DanaPhilmon Posted August 4, 2016 Share Posted August 4, 2016 (edited) Howdy, I need help in the identification of some very interesting coral fossils that were dug up about 17 years ago. I work in the excavation business and started noticing some formations in the material that was being brought to me on a golf course we were building in Naples Florida.The material was from on site from a lake being excavated at about 25 feet in depth close to I 75. When taken out of the ground it was a dull orange in color,like "Tang" in a glass.It soon turned to a skin color.some of these are agatetized coral I believe,others are not recognizable. After 17 years I have seen nothing like them,,can YOU help me?? I have about a ton "really" of this stuff and would like to be educated on it if anybody knows the answer. I think they are coral calcite? Please and Thank You.. Dana Philmon.. Edited August 4, 2016 by DanaPhilmon Link to post Share on other sites
Fossildude19 Posted August 4, 2016 Share Posted August 4, 2016 Hello, and Welcome to the Forum. I adjusted your pictures a bit for you. These look more mineral/geological than biological in origin, ... to me. I think we may need to see some higher resolution pictures, as these are rather fuzzy. Regards, Link to post Share on other sites
fifbrindacier Posted August 4, 2016 Share Posted August 4, 2016 I agree with Tim. Regards Link to post Share on other sites
JohnBrewer Posted August 4, 2016 Share Posted August 4, 2016 I agree with Tim too. They're pretty cool minerals though and welcome to the forum Link to post Share on other sites
DanaPhilmon Posted August 4, 2016 Author Share Posted August 4, 2016 More pics. Link to post Share on other sites
DanaPhilmon Posted August 4, 2016 Author Share Posted August 4, 2016 and more pics. Link to post Share on other sites
JohnBrewer Posted August 4, 2016 Share Posted August 4, 2016 The yellow one top of the middle picture reminds me of the stuff that stalactites/stalagmites are made of. Super cool! Link to post Share on other sites
fifbrindacier Posted August 4, 2016 Share Posted August 4, 2016 Nice minerals, it is a pity that the photos are so blurry. Link to post Share on other sites
Harry Pristis Posted August 4, 2016 Share Posted August 4, 2016 I think calcite is a likely ID. Calcite has over 300 forms. The abundant shells in the subsoil would provide calcium carbonate in solution. Calcite crystals could form around coral or just about any durable focus in the subsoil. Link to post Share on other sites
fifbrindacier Posted August 4, 2016 Share Posted August 4, 2016 I agree with Harry Pristis's ID. Link to post Share on other sites
pinkus Posted August 4, 2016 Share Posted August 4, 2016 One or two do really look like coral to me. I also agree with the statement that they look like karst calcite. Look up "travertine," that is what I suspect these are. Link to post Share on other sites
DanaPhilmon Posted August 4, 2016 Author Share Posted August 4, 2016 Some may be travertine,,but due to the bad clarity of the pics you cannot see very well the coral that is embedded in these..I am working on some better pics. Link to post Share on other sites
Harry Pristis Posted August 4, 2016 Share Posted August 4, 2016 Not travertine, not in Florida. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Travertine Link to post Share on other sites
DanaPhilmon Posted August 4, 2016 Author Share Posted August 4, 2016 more better pics.My other pics are to big. Link to post Share on other sites
DanaPhilmon Posted August 5, 2016 Author Share Posted August 5, 2016 Link to post Share on other sites
DanaPhilmon Posted August 5, 2016 Author Share Posted August 5, 2016 Link to post Share on other sites
DanaPhilmon Posted August 5, 2016 Author Share Posted August 5, 2016 Link to post Share on other sites
DanaPhilmon Posted August 5, 2016 Author Share Posted August 5, 2016 Link to post Share on other sites
DanaPhilmon Posted August 5, 2016 Author Share Posted August 5, 2016 Link to post Share on other sites
fifbrindacier Posted August 5, 2016 Share Posted August 5, 2016 No travertines at all here, sorry. Link to post Share on other sites
Khyssa Posted August 5, 2016 Share Posted August 5, 2016 Post 15, the middle picture, the bottom piece does look a bit like coral. I think I can make out a hint of polyps in a few areas. The piece above it is also interesting looking although I have no idea what it is. Link to post Share on other sites
MarcusFossils Posted August 5, 2016 Share Posted August 5, 2016 I think most of these may be coral covered in some mineral (perhaps clacite), but there's no doubt that there are at least a few nice pieces of coral amongst the pieces Link to post Share on other sites
DanaPhilmon Posted August 5, 2016 Author Share Posted August 5, 2016 I have some very large pieces of this engulfing coral,nearly all is coral just has a calcite covering the majority of the specimen.How long would it take the calcite to mineralize to this extent? Link to post Share on other sites
MarcusFossils Posted August 5, 2016 Share Posted August 5, 2016 I have some very large pieces of this engulfing coral,nearly all is coral just has a calcite covering the majority of the specimen.How long would it take the calcite to mineralize to this extent? Calcite can grow quite fast...not sure though, it depends. Link to post Share on other sites
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