Solenastria cf bella (Conrad, 1841) Lower Pleistocene scleractinian coral from the James City Formation, Lee Creek Mine, Aurora NC - hand specimen

Solenastria cf bella (Conrad, 1841)  Lower Pleistocene James City Formation

Taxonomy of the scleractinian (stony) corals is difficult, and an "eye" identification can only take you close. These appear to be close to Solanastria bella Conrad. Correct identification depends on structural ornament in the sub-millimeter domain.

These were collected from spoil piles at the Lee Creek Mine, on the Pamlico River near Aurora, Beaufort County, North Carolina. This mine is operated by PCS Phosphate and has been continuously active since 1964, when the company commenced construction of the mine, mill and mineral processing complex.

Aragonite-based scleractinian corals replaced the calcite-based tabulate reef building corals during the Permo-Triassic extinction event roughly 252 million years ago, with the scleractinians building new reef ecosystems and dominating from the Triassic and becoming the dominant reef-building corals today.

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