Chalcedony ps. After fossil sponge (2016 find)

Item Description

Strange looking two-sided fossil pseudomorphs from recent finds in Morocco. Three-toned, translucent, dark brown, light brown and whitish chalcedony has replaced a sculptural globular, bubbly colonial sponge. The darker brown chalcedony is restricted to the smaller sponges on either side 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.