Cretaceous Fossil Coral Pendant Late Cretaceous Solitary Coral in Sterling Silver 925 - Height: 42 mm - Width: 30 mm- 10 g - (1)

Coral fossil — Pendant in Sterling Silver 925 that houses an authentic fossil coral of the genus Cunnolites, also known in paleontological literature by the name Cyclolites. The specimen comes from Morocco and is attributed to the Upper Cretaceous, a period roughly between 100 and 66 million years ago. Unlike branched corals that form the great colonies of coral reefs, Cunnolites was a solitary coral: a single marine polyp built a calcareous skeleton generally discoidal, circular or elliptical. These organisms populated shallow marine environments, often characterized by sedimentary bottoms. One of the most interesting features of the genus is the difference between the two surfaces of the skeleton. The upper region, which housed the polyp, displayed numerous calcareous septa arranged radially, while the lower could be lined with a thin calcareous structure called the epitheca, with concentric lines and folds tied to growth. In the fossil set in this pendant one can observe exactly a succession of concentric reliefs, distributed around a slightly prominent central region. The surface preserves earthy brown tones, stone gray and bronze hues, with small irregularities that attest to the nature of the specimen. A particularly curious aspect concerns the living mode of these ancient corals. Some forms of Cunnolites could develop resting on marine sediments, without building branched colonies. Paleontological studies have documented specimens on which other marine organisms settled later, including oysters and additional corals, transforming the skeleton into a tiny habitable surface on the seafloor. The fossil is enclosed in a pendant mounting in Sterling Silver 925, made with a continuous bezel that follows its natural profile. The polished surface of the silver contrasts with the coral texture, enhancing its structure without concealing details. The counter-clasp allows the pendant to be worn with different types of chains. The jewel unites two distinct aspects: the natural value of an extinct marine organism and the contemporary craftsmanship of silver. Each relief preserved on the surface of the fossil belongs to a biological structure formed millions of years before the appearance of humans, when the seas of the Cretaceous hosted marine communities very different from today. Main features Fossil: Cunnolites (Cyclolites) sp. Type: solitary fossil coral Class: Anthozoa Order: Scleractinia Family: Cunnolitidae Geological period: Upper Cretaceous Fossil provenance: Morocco Mounting: Sterling Silver 925 Type of jewelry: pendant with natural fossil