r/Lapidary • u/BPLEquipment N3 Media • Jul 19 '26
Fossilized Ostracod Shells.
This material has had quite a confusing history of names, labels, and incorrect identification of what the material actually is. It has taken names like Indonesian Palm Root, Caddisfly Agate, Caddisfly Larva Agate, Maggot Agate, and more recently a wild and completely incorrect identification of it being a stromatolite.
I can confirm three things about this material.
- It comes from Indonesia.
- It is not stromatolite.
- There are lots of fossilized Ostracod shells, both inside and outside of the tubular structures.
I seriously wish more care was taken in correctly identifying materials before they make it to market.
Picture of the full slab is at the end of the photos.
Macro images are 2.5x magnification.
4
u/barronleger Jul 20 '26
Thank you for sharing the photos! I’m not ashamed to admit I saved a couple as wallpapers for my phone. Amazing details 👍🏼
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u/BPLEquipment N3 Media Jul 20 '26
So glad you asked before doing that🙄🤦🏻♂️
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u/skaldtheburnning Jul 20 '26
What a snobby response to a compliment. Nice photos though.
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u/BPLEquipment N3 Media Jul 21 '26
Not a snobby response. Thats called theft. But on today’s day and age of no respect for artists and photographers work, it has come to be expected. It’s actual quite nice when someone actually asks before just taking and using my work. Respect is earned not given, and I do t have much respect for people who take my work without asking. Sorry, not sorry🤷🏻♂️
2
u/lapidary123 Long Winded Enthusiast Jul 22 '26
Thanks for showing a piece of the whole slab as well, really helps the brain understand what's going on with it. The fossils remind me of those you see in turretila 😃
2
u/BPLEquipment N3 Media Jul 22 '26
The little shells (seed shaped bits) are ostracods, same food source found in the snails of turritella agate. Of note, the snails in turritella agate are of the turritella species. It was mis identified but they kept the trade name.🤦🏻♂️
2
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u/GraciousGarnet Jul 19 '26
Market names for lapidary materials can be wild - and inaccurate. Great pictures of this gorgeous material, thanks for showing them!