Chalcedony ps. After fossil sponge (2016 find)

Item Description

A bizarre looking two sided pseduomorph from recent finds in Morocco. Two-toned, translucent, brown and whitish chalcedony has replaced a sculptural globular colonial sponge. The brown chalcedony is restricted to one side with the smaller sponges and adds a striking visual aspect to this piece. Originally marketed in Europe as being from Smara, Western Sahara, these are actually from these obscure open-pit phosphate mines, that have also produced snow-white quartz geodes (MINDAT). The deposits are Upper Cretaceous - Eocene age, 100-34 MYA.