This highly revered stone is actually a colony coral fossil. It was formed about 350 million years ago in the Devonian period, when land plants and primitive amphibians were just getting their start.

Characteristic to the Petoskey is it's intricate honeycomb pattern made of calcite. Each hexagonal cell is unique as is each collective colony of cells. The never ending variety of configurations makes each stone distinctive. The stones also vary in color due to the different sediments which became embedded into the coral. To add to the stone's intrigue, when dry, it is difficult to distinguish from more ordinary rocks. But when the stone is wet or polished, it's delicate pattern emerges and it is much more easily recognized.


The illusive Petoskey stone is found mostly in the northern portion of the lower peninsula of Michigan. In the Devonian period, Michigan was located near the equator and was covered by a shallow warm sea, which was ideal for the development of a large coral reef. As well as corals, the reef would have been home to clams, crinoids, trilobites and cephalopods. Fossil evidence of all these creatures can be found in Michigan, but the most prized is the Petoskey. The stone's popular status has earned it the distinction of becoming Michigan's State Stone.
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