Agatized oyster? Near Tampa FL

[Michael Marinelli]

Hi everyone,

 

Recently found this oyster shell specimen from an area near Tampa FL amongst dredged limestone where I’ve found agatized coral.  99% sure it’s fossilized (has a very small amount of limestone stuck to the bottom), but something interesting is that there appears to be botryoidal agate coating it.  Is this  an agatized oyster?  Is this a common find around tampa?  And can I bleach it to remove algae?

 

[Rockwood]

It does look much like the beekite seen on well silicified fossils. 

[Shellseeker]

2 hours ago, Michael Marinelli said:

Recently found this oyster shell specimen from an area near Tampa FL amongst dredged limestone where I’ve found agatized coral.  99% sure it’s fossilized (has a very small amount of limestone stuck to the bottom), but something interesting is that there appears to be botryoidal agate coating it.  Is this  an agatized oyster?  Is this a common find around tampa?  And can I bleach it to remove algae?

 

I hunt the Peace River and always enjoy finding Silicified or agatized fossils.  It is relatively rare, maybe 4-5 times a year,  but sometimes when I find one , I find lots...

 

 

 

To me, your piece is unusual.. Mine form inside "caves"  hollow spaces mostly inside broken shell. like these last 2 photos inside an oyster. I also find completely silicified barnacles

 

  

 

 

 

and oysters.

 

 

I have not found the the "Beekite"  that @Rockwood refers to... I'll have to educate myself.

[Rockwood]

Here is an example of what it reminded me of. A small rugose coral from a spoil pile at Mazonia in northern IL. 

[Shellseeker]

23 minutes ago, Shellseeker said:

I have not found the the "Beekite"  that @Rockwood refers to... I'll have to educate myself.

In searching this forum,  @LabRatKing seemed to have a suggestion on how to clean this type of fossil

[Michael Marinelli]

35 minutes ago, Shellseeker said:

I hunt the Peace River and always enjoy finding Silicified or agatized fossils.  It is relatively rare, maybe 4-5 times a year,  but sometimes when I find one , I find lots...

 

To me, your piece is unusual.. Mine form inside "caves"  hollow spaces mostly inside broken shell. like these last 2 photos inside an oyster. I also find completely silicified barnacles  

and oysters.

 

I have not found the the "Beekite"  that @Rockwood refers to... I'll have to educate myself.

 

Beautiful specimens! 

 

I also thought mine was a bit bizarre.  I went browsing online to find something like it and have yet to - all of the specimens i’ve seen are silicified and almost translucent.  Mine is completely opaque, and it doesn’t seem to be replaced by agate, just lightly coated with that beekite stuff that Rockwood mentioned.