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Have you ever heard about the Petoskey and Charlevoix stone? If you haven’t, the Petoskey stone is Michigan’s state stone and the Charlevoix stone is its lesser-known cousin.
The Petoskey is a fossilized pre-historic coral known as Favosite. These stones are distinguishable based on their unique exoskeleton structures. The actual stones are made up of hexagonaria percarinata which consists of tightly packed, six-sided corallites, which are the skeletons of the once-living coral polyps. The center of each polyp was the mouth and contained tentacles that reached out for food. The hexagon shape of each cell and thin lines radiating out from the dark “eye” in the center are distinguishing features unique to this fossil. (Charlevoix stones have smaller "eyes" compared to the Petoskey)
Is there a difference between a Charlevoix and Petoskey stone?
Yes, there is a difference between a Charlevoix and Petoskey stone. The Charlevoix stone has a smaller exoskeleton compared to its cousin the Petoskey stone. It’s not uncommon to find both of these unique fossils while exploring area beaches.
Where can you find these stones?
While visiting the Charlevoix, it’s not unusual to see people strolling along the shorelines of Lake Michigan looking for these beautiful natural fossils. With numerous public beaches, rock hounds are guaranteed to find a treasure or two. Stop by any one of these areas to find stones:
How do you actually find these stones?
The age-old question of where to find Petoskey and Charlevoix stones. First, find an area of beach on Lake Michigan that is uncrowded and is somewhat rocky. You can find these fossils in the presence of other stones, but not on sand-only beaches. Storms and wind generally churn up the lake and can provide great stone deposits, but can also clear the beach of stones.
Second, you need to be patient. You could spend an hour walking along the shoreline of Lake Michigan and only find a few Petoskey or Charlevoix Stones. Don’t be frustrated, rock hunting requires lots of patience. With each stone you find, it becomes easier to identify these stones.
Important Rules to Know
When rock hunting, it’s extremely important to be aware of any state or federal laws.
Insider Tips
Explore area beaches to find Petoskey stones or set a course for Charlevoix's amazing outdoor trails. Request free travel information today.