Opalized marine fossil

[jhannah]

I found this opalized fossil by a creekbank nearby. Looked like regular quartz until I cleaned it up. I wish I could show more detail in the pics, you can see squid of various sizes and tiny octopus, their suckers are iridescent. Also might contain crawdads/lobster and crabs, not sure. I'm looking for verification if possible and any extra info anyone can help me with. May send to GIA for certification to sell. Very minute detail and layered fossils, wondered if this might be a stomach of a marine animal or how this came to be made. Beautiful specimen.

[Kane]

Unfortunately, I am not seeing any distinguishing features of a fossil here. I think your first instinct of quartz (chert) is the correct one.

[Fossildude19]

Quartz pebble for me.

[Mark Kmiecik]

No opal. No fossil. Water polished quartz pebble.

[jhannah]

 

Obviously I'm not doing this stone justice with these pics. I'll try to upload some better ones for y'all.

 

6 hours ago, Kane said:

Unfortunately, I am not seeing any distinguishing features of a fossil here. I think your first instinct of quartz (chert) is the correct one.

 

[jhannah]

Obviously I'm not doing this stone full justice. I'll try to upload some better pics.

[Kane]

Is opal reported in Tennessee? I see nothing opalescent here. The most obvious diagnosis is quartz here. 

 

I think, at best, you might have some coral bits, but you might need to read into the stratigraphy of the area a bit more to know what is found in the area you collected it.

[Fin Lover]

38 minutes ago, Kane said:

Is opal reported in Tennessee?

From a quick online search, there is some in Overton County, but not Lawrence County.

[jhannah]

Actually, yes, we have a mine for opals in Bradley county and some have been found in Hardin county here in Tennessee. And I have done extensive research on the geology of the area plus water reports to see if conditions would even be favorable for the past epochs to support finding an opal in the present time period, as I was very skeptical of it's identity the first time I found one. I actually now have 3 in my collection from our local area, but I have been collecting my entire life too. But the answer is yes, we have limestone, sandstone and shale with sediments and chert. The water is silicate rich and has been since we were an underwater sea. And there is lots of iron oxides to support creation of black opals as well. So the answer to your question is actually yes.

[Tidgy's Dad]

Chalcedony is a possibility.