Fish Fossil - Syngnathus sp. (Pipefish) Amber The “Benz” part of the

The “Benz” part of the name comes from the tip of some calcite crystals which have a clearly defined three-pointed star of pyrite

and is one of the more common gems although pieces of exceptional hue and clarity are considered fairly rare and can be extremely valuable

a ghost or phantom of the crystal during its formation still remaining in the interior

highly variable Chalcedony spheres or roses are almost geode-like in appearance and one can clearly see the process of geode or agate formation in progress in each specimen

Fish Fossil - Syngnathus sp. (Pipefish) Amber The “Benz” part of thePipefish are a widespread group of tropical marine and freshwater fish most closely related to the more well known seahorses. Their unique elongated and heavily armored bodies along with their tube like snouts make pipefish, both extinct and modern, almost unmistakable for any other species. These well preserved and larger sized fossils originate from the Monterey Formation in California, from the middle Miocene around 12 16 million years ago. Each