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Found this on a beach on the East coast of India - Vishakhapatnam, India Is this a fossil? A coral? Its small enough to fit in my handThese tunnel-like structures are hard like rock/calcifiedObverseObverse Its not a fossil. It is just shells of various marine invertebrates that get stuck together as they grow. It looks like worm-snails on a a large piece of clam shell. the little holes in the clam shell are bored by sea snails and erosion. there are whole blogs devoted to finding interesting :// /

User Miriam
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Final answer:

You may have found a fossil or an agglomeration of marine invertebrates on an Indian beach.

Step-by-step explanation:

Based on your description, it seems that you've found an intriguing piece of marine history on the east coast of India. The hard, tunnel-like structures you mentioned might very well be a fossil, or they could be the result of various marine invertebrates becoming cemented together over time.

Fossils can come in many forms, such as the colorful, fossilized clam shell mentioned from a different location. Fossilization, through processes like alteration and replacement, can lead to the preservation of shells, corals, and even ancient creatures like crinoids, fern leaves, and sponge-like organisms.

The calcium carbonate-rich soils often preserve these ancient biological artifacts, including the shells of bivalves and pieces of corals, which over millions of years could become impressive fossil specimens. While it may not be immediately clear if your find is a true fossil.

User Remek
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