Bronzviking Posted January 14, 2019 Share Posted January 14, 2019 I found this awesome glittery piece on the beach in Tampa Bay. It is kind of layered and has a cheesecloth pattern on it. It is about 2 x 2 1/2 inches in diameter and about 1 1/4 inches in height. It is lighter than my typical coral finds. It has what looks like 2 bore holes that go right through. I'm not seeing any corallites so I'm leaning towards a sponge. I have 3 photos-- top/bottom and one side view. (Note: photos don't capture the crystallization) What do you think it is? Thanks in advance. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abyssunder Posted January 14, 2019 Share Posted January 14, 2019 maybe a glass sponge? 2 " We are not separate and independent entities, but like links in a chain, and we could not by any means be what we are without those who went before us and showed us the way. " Thomas Mann My Library Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Innocentx Posted January 14, 2019 Share Posted January 14, 2019 This may yet be a coral where distinguishing characteristics have been worn gone. 1 "Journey through a universe ablaze with changes" Phil Ochs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SailingAlongToo Posted January 14, 2019 Share Posted January 14, 2019 Looks like coral to me. 1 Don't know much about history Don't know much biology Don't know much about science books......... Sam Cooke - (What A) Wonderful World Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Innocentx Posted January 14, 2019 Share Posted January 14, 2019 I played with your second photo and can see hexagonal shapes here: "Journey through a universe ablaze with changes" Phil Ochs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Dente Posted January 14, 2019 Share Posted January 14, 2019 I think it’s a very eroded bryozoan. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tidgy's Dad Posted January 14, 2019 Share Posted January 14, 2019 Coral for me. Interesting piece. 1 Life's Good! Tortoise Friend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abyssunder Posted January 14, 2019 Share Posted January 14, 2019 I'm wondering what might be the stellate features in the circled in red areas: septa, spicules, acicular crystals, or something else? 2 " We are not separate and independent entities, but like links in a chain, and we could not by any means be what we are without those who went before us and showed us the way. " Thomas Mann My Library Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Pristis Posted January 14, 2019 Share Posted January 14, 2019 Fossil corals from Tampa Bay (at least from the 'Silex beds') do not preserve in this fashion. On the other hand, colonial algae might build a skeleton much more randomized than a corallum. I just don't know enough about colonial algae or sponges to hazard a guess. Is it calcium carbonate or silicified? 1 http://pristis.wix.com/the-demijohn-page What seest thou else In the dark backward and abysm of time? ---Shakespeare, The Tempest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronzviking Posted January 15, 2019 Author Share Posted January 15, 2019 1 hour ago, abyssunder said: I'm wondering what might be the stellate features in the circled in red areas: septa, spicules, acicular crystals, or something else? Looking under magnification I'm leaning towards spicules or unknown. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goatinformationist Posted January 15, 2019 Share Posted January 15, 2019 Shiny like glassy, and light weight? It looks like pumice to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronzviking Posted January 15, 2019 Author Share Posted January 15, 2019 1 minute ago, goatinformationist said: Shiny like glassy, and light weight? It looks like pumice to me. No not glassy, sparkly like diamonds. It's lighter than my coral but still has weight and pumice is not typically found in Florida, but thanks for looking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronzviking Posted January 15, 2019 Author Share Posted January 15, 2019 1 hour ago, Innocentx said: I played with your second photo and can see hexagonal shapes here: Thanks for enlarging. So what does the hexagonal shapes tell us? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ynot Posted January 15, 2019 Share Posted January 15, 2019 51 minutes ago, Bronzviking said: So what does the hexagonal shapes tell us? That it is from a biologic source and is not pumice. 1 Darwin said: " Man sprang from monkeys." Will Rogers said: " Some of them didn't spring far enough." My Fossil collection - My Mineral collection My favorite thread on TFF. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Innocentx Posted January 15, 2019 Share Posted January 15, 2019 @Bronzviking Did you do the fizz test yet? "Journey through a universe ablaze with changes" Phil Ochs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronzviking Posted January 15, 2019 Author Share Posted January 15, 2019 2 hours ago, Harry Pristis said: Fossil corals from Tampa Bay (at least from the 'Silex beds') do not preserve in this fashion. On the other hand, colonial algae might build a skeleton much more randomized than a corallum. I just don't know enough about colonial algae or sponges to hazard a guess. Is it calcium carbonate or silicified? I agree it doesn't look like our typical coral. Is there a test I could do to differentiate the two? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ynot Posted January 15, 2019 Share Posted January 15, 2019 6 minutes ago, Bronzviking said: I agree it doesn't look like our typical coral. Is there a test I could do to differentiate the two? Hardness test would be the easiest, does it scratch a knife blade? Yes=silicate No=calcite 1 Darwin said: " Man sprang from monkeys." Will Rogers said: " Some of them didn't spring far enough." My Fossil collection - My Mineral collection My favorite thread on TFF. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Dente Posted January 15, 2019 Share Posted January 15, 2019 Here's a modern bryozoan that I picked up on a beach in North Carolina. Some of the structure is very similar to Bronzviking's piece (inset). 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronzviking Posted January 15, 2019 Author Share Posted January 15, 2019 20 hours ago, ynot said: Hardness test would be the easiest, does it scratch a knife blade? Yes=silicate No=calcite It scratched a Swiss pocket knife blade. So would that be a hardness of 7? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronzviking Posted January 15, 2019 Author Share Posted January 15, 2019 10 hours ago, Al Dente said: Here's a modern bryozoan that I picked up on a beach in North Carolina. Some of the structure is very similar to Bronzviking's piece (inset). The structure looks very similar. Thanks for posting the photo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abyssunder Posted January 15, 2019 Share Posted January 15, 2019 Recent corals or bryozoans are not agatized. Maybe there's a chance for glass sponges, already silicified? link 2 " We are not separate and independent entities, but like links in a chain, and we could not by any means be what we are without those who went before us and showed us the way. " Thomas Mann My Library Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Innocentx Posted January 16, 2019 Share Posted January 16, 2019 @abyssunder. Great article. Sponges are so unique in their ways. 1 "Journey through a universe ablaze with changes" Phil Ochs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abyssunder Posted January 16, 2019 Share Posted January 16, 2019 20 minutes ago, Innocentx said: Sponges are so unique in their ways. I agree with you! " We are not separate and independent entities, but like links in a chain, and we could not by any means be what we are without those who went before us and showed us the way. " Thomas Mann My Library Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ynot Posted January 16, 2019 Share Posted January 16, 2019 2 hours ago, Bronzviking said: So would that be a hardness of 7? If the only 2 choices are calcite and quartz minerals, yes. A knife blade (steel) is around 5 on the mohs scale. Darwin said: " Man sprang from monkeys." Will Rogers said: " Some of them didn't spring far enough." My Fossil collection - My Mineral collection My favorite thread on TFF. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronzviking Posted January 16, 2019 Author Share Posted January 16, 2019 Thanks for everyone's input. The knife test shows silicate, not calcite. We have many theories; coral, sponge, bryozoan and colonial algae. Should I put this in the unknown pile or do we have anymore IDs? Can you take a look at this piece please? @Johannes @digit @Plantguy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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