Agatized Coral
Agatized Coral
Back in the 1970s, our family had a rock shop in Kensington, Maryland. It was called Nature’s Exotics. Whenever we went on a road trip, we always looked for places to collect rocks to stock the shop. Each winter we traveled to Florida over Christmas vacation. One year we discovered the strange and beautiful agatized fossil coral of Georgia and Florida. (For a full description and to get a feel for this site, see my short story “Agatized Coral” in the Jon’s Log section of the website). Since we have always been proficient at SCUBA diving, we brought these skills with us and have, by diving, found some of the most incredible specimens ever unearthed. We’ve continued diving those rivers for agatized coral ever since. We’ve mapped two dozen sites over the years and there are new discoveries every year. As a matter of course, all scientifically important specimens are donated to museums and universities, primarily the Florida Museum of Natural History in Gainesville. The photos you see here span over 50 years, starting in 1973.
How They Formed
These corals were living about 34 million years ago in a warm shallow sea in the area that is now southern Georgia and northern Florida. The fossils formed when coral heads, branches, and pieces broke away from the reef and were buried in sediment “traps” and “holes” that are often found in and around reefs. Over time, as the sediments piled up and pressure increased, the coral skeletons deteriorated. In some cases the coral completely dissolved away, in other cases they only partially dissolved. Later, quartz percolated through the layers, entering the cavities in the old coral pieces and filling them with agate. In many cases the filling is carnelian agate. In recent geologic time the entire area uplifted and erosion has exposed the old reefs – which have turned to karst limestone. But the old sediment traps and holes in the reefs still preserve the coral pieces that have turned to agate. Now, as rivers and creeks cut through the limestone that was once reef, the agate pieces are released. Because they are quartz, they can withstand years of tumbling along the river bottom before breaking up. That’s where we find them – at the bottom of the river. Many pieces are a result of agate lining the hollow space inside what was once a piece of coral – sort of a “casting” of agate after the coral deteriorated and left a hole in the sediment. However, some rarer pieces are created by agate replacement of the original corallites and still retain characteristics of the original microscopic structures.
Learn More
To get a feel for our digging at this site, see the story “Agatized Coral” in Jon’s Log section of this website and also check out our expedition video: “Agatized Coral”
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Agatized Coral (AC10)
These unique fossils are preserved corals that lived in large reef systems in Florida and Georgia about 34 million years ago. After the corals died, they were buried in deep sediments where the original corallite structures began to erode away. In some cases, this resulted in hollow cavities that were then coated in translucent agate, forming carnelian geodes. In others, the agate replaced the solids and retained images of the coral structures. We are the oldest and most experienced source for these unique fossils. Our teams have been SCUBA diving for these corals since the mid 1970s.
NOTE: Unusual piece with preserved coral structures. Cut and polished face. An attractive and informative display card accompanies the specimen.
SIZE: 6″x 5″x 5″
* Shipping includes packaging, insurance, and ground transport in the continental US. Inquire about shipping outside US.
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Agatized Coral (AC2)
Notes specific to this specimen: This is an exceptional and exquisite carnelian agate pair with rare fortified agatized cavities and preserved microscopic internal structures. This cut and polished pair is mounted on a pleasing piece of Suwanee Limestone – which is the matrix material these specimens originated from. No other preparator mounts these specimens on their native matrix. Honestly, most people don’t even know how they formed, much less know the association with Suwanee Limestone! You can see how translucent the hollows are – the carnelian agate just glows! Zoom in and look at the lighter colored sections below the hollow and you’ll see that it’s actually lace agate. We’ve never seen this before This is a one-of-a-kind beautiful pair!
SIZE: 9″x 4″x 5″
NAME: Several species
AGE: Oligocene Epoch- 34 million years
UNIT: Suwanee Limestone
SITE: Lowndes County, Georgia
DATE: 2021Documentation: This authentic fossil specimen comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and Origin. In addition, an attractive and informative display card accompanies the specimen.
$645.00Agatized Coral (AC2)
$645.00 -
Agatized Coral (AC3)
Notes specific to this specimen: This is an exceptional and exquisite carnelian agate pair with rare fortified agatized cavities and preserved microscopic internal structures. This cut and polished pair is mounted on a pleasing piece of Suwanee Limestone – which is the matrix material these specimens originated from. No other preparator mounts these specimens on their native matrix. Honestly, most people don’t even know how they formed, much less know the association with Suwanee Limestone! You can see how translucent the hollows are – the carnelian agate just glows! Zoom in and look at the lighter colored sections below the hollow and you’ll see that it’s actually lace agate. We’ve never seen this before This is a one-of-a-kind beautiful pair!
SIZE: 9″x 4″x 5″
NAME: Several species
AGE: Oligocene Epoch- 34 million years
UNIT: Suwanee Limestone
SITE: Lowndes County, Georgia
DATE: 2021Documentation: This authentic fossil specimen comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and Origin. In addition, an attractive and informative display card accompanies the specimen.
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Agatized Coral (AC4)
These unique fossils are preserved corals that lived in large reef systems in Florida and Georgia about 34 million years ago. After the corals died, they were buried in deep sediments where the original corallite structures began to erode away. In some cases, this resulted in hollow cavities that were then coated in translucent agate, forming carnelian geodes. In others, the agate replaced the solids and retained images of the coral structures. We are the oldest and most experienced source for these unique fossils. Our teams have been SCUBA diving for these corals since the mid 1970s.
Notes specific to this specimen: A very nice multi-chambered piece with a cut and polished carnelian agate face. It also has a natural opening on the other end. This specimen is mounted on native Suwanee Limestone – which is the matrix material these specimens weather out of. You won’t see that anywhere else.
SIZE: 8″ x 5″ x 5″
NAME: Several species
AGE: Oligocene Epoch- 34 million years
UNIT: Suwanee Limestone
SITE: Lowndes County, Georgia
DATE: 2021Documentation: This authentic fossil specimen comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and Origin. In addition, an attractive and informative display card accompanies the specimen.
$194.00Agatized Coral (AC4)
$194.00 -
Agatized Coral (AC5)
These unique fossils are preserved corals that lived in large reef systems in Florida and Georgia about 34 million years ago. After the corals died, they were buried in deep sediments where the original corallite structures began to erode away. In some cases, this resulted in hollow cavities that were then coated in translucent agate, forming carnelian geodes. In others, the agate replaced the solids and retained images of the coral structures. We are the oldest and most experienced source for these unique fossils. Our teams have been SCUBA diving for these corals since the mid 1970s.
NOTE: Corner hollow piece with cut base
SIZE: 4″x 5″x 4″
* Shipping includes packaging, insurance, and ground transport in the continental US. Inquire about shipping outside US.
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Agatized Coral (AC6)
These unique fossils are preserved corals that lived in large reef systems in Florida and Georgia about 34 million years ago. After the corals died, they were buried in deep sediments where the original corallite structures began to erode away. In some cases, this resulted in hollow cavities that were then coated in translucent agate, forming carnelian geodes. In others, the agate replaced the solids and retained images of the coral structures. We are the oldest and most experienced source for these unique fossils. Our teams have been SCUBA diving for these corals since the mid 1970s.
NOTE: This is a very nice cut and polished pair, mounted on another agatized coral that has a flat bottom. An attractive and informative display card accompanies the specimen.
SIZE: 4″x 4″x 6″
* Shipping includes packaging, insurance, and ground transport in the continental US. Inquire about shipping outside US.
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Agatized Coral (AC7)
These unique fossils are preserved corals that lived in large reef systems in Florida and Georgia about 34 million years ago. After the corals died, they were buried in deep sediments where the original corallite structures began to erode away. In some cases, this resulted in hollow cavities that were then coated in translucent agate, forming carnelian geodes. In others, the agate replaced the solids and retained images of the coral structures. We are the oldest and most experienced source for these unique fossils. Our teams have been SCUBA diving for these corals since the mid 1970s.
NOTE: A very nice multi-chambered piece cut and polished face. This specimen is mounted on native Suwanee Limestone – which is the matrix material these specimens weather out of. No other preparator mounts these speciemns on their native stone. An attractive and informative display card accompanies the specimen.
SIZE: 4″x 4″x 5″
* Shipping includes packaging, insurance, and ground transport in the continental US. Inquire about shipping outside US.
-
Agatized Coral (AC8)
These unique fossils are preserved corals that lived in large reef systems in Florida and Georgia about 34 million years ago. After the corals died, they were buried in deep sediments where the original corallite structures began to erode away. In some cases, this resulted in hollow cavities that were then coated in translucent agate, forming carnelian geodes. In others, the agate replaced the solids and retained images of the coral structures. We are the oldest and most experienced source for these unique fossils. Our teams have been SCUBA diving for these corals since the mid 1970s.
NOTE: A very nice multi-chambered piece cut and polished face. This specimen is mounted on native Suwanee Limestone – which is the matrix material these specimens weather out of. No other preparator mounts these speciemns on their native stone. An attractive and informative display card accompanies the specimen.
SIZE: 4″x 4″x 5″
* Shipping includes packaging, insurance, and ground transport in the continental US. Inquire about shipping outside US.
-
Agatized Coral (AC9)
These unique fossils are preserved corals that lived in large reef systems in Florida and Georgia about 34 million years ago. After the corals died, they were buried in deep sediments where the original corallite structures began to erode away. In some cases, this resulted in hollow cavities that were then coated in translucent agate, forming carnelian geodes. In others, the agate replaced the solids and retained images of the coral structures. We are the oldest and most experienced source for these unique fossils. Our teams have been SCUBA diving for these corals since the mid 1970s.
NOTE: Beautiful multi-chambered piece cut and polished face. An attractive and informative display card accompanies the specimen.
SIZE: 5″x 3″x 5″
* Shipping includes packaging, insurance, and ground transport in the continental US. Inquire about shipping outside US.
