Fossil Coral Pecker - 1.5 inch
Fossil coral is a natural type of gemstone formed by ancient corals. The proper name for fossil coral is 'agatised coral' or 'agatised fossil coral', because during formation, the coral remains are gradually replaced with agate, a variety of naturally occurring chalcedony, or microcrystalline quartz. When prehistoric corals are fossilised through replacement with agate, the fossil coral forms through hardened deposits left by silica-rich waters. The entire process can take over 20 million years and occurs only under very unique geological conditions. Corals are marine animals and it is their skeletons that are fossilised and preserved, often leaving flower-like patterns in the stone.