Turritella Pendant

Turritella Pendant in 925 Sterling Silver:

Turritella refers to a group of ancient marine snails (gastropods) with long, tightly spiraled shells. These creatures lived in shallow seas millions of years ago, and their shells are now commonly found fossilized in stone.

The important (and often confusing) part:

What’s sold in the jewelry world as “Turritella Agate” is not actually agate, and the fossils inside are not technically Turritella.

What it really is

• Fossilized freshwater snail shells (most often Elimia tenera)

• Preserved in a chalcedony / chert matrix

• Primarily found in Wyoming (Green River Formation)

• Around 50 million years old (Eocene Epoch)

The stone kept the name “Turritella” because early geologists misidentified the shells, and the name stuck.

Why it’s special

• Those visible spirals are real fossil shells, not carvings or patterns

• Each piece is a literal snapshot of an ancient ecosystem

• The contrast between the dark brown/black stone and pale fossil spirals makes it instantly recognizable

Geological significance

Turritella fossil stone tells a story of:

• Ancient lake beds

• Shifting climates

• Life thriving long before humans existed

It’s one of the few stones where you can clearly see individual organisms preserved in time.

Symbolism 

• Connection to Earth’s deep history

• Continuity, endurance, and time

• A reminder that life adapts and leaves its mark