North America, Southern United States, Florida, Oligocene period, ca. 34 to 28 million years ago. This is large and otherworldly agatized and fossilized coral geode that resembles a miniature cave! Over millions of years, silica replaced the calcium carbonate skeleton, creating a chalcedony agate pseudomorph after coral! The piece was halved and the interior cavities of both are exposed to view the unusual semi-translucent chalcedony structures in a warm apricot tone, which has a fascinating sugary texture and bubble-like appearance known as botryoidal - certainly surreal! When lit from behind the structures emit a warm ethereal orange glow- and we highly recommend displaying in a window or backlighting these pieces! Agatized coral is highly prized not only by fossil collectors but by gem and mineral collectors as well and finding such a large piece with intriguing internal structures is a rarity. Size: 8.5" L x 3.5" W x 11.75" H (21.6 cm x 8.9 cm x 29.8 cm)

Exquisite forms from Florida are especially in demand as the state produces some of the finest examples of this geological oddity in the entire world. In fact, agatized coral is the state rock of Florida! Hundreds of agatized coral specimens must be found and sliced to even find one like this with botryoidal crystals! Agatized coral of this quality is so rare that it is usually cut up and used in very expensive pieces of custom jewelry. As a complete crystal specimen, this large example is worth even more in its natural state!

Provenance: private southwestern Pennsylvania, USA collection, acquired prior to 2000

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Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.

#159938

Professionally cut and edges are polished. Intact with no repairs or restoration.