Pondering again: One in my collection of stones. Can someone explain this intricate pattern? How it originated? How old would it be?

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Pondering again,

Mar 14, 2021 16:20:15 #

malvin

One in my collection of stones. Can someone explain this intricate pattern? How it originated? How old would it be?

Mar 14, 2021 16:36:23 #

Bob Mevis Loc: Plymouth, Indiana

Most likely volcanic in origin Looking at it, I can tell it is 32,182, 411 years 3 months and 29 days old ( grin).

Mar 14, 2021 16:43:13 #

wjones8637 Loc: Burleson, TX

The pattern is somewhat like a piece of fossil dinosaur bone that I got when a teenager.

Mar 14, 2021 16:49:28 #

dancers Loc: melbourne.victoria, australia

it IS very old........polished by the sea perhaps....

Mar 14, 2021 17:06:12 #

flip1948 Loc: Hamden, CT

malvin wrote:

One in my collection of stones. Can someone explain this intricate pattern? How it originated? How old would it be?

I think I may have found answers to your questions.

At first I searched agates which lead me to try jaspers, no luck on either. However, your specimen lead me to search for "fossil rocks" where I saw some similar to yours that are called "petoskey stones" which are a combination of rock and fossilized rugose coral. They are found along the shores of Lake Michigan and are the Michigan state stone. They are approximately 350 million years old.

Nice find, but won't get you rich. I believe they may fetch about $7 per pound, but there are limits to how much you can collect.

Here is an image of one similar to yours:

(Download)

Mar 14, 2021 17:10:47 #

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

flip1948 wrote:

I think I may have found answers to your questions... (show quote)

Good research.

Mar 15, 2021 06:17:22 #

Terkat

Good morning "flip",

Excellent reply ! I think all of the readers / posters learned something because of it.
Thanks.

All the best to you and yours,

Terry

Mar 15, 2021 10:04:01 #

AGO

I've got spots like that on my hands and I'm 70.

Mar 15, 2021 10:54:03 #

Menkaure Loc: Michigan

From Michigan... That is a Petoskey stone, 100%. Have collected a few from the Petoskey area beach myself.

Mar 15, 2021 12:00:59 #

SteveR Loc: Michigan

Menkaure wrote:

From Michigan... That is a Petoskey stone, 100%. Have collected a few from the Petoskey area beach myself.

I knew a Michigander would show up with the answer. For more info on how they were formed, here's the Wikipedia entry.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petoskey_stone

Mar 15, 2021 15:11:17 #

fetzler Loc: North West PA

flip1948 wrote:

I think I may have found answers to your questions... (show quote)

Indeed it is a Petoskey stone. I spent quite a bit of time in Petoskey, MI and the surrounding area as a youngster. I found many on the beach. The souvenir shops were full of them.

Mar 15, 2021 18:01:55 #

SteveR Loc: Michigan

I've still the one I got on vacation as a school aged kid in my desk.

Mar 15, 2021 23:35:42 #

scooter1 Loc: Yacolt, Wa.

flip1948 wrote:

I think I may have found answers to your questions... (show quote)