Utah Septarians: Honey-Yellow Calcite and Dark Aragonite

While septarian nodules occur worldwide, finds from southern Utah (USA) hold a unique status. Among collectors, they are often considered the most brilliantly colored and graphically contrasting representatives of their kind. Septarian stones also known as "Dragon Stones" or "Dragon Eggs".

What Makes Utah Septarians So Special?

Unlike specimens from many other localities, those from Utah are characterized by a specific tri-coloration that lends them an almost painterly aesthetic:

The Gray: The outer matrix consists of gray limestone (bentonite clay).
The Dark Brown: The cracks are distinctively lined with dark brown Aragonite. This forms a razor-sharp, dark "border" around the inner crystals.
The Golden Yellow: The center of the cracks is filled with luminous, honey-yellow Calcite.

This strong contrast between the dark aragonite rim and the radiant calcite core gives Utah septarians their fine, graphic appearance, often reminiscent of lightning bolts or map-like branching.

Our Collection: From Geodes to Palm Stones

We have compiled a diverse selection of these US rarities for you and photographed each specimen individually. As the nodules in Utah are often very massive, they are excellently suited for various finishing techniques:

Polished Palm Stones ("Soap stones"): These approx. 10 cm large specimens are flattened at the bottom and gently rounded at the top, similar to a cabochon shape, and nestle wonderfully into the cupped hand. The full-surface polish brings out the complex vein network three-dimensionally – a top-class tactile stone.
Septarian Freeforms: Small sculptures made from this natural stone are true works of art.
Septarian Slices: Thinly cut cross-sections that present the star-shaped interior of the nodule like a graphic work of art.
Septarian Spheres: Can be found in a separate category.
Open Septarian Geodes: Some of the nodules are still hollow inside. The opened cavities are spectacular. You look directly at the tips of the honey-brown to yellow calcite crystals that have grown freely inside and sparkle.
Septarian Bookends: For this, massive nodules are halved and the outer edges partially left natural. They are heavy enough to hold books or CDs and combine practical use with geological aesthetics.

Geological Background: A Masterpiece of Desiccation

Each of these pieces is a sedimentary "time capsule" from the Cretaceous period (approx. 50–70 million years ago).

It is a sedimentary geode or concretion. Originally, these nodules formed from mud on the seabed. As this mineral gel dried out, magnificent radial fissures formed inside – so-called desiccation and shrinkage cracks.

In a second geological process, mineral-rich solutions seeped in. First, brown aragonite was deposited on the walls of the cracks before the remaining cavity was filled and "healed" with the characteristic honey-yellow calcite. This creates the beautiful contrast pattern that you can hold in your hands today.

Since every pattern is unique, we have photographed the septarians individually. You are guaranteed to receive the pictured specimen.

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Septaria cabochon

Utah,USA

Item-No.: 2834

Price: 109.00 EUR