Chalcedony ps. After fossil sponge (2016 find)

Bu Craa, Laayoune Province, Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra Region, Morocco
Miniature, 4.6 x 4.2 x 2.8 cm
Start Time: 09/21/2018 6:30:00 pm (CDT)
End Time: 09/27/2018 6:30:00 pm (CDT)
Auction Closed

Item Description

Weird looking two-sided fossil pseudomorphs from recent finds in Morocco. Two-toned, translucent, brown and whitish chalcedony has replaced a sculptural globular colonial sponge. The darker brown chalcedony is restricted to the smaller sponges on one side and adds a striking visual aspect to this piece. This one has a strange biomorphic head shape look to it, with two offset bulging brown "eyes" and a brown mustache or fat "lips". Originally marketed in Europe as being from Smara, Western Sahara, these are actually from these obscure open-pit phosphate mines, that have also produced snow-white quartz geodes (MINDAT). The deposits are Upper Cretaceous - Eocene age, 100-34 MYA.

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