Where are turritella shells found?

Fossil and subfossil shells of Turritella communis have been found in interglacial strata in the North Sea, from the Late Pliocene to the Quaternary Period.

Are turritella still alive?

Answer 1: There certainly are turritellas living today- several hundred species! Many of them look very much like the fossil turritellas, which have been around since the Cretaceous Period. There is even one that makes its home in mudflats of Baja California: Turritella cooperi.

What is a turritella fossil?

Turritella Fossils come from France and are approximately 50 million years old. These gastropods are related to modern snails. They have beautiful coiled shells in an elongated cone and fossilize very well. First evolving in the Cretaceous Period and are still found today.

Is turritella Agate a fossil?

Turritella Agate is the popular name used for a brown, translucent to semi-transparent, fossiliferous agate found in the Green River Formation of Wyoming. It is very easy to recognize because it contains large fossil snails that stand out in a white-to-tan color that contrasts with the brownish agate.

What kind of fossils are found in Turritella?

Fossil species. Fossil specimens of Turritella incrassata. The genus is known from the Cretaceous to the Recent periods. The shells are quite frequently found as fossils, and the carbonate stone made from large quantities of Turritella shells is often referred to as “Turritella limestone”, or, if silicified, “Turritella agate”.

How big are the shells of a Turritella?

The fossil remains of turritella are the shells or the cast of shells from soft-bodied mollusks. Turritella are a type of sea snail with tall spiral shells. They vary in size from about 1/2 inch to 6 inches long. Turritella is a genus of medium-sized sea snails with an operculum, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Turritellidae.

What kind of rock does the Turritella snail live in?

They are also surprised by the cross-sections of the fossils that are visible in great detail on the slabs, cabs, and tumbled stones. Turritella is one of the most fascinating gem materials and a lesson in snail anatomy. The rock material that contains the fossil snails ranges from a shale to a sandstone.

What kind of stone is Turritella agate made of?

Both varieties of this stone are commonly sold as polished cabochons . One variety of “Turritella agate”, that from the Green River Formation in Wyoming, is a fossiliferous rock which does indeed contain numerous high-spired snail shells.