Description

Outstanding Septarian sphere, 3.65#, with crystals.

The name septarian is from the Latin word ‘septum’, which means seven, or ‘saeptum’, meaning a wall or an enclosure. The stone also got its name because it seems to form in a pattern of seven.
These stones formed around 50 million years ago, with liquid filled with mineral matter being deposited into fissures, and then solidifying like concrete in these fissures, called concretions. The mudball that’s formed on the seabed splits into seven different points and radiates in all directions. You get the contrasting and distinctive dragon skin pattern as a result.
The yellow parts that you see are the calcite, and the brown lines are aragonite. The white lines are baryte, and the grey ones are either chalcedony or limestone.
Occasionally you will find a specimen that has crystals, these are particularly beautiful and desirable.
Weighs 3.65#, approximately 4 1/2″ diameter.