Charlevoix Stone is a silicified fossilized coral of the Favosites genus, often found as smooth cobbles along the northern shores of Lake Michigan. It is easily identified by its tightly packed, hexagonal corallite patterns that resemble a honeycomb structure, which becomes highly visible when polished. Collectors typically hunt for these in glacial till and along beach gravel beds.
Is this charlevoix stone?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch charlevoix stone with a known reference. Charlevoix Stone sits at Mohs 3-4, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Charlevoix Stone leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Charlevoix Stone typically shows a dull to earthy luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: gray, white, beige.
- 5Look at form & habitTypical habit: hexagonal.
Often confused with
Charlevoix Stone vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside charlevoix stone
Minerals reported to co-occur with charlevoix stone. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- CaCO₃
- Mohs hardness
- 3-4
- Density
- 2.6-2.7 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Dull to Earthy
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal habit
- Hexagonal
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Common
- Uses
- Lapidary, Collector, Decorative
- Host rock
- Sedimentary Limestone
Where rockhounds find charlevoix stone
26 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Charlevoix, Michigan, USA
- Lake Michigan shoreline
U.S. states with charlevoix stone
Each link opens a state-specific list of mapped rockhounding spots that produce charlevoix stone.
Field-hunting tip
Look in sedimentary limestone country, the host setting where charlevoix stone typically forms. If you start seeing calcite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a hexagonal habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in Michigan. Start trip planning there.
More charlevoix stone photos
Common questions
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Find charlevoix stone on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
