Petoskey Stone

Petoskey Stone

Petoskey stone is a fossilized coral, the state stone of Michigan and is commonly found along the shores of Lake Michigan and Lake Huron in the United States.

In 1965, it was named the state stone of Michigan. It was formed by the fossilization of ancient coral, hexagonaria. These corals lived in warm shallow seas that covered Michigan during Devonian time, some 350 million years ago.

During Devonian time, Michigan was quite different. Geographically, what is now Michigan was near the equator. The area covered by a warm shallow sea which was an ideal habitat for marine life.

Characteristic to the Petoskey is its intricate honeycomb pattern made of calcite. Each hexagonal cell is unique as is each collective colony of cells. The never ending variety of configurations makes each stone distinctive. The stones also vary in color due to the different sediments which became embedded into the coral. To add to the stone’s intrigue, when dry, it is difficult to distinguish from more ordinary rocks. But when the stone is wet or polished, it’s delicate pattern emerges and it is much more easily recognized.

The name Petoskey is a derivation of the name Petosegay, the name given to the son of a Frenchman who married an Ottwa Indian princess and later became the tribes’ chief . The translation means “rising sun” or “rays of dawn”.

www.indonesiajewelry.com