The facts
What turritella Agate actually is
The species behind turritella Agate is chalcedony with fossil gastropods, SiO₂ + fossil shell; it forms in the trigonal (cryptocrystalline) system.
Brown-black silica host with pale fossil gastropod sections is responsible for the colour — and the chromophore, not the name, is what decides whether a colour is stable.
On the instruments it reads a refractive index of 1.530–1.539 and a specific gravity of about 2.55–2.70, with none cleavage.
Where turritella Agate comes from
Commercial material comes from Green River Formation, Wyoming, USA.
One source only — which is unusual, and which means an origin claim naming anywhere else is either a mistake or a different material.
How turritella Agate is treated
Untreated. The gastropod is actually Elimia tenera, not Turritella — the trade name is a long-standing misidentification.
We state the treatment on every stone, including when the honest answer is that it cannot be determined. A treatment disclosed is a fact; a treatment discovered later is a refund.
What turritella Agate is confused with
Watch for Dendritic agate, Fossil-bearing limestone and Resin imitations — these are what turn up sold under this name.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.530–1.539 and specific gravity 2.55–2.70 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What turritella Agate is used for
The trades that buy turritella Agate are jewellery, carving and sculpture, decorative objects and mineral collecting. They do not want the same thing, and they do not pay in the same unit.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the carat, by the block or by the piece.
Durability and care
Hardness 6.5–7; cleavage none. That combination decides what it can safely be set into.
With no cleavage plane to worry about, the practical limit is abrasion rather than breakage, and it takes daily wear well.
Warm water, mild soap and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners on anything fracture-filled, stabilised, dyed or visibly included.
What turritella Agate costs
Expect roughly $0.30–5/ct, depending on quality.
That is a range, not a quote. Colour, size, clarity, cut and origin move the figure a long way inside it, and the only honest price is one given against a specific stone. Send us what you need and we will price it.
Questions
Is turritella Agate treated, and how?
Untreated. The gastropod is actually Elimia tenera, not Turritella — the trade name is a long-standing misidentification.
Where does turritella Agate come from?
Green River Formation, Wyoming, USA. That is the only commercial source.
Is turritella Agate hard enough to wear every day?
Yes. At 6.5–7 on the Mohs scale with no cleavage plane, it handles daily wear well. The practical limit is gradual abrasion rather than chipping.
How much does turritella Agate cost?
Indicatively $0.30–5/ct. Colour, size, clarity and origin move the price a long way within that, so treat it as a range and ask for a quote against a specific stone.
What is turritella Agate confused with?
Most often Dendritic agate, Fossil-bearing limestone and Resin imitations. A refractive index of 1.530–1.539 and a specific gravity near 2.55–2.70 separate it quickly.
What is turritella Agate used for besides jewellery?
carving and sculpture, decorative objects and mineral collecting. Each of those trades buys it in a different form and a different unit.
Related stones
Looking for turritella agate?
Tell us the size, the quality and what it is for. We source it, photograph it and quote it — with the locality named.
Ask about turritella agate