Madagascan Septarian Sphere - 63mm, 340g

Locality - Mahajanga, Madagascar
Size – 63mm
Weight – 340g

This septarian sphere features intricate 'cracked' patterns throughout with sandy brown limestone patches bordered with dark chocolate brown aragonite and lemon yellow calcite. It has been perfectly shaped and polished to a high lustre and displays well from all sides, ideal as a natural decor piece. A wooden sphere stand as pictured will be provided with this sphere.

The septarian stone, also called 'septereye' and 'septaria', is named after the Latin word 'septum', meaning 'partition', and refers to the cracks and separations characteristic of the rock, and not for the Latin name for 'seven' as widely believed. Septarian stones are a form of sedimentary geode formed on ancient sea floors during the Cretaceous period 50-70 million years ago. Though their formation is not completely understood, it is widely believed that it started when sea life killed by volcanic eruptions became trapped in sediment forming mud balls that dried and cracked when the ocean receded. As the ocean returned, decomposing shell life carried calcite into the cracks which crystallized. The yellow colour is caused by calcite, the brown lines by aragonite, the grey rock from limestone and the white or clear areas by barite.

Septarian stones are also known as 'Dragon Stones' due to an old Malagasy legend claiming the stones to be the fossilized remains of dragons, the cracked patterns resembling their scales.