Coralliths

Coralliths are a type of fossilized organism, specifically the calcified skeletons of stony corals. These marine invertebrates build hard, protective skeletons made of calcium carbonate. Over geological time, as corals die and their skeletons accumulate, they can become cemented together, forming larger masses. When these masses are lithified, meaning they are turned into rock, they are referred to as coralliths. Coralliths are often found in ancient reef environments and can provide valuable insights into past marine ecosystems, water conditions, and the history of coral evolution. Their presence can indicate shallow, clear, and warm marine waters where corals thrived. Studying coralliths helps paleontologists understand the composition and structure of ancient reefs and the organisms that inhabited them. They are distinct from individual coral fossils in that they represent a consolidated accumulation of multiple coral skeletons.