The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

PETOSKEY STONE

THESE STONES ARE A FOSSILIZED CORAL (HEXAGONARIA) WHICH CONSIST
OF A CYLINDRICAL GEOMETRIC LATTICE OF SIX-SIDED CORAL STEMS ABOUT
A QUARTER INCH ACROSS WITH A SMALL CIRCLE INSIDE EACH ONE. THE
FOSSILS ARE A HARD ROCK WHICH TAKES AN EXCELLENT POLISH AND IS
COMMONLY USED IN SOUVENIR JEWELRY, ETC. UNOFFICIALLY MICHIGAN'S
STATE STONE, IT CAN BE FOUND IN GRAVEL PITS AND SHORES FROM
HIGGINS LAKE TO THE LOWER U.P. (UPPER PENINSULA). NAMED FOR
PETOSKEY, MICHIGAN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 10-30-1968