As the photo at right illustrates,
this fossilized horn coral can cut into gorgeous cabochons. This is very difficult
material to find. We heard that the mine where it comes from was closed due to being
included into a National Monument. However, we also heard from a reliable source that the reason for a scarcity of this fine lapidary material is access to the area has been cut off. We were fortunate to obtain this rough from
old collections.
This fossil coral comes from the Mississippian Period
which dates to 340 million years old and falls within the Paleozoic
Era.
Fossil Horn Coral is agatized. So, it cuts like agate and takes
a fine polish with tin or cerium oxide and diamond. Mohs hardness 6.5 to
7.
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