock. Overtime dissolved minerals seep into the hollow areas and harden, creating the geode. As layers of silica cool, crystals of different minerals begin to form within the cavity walls. When a geode is completely filled with crystals it's called a nodule. Geodes are formed throughout the world, but most are found in formations located in the deserts volcanic ash beds, even in limestone. Many geodes are found in the U.S.A (California, Arizona, Indiana, and many other locations) in fact the geode is Iowa's state rock.

Pyrite FeS2 Sulfide Group

Physical features

1. Color- Brassy- yellow.

2. Streak- Greenish black.

3. Luster- Shiny metallic.

4. Cleavage- Poor.

5. Transparency- Opaque crystals.

6. Fracture- Conchoidal.

7. Hardness- 6 to 6.5 .

8. Forms- Cubes, pytitohedrons often intergrown.

Pyrite is well known as fool's gold. Prospector's actually thought they had found gold, but it turned out to be the mineral pyrite. There are many varieties of pyrite, and they are the most common of the sulfide group. Pyrite has a beautiful shiny metallic luster. This mineral has been used to produce sulfur, sulfuric acid, and iron. Most occurrences are found in nodules all over the earth's crust. Pyrite was named after the Greek word for fire and if hit with steel can cause sparks. Quartz, calcite, gold,galena and many other minerals can be associated with pyrite.

Fluorite CaF Halide Group

Blue John

*

Physical features
1. Color- Colorless, blue, yellow green, brown, violet, and pink.
2. Streak- White.
3. Luster- Vitreous.
4. Cleavage- Perfect.
5. Transparency- Transparent to sub transparent.
6. Fracture- Conchoidal to flat.
7. Hardness- 4.
8. Forms- Cubes.
Fluorite is known for it's brilliant colors, and gets its name from the fact that it fluoresces under ultraviolet light. This attractive mineral is the natural crystalline form of calcium fluoride. Pure Fluorite is crystal clear, however can show many different shades such as violet, blue, green yellow, brown, pink, and black. The change in colors are due to tiny amounts of other elements taking place of the calcium in the molecular structure. Fluorite mostly occurs in mineralized veins in limestone bedrocks, and also in granite. The most common uses for this important mineral is flux in steel and in aluminum processing. Much of the important Fluorite deposits are in the U.S.A and can be found at Rosidare and Cave-in-rocks of Illinois, and many other places around the world.