Rugosa Horn Coral Fossil Value Guide

Rugosa Horn Coral fossils are prized by collectors for their distinct horn-shaped calcium carbonate skeletons dating back as far as 485 million years. These extinct solitary polyps are significant as they represent a major marine group that vanished during the 'Great Dying' mass extinction event.

What Is Rugosa Horn Coral Fossil Worth?

The typical price range for Rugosa Horn Coral Fossil is $10 - $15 based on recent sales. However, values can vary depending on the item's condition, rarity, and other factors such as:

• Specimen size and the completeness of the horn structure significantly impact the $10-$15 price range.
• The clarity of the radial septa and external rugae determines the desirability for scientific study.
• The type of preservation, such as silicification which allows for finer detail, can increase collector interest.
• Origin and provenance, specifically specimens sourced from well-known Paleozoic deposits in the United States.

How to Identify Rugosa Horn Coral Fossil?

• Look for the characteristic 'horn' shape with a pointed base and a wider, circular opening at the top.
• Examine the exterior for vertical ridges known as rugae, which give the coral its wrinkled appearance.
• Check for internal radial partitions called septa that are visible in the cross-section of the specimen.
• Verify the material composition, typically consisting of calcium carbonate, silica, or limestone matrix.

History of Rugosa Horn Coral Fossil

Rugose corals were a group of extinct corals that were abundant in the oceans from the Middle Ordovician to the Late Permian. Unlike modern corals, many species of Rugosa were solitary, living as individual polyps that built horn-shaped calcium carbonate skeletons. They went extinct during the Great Dying event approximately 252 million years ago.