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Coral or stromatolite or?


Ruger9a

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Had this for about 10-15 years and can't seem to nail a positive ID on my own.  Saw one similar to this in the group recently but can't relocate it.  Does anyone know what it is? 

DSCN4768 (2).JPG

DSCN4761 (2).JPG

DSCN4764 (2).JPG

DSCN4765 (2).JPG

DSCN4766 (2).JPG

DSCN4767 (2).JPG

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Looks like Heliolites sp to me. 

Here's one of mine from the Wenlock limestone, UK.

Heliolites.thumb.jpg.a4bfbf380621b2a76f083b8eeddd10d0.jpg

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MOTM.png.61350469b02f439fd4d5d77c2c69da85.png.a47e14d65deb3f8b242019b3a81d8160-1.png.60b8b8c07f6fa194511f8b7cfb7cc190.png

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Tis growing on other layers of coral. 

They often grow in this sort of stacked and uneven fashion. 

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MOTM.png.61350469b02f439fd4d5d77c2c69da85.png.a47e14d65deb3f8b242019b3a81d8160-1.png.60b8b8c07f6fa194511f8b7cfb7cc190.png

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10 minutes ago, Tidgy's Dad said:

Tis growing on other layers of coral. 

They often grow in this sort of stacked and uneven fashion. 

It's not coral all the way down. The base is a stromatoporoid. ;)

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1 hour ago, Rockwood said:

It's not coral all the way down. The base is a stromatoporoid. ;)

No, I don't think so.

Base is Heliolites.

DSCN4768 (2).JPG

Top is Heliolites :

DSCN4761 (2).JPG

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MOTM.png.61350469b02f439fd4d5d77c2c69da85.png.a47e14d65deb3f8b242019b3a81d8160-1.png.60b8b8c07f6fa194511f8b7cfb7cc190.png

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9 minutes ago, Tidgy's Dad said:

Base is Heliolites.

I guess it could be a thick layer of coenostrum around the dome of more obvious coralites.

It looks almost  layered to me though.

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1 hour ago, Rockwood said:

I guess it could be a thick layer of coenostrum around the dome of more obvious coralites.

It looks almost  layered to me though.

They do form in layers sometimes, both vertically, like the specimen shown, and radially, like this one of mine :

5e9b47f224cad_Heliolitesmegastoma1.thumb.jpg.be5d930e930fea2ca24224d5b65e1a5d.jpg

And cross-section :

5e9b485f1c0bc_Heliolitesmegastoma4.thumb.jpg.f3c0c9738dcdb9c53e31c14f8bdb07ee.jpg

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MOTM.png.61350469b02f439fd4d5d77c2c69da85.png.a47e14d65deb3f8b242019b3a81d8160-1.png.60b8b8c07f6fa194511f8b7cfb7cc190.png

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Thank you guys.  It looks like everyone agrees at least the "coating" is a Heliolite colony?  The differing matter seems to be whether it is a solid Heliolite colony or Heliolite on stromatolite?  Seems the only way to verify it is to split the clear/blueish/gray matter to see what the insides look like, which I prefer not to do.  I value both of your assessments based upon your knowledge and experience, thank you both so much for your help.   

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Indeed, I would leave it as it is. 

It's a nice specimen. :)

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Tortoise Friend.

MOTM.png.61350469b02f439fd4d5d77c2c69da85.png.a47e14d65deb3f8b242019b3a81d8160-1.png.60b8b8c07f6fa194511f8b7cfb7cc190.png

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