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Belemnite

Belemnite is a fossil with a Mohs hardness of about 3 and a vitreous to dull luster, usually brown, gray or white.

The bullet-shaped calcite counterweight of an extinct squid relative. The chambered shell behind it is rarely preserved.

Belemnite specimen
Photo: Ghedoghedo, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

How to identify belemnite

  • A solid, finger-like or bullet-shaped stone.
  • Broken ends may show radiating calcite.
  • Fizzes in acid. No chambers running down the length.

Often confused with

Where it's found

  • Lyme Regis, England
  • Holzmaden, Germany
  • Morocco
  • South Carolina

Uses

Fossil collecting.

Rock tumbling

Not suitable for tumbling.

Did you know?

What you usually find is only the heavy calcite guard. The animal's chambered shell rotted away.

Belemnite FAQ

What is belemnite?

Belemnite is a fossil with a Mohs hardness of about 3 and a vitreous to dull luster, usually brown, gray or white. The bullet-shaped calcite counterweight of an extinct squid relative. The chambered shell behind it is rarely preserved.

How do you identify belemnite?

A solid, finger-like or bullet-shaped stone. Broken ends may show radiating calcite. Fizzes in acid. No chambers running down the length.

How hard is belemnite?

Belemnite has a Mohs hardness of about 3. A steel knife scratches Belemnite, but a fingernail doesn't.

Where is belemnite found?

Notable localities include Lyme Regis, England; Holzmaden, Germany; Morocco; and South Carolina.

What is belemnite used for?

Fossil collecting.

Can you tumble belemnite?

It isn't a good choice for a rock tumbler.

What is belemnite often confused with?

Belemnite is most often confused with Orthoceras and Baculites. Orthoceras is a straight shell with chamber walls across it. Baculites is a straight ammonite with wavy suture lines, not a solid rod.

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