All About Septarian – Uses, Properties, Color, and Worth

What is Septarian?

Septarian is a grey limestone rock where the cracks and larger cavities were filled with calcite, barite, aragonite, and other minerals.  Septarian is often referred to as “Dragon Stone” or a “Dragon Egg”, and are often called septarian nodules.

Often there is crystallization in the larger cavities of the septarian rock creating a geode effect.  The crystals are typically formed from the mineral calcite within the rock.

I have written a great article on calcite where I get into some more detail on the mineral. “All About Calcite” (Did you know this mineral is a fluorescing mineral?)

The cracks and cavities of this rock are called “septaria”, derived from the Latin word “septum” which by definition means “partition”.   Though many incorrectly believe the Latin definition of “septum” means “seven”.

What is the color of Septarian?

The color of septarian can have white and yellows from calcite, and browns and blacks from other minerals.  Septarian can have reddish and golden colors which will appear quite bright due to siderite or pyrite coatings that can occasionally occur in septarian. 

Black septarian stones can have black crystallization in the cracks and cavities of the rock.  These types of septarian lack some of the minerals that give it the yellow and brown colors you see in some of the more common septarian.

What is Septarian used for?

Septarian is used as a decoration or jewelry.  You can see many specimens cut out and used as slabs, bookends, or giant eggs displaying their beautiful colors and patterns.  Septarian jewelry can be cut into cabochons and placed into earrings, pendants, and bracelets. 

Many believe that this stone, while worn or carried, contains healing properties such as the ability to help you with your tolerance, patience, stress, anger, or emotional flexibility. Some also believe that septarian helps with depression and bad dreams and can give strength and endurance to those who carry it.

A septarian geode, or sometimes called a septarian egg depending on its shape, is one of the most popular forms of displaying this rock.  Pockets of air and calcite crystals will often be contained within septarian stone. This gives that geode look that makes a nice eye appealing display.  

What is Septarian worth?

The worth of septarian, or septarian nodules, varies based on size, shape, and pattern.  An egg or sphere with partial openings to see crystals inside can value at $100 or more.   The larger septarian eggs are sought after for their beauty as a display item, and can be worth well over $1000.

Septarian is not out of the reach for those that cannot afford these pricy large specimens.  One can obtain a decent slab, nodule, or sphere of this rock for under $50 and even smaller specimens can be obtained for less.

Septarian jewelry can be as affordable as obtaining a standalone specimen. One can obtain a necklace or ring for under $50 USD, though with some of the more pricy metals, expect to pay more.

If you are looking for a great price on a nice specimen of septarian, I have picked up Specimens of Septarian before on Amazon. You may want to shop around a bit as there are plenty of varieties on Amazon, like a dragon egg, that are hard to resist.

Septarian is not rare because there are many smaller samples that can be obtained for a good price. It becomes more rare to have a large specimen with great eye appeal. Especially when septarian is cut as a giant egg or slab.

Septarian Formation

The way septarian is formed seems to remain somewhat unclear.  Many have proposed different interpretations of how the cracks formed; from shrinking of the center, or the expansion of gases by the decay of organic matter, or even the involvement of earthquakes.

It is commonly believed though that volcanic activity killed sea life and deposited the remains on the sea bed.  The minerals in the deposited sea life had chemical reactions to the sediments on the sea floor, forming nodules or mud balls.  When the ocean receded, these mud balls were exposed to the elements, drying out, shrinking, and cracking into the beautiful patterns that you would see in a septarian rock.

Septarian is not a fossil even though it may resemble some sort of creature of past history. Septarian is thought to have organic life within its contents but not in the physical form of fossil remains. It looks like a fossil, but it is not.

Many might say septarian is more of a pseudofossil. Which is described as “inorganic objects, markings, or impressions that might be mistaken for fossils.”

Septarian, Agate, and Jasper

Septarian will sometimes be confused as a type of agate, or called septarian agate. Others will also say septarian jasper however septarian is not jasper.  Both agate and jasper are minerals, septarian is a rock.

Agate and Jasper are silica minerals.  These two minerals have quite an array of different colors and patterns while septarian does not.  Septarian rock may seem like they would fit in with both these minerals based on its look, however septarian would have much more in common with a geode.

I have written a great article on agate that might help you contrast the differences it has from septarian. “All About Agate“, you will quickly find, and see, that they are very different.  

Where can Septarian be found?

Septarian can be found in several places around the world including; England, Madagascar, Morocco, and New Zealand. Septarian will be found around the gulf of Mexico up to some very popular spots located in Utah, USA.