Coral

Coral fossil specimens available in this section allow geologists to detemine the flora and fauna of prehistoric environments and biomes. Coral is still alive today however, they have been around since the pre-Cambrian period, over 550 million years ago and have evolved in to a wide variety of species, some are colonial, growing in groups together while some are solitary. They form an important part of any marine environment often being shelters for some and food sources. Upon death, the corals base which is composed of calcium crystalises, leaving us with a specimen detailing almost exactly what the fossil specimen appears like in life.