Fossil Algae Citrine Agate 13.2 lbs — Washington County, Missouri
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900 million years old. Fossilized algae colonies are preserved inside this citrine agate — ancient single-celled organisms trapped in silica as the agate formed around them. The citrine druzy grew later, filling the remaining cavity with golden crystal. You're looking at two geological events separated by hundreds of millions of years in a single specimen.
ABOUT ▾
A museum-quality citrine agate from Washington County, Missouri — the same historic mineral district as its companion piece in this collection. At 13.2 pounds and roughly 14x12x4 inches, this is a serious display specimen.
What makes this piece extraordinary is the fossilized algae visible throughout the agate matrix. These are stromatolite-like structures — colonies of ancient cyanobacteria that lived roughly 900 million years ago during the Proterozoic Eon, long before complex life existed on Earth. The silica-rich fluids that formed the agate preserved these organisms in place, and later, citrine crystals grew in the remaining open space.
The result is a specimen that tells two stories at once: the ancient biological world preserved in stone, and the mineral world that crystallized around it. This is Washington County lace agate at its finest.
FORMATION ▾
In this specimen, the agate captured fossilized algae — ancient photosynthetic organisms that had colonized shallow waters around these volcanic formations. As the agate encased them, their structures were mineralized and preserved. The golden citrine druzy lining the interior cavity formed later, when iron-bearing silica solutions crystallized as macrocrystalline quartz in the remaining open space.
The agatized exterior shows the classic banding that Washington County material is known for — sometimes called "lace agate" for its intricate patterns.
DETAILS ▾
• Weight: 13.2 lbs (6 kg)
• Dimensions: Approximately 14 x 12 x 4 inches
• Origin: Washington County, Missouri, United States
• Age: Agate host rock: Precambrian (~1 billion years); fossil algae: ~900 million years
• Features: Fossilized algae inclusions, citrine druzy interior, agatized banded exterior (Washington County lace agate)
• Mohs hardness: 7 (quartz/citrine) / 6.5–7 (agate)
• One of a kind — you receive this exact specimen
HOW TO DISPLAY ▾
This is a conversation piece. The fossil inclusions are visible to the naked eye and reward closer inspection. Consider pairing it with its companion specimen — the 8 lb Citrine Agate Cluster from the same Missouri locality — for a collected, museum-style display. Both pieces share the same geological origin and visual warmth.
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