The rarest gems in the world. Organic stones - fossils Iron ores - the metallic heart of the Earth

If someone is lucky enough to find fossilized shells on the beach, it is not difficult to recognize them. But there are also many fossils, looking at which it is difficult to guess what they were. Compounding the problem, many of the fossils are incomplete or poorly preserved. Sometimes even scientists have doubts. Our review of 10 fossils that went unrecognized for many decades.

1. Ammonites

Fossilized ammonites are still quite common today, but for thousands of years they were mistaken for anything other than mollusks. The ancient Greeks believed that these were ram's horns, and named the ammonites in honor of the Egyptian god Amon, who was depicted with approximately the same horns. The ancient Chinese called them horn stones for a similar reason. In Nepal, fossilized ammonites were considered a shrine left by the god Vishnu. The Vikings considered them the sacred fossilized offspring of the world serpent Jormungard.

In the Middle Ages, ammonites were known in Europe as snake stones because they were believed to be the petrified bodies of coiled snakes that were petrified by Christian saints. Today it has become known that ammonites are just the fossilized shells of creatures that became extinct about four hundred million years ago.

2. Fish teeth

Fossil fish teeth were considered different objects in different centuries. Some ancient fish species had flat molars for crushing shellfish. In Greece, and later in much of Europe, the fossilized remains of such teeth were considered magical stones, and were often called toad stones. Such teeth were used in jewelry, and it was also believed that they could be used to cure epilepsy and poisoning. In Japan, the fossilized flat and sharp teeth of sharks were considered the claws of the terrible monster tengu, in Europe the teeth were considered the tongue of the devil.

3. Trees

Lepidodendron is an ancient tree whose bark was covered with large, flat scales, like a pine cone. The leaves of this tree themselves were like stems, so lepidodendron is considered more of a grass than a tree. Most of the coal deposits in Europe are the remains of these ancient plants. Previously, entire fossilized trunks of lepidodendrons were often found; the length of such a trunk could be up to thirty meters, and the thickness - about a meter. In the 19th century, they were passed off as the bodies of snakes and dragons.

4. Foraminifera

Quite unusual grains of sand can be found on the Pacific beaches in southern Japan. Many of them are shaped like tiny stars, less than a millimeter in diameter. Local legends claim that these are the remains of unfortunate children from the heavenly union of two stars. These star children died either from falling to the ground or were killed by a monstrous serpent living in the sea near the Japanese island of Okinawa. In fact, these tiny stars are the remains of the spiny shells of another life form: amoeba-like creatures called foraminifera.

5. Protoceratops

Dinosaurs called Protoceratops were relatives of the more famous Triceratops. They walked on four legs and were about the size of a large dog, although much heavier. Most protoceratopsians had a large skull with a bird-like beak and a bony frill growing from the back of the skull. To people unfamiliar with dinosaurs, the preserved skeletons of Protoceratops resembled fantastic and bizarre creatures. Because of their size, these dinosaurs were thought to be small lions with a hooked beak like an eagle. It is possible that Protoceratops is the prototype of the mythical griffins.

6. Belemnites

Belemnites were ancient animals that resembled squids. Unlike squids, they had a skeleton, and all ten of their tentacles were the same length, and they were covered with tiny hooks. Belemnites lived at the same time as dinosaurs, inhabiting the seas. The most common fossilized parts of belemnite skeletons are those that look like long bullets. In Europe, people thought that these fossils were the thunder arrows of the gods that fell to the earth. Other people thought that belemnites belonged to the elves rather than the gods, believing them to be the fingers of the elves, fairy candles, or the arrows of the elves.

7. Anchisaurs

Anchisaurs were one of the earliest dinosaur species. They were herbivores, had long necks and tails, and were early relatives of the more famous brontosaurus and diplodocus. Only, unlike them, the size of the anchisaurs was only 2 m. Paradoxically, the bones of these dinosaurs were initially mistaken for the bones of a primitive human ancestor.

8. Mastodons and mammoths

Just a few thousand years ago, giant mammoths and mastodons roamed the icy land. They resembled hairy elephants with huge tusks. Like modern elephants, these animals had very developed strong trunks, which is why the skeletal structure of these animals suggested a large hole in the skull. People who had never seen an elephant assumed that these huge fossilized skulls with a giant hole in the front belonged to Cyclopes, the mythical giant one-eyed anthropoids.

9. Sea urchins

Sea urchins are spiny, spherical creatures that are commonly found along seashores. Sea urchins have existed for hundreds of millions of years, and their ancient ancestors left behind many fossils. In England, such fossils were mistaken for supernatural crowns, loaves of bread, or magical snake eggs. In Denmark they were considered thunder stones because they supposedly released moisture before strong storms.

10. Hominids

The ancestors of modern humans left behind many fossils throughout the earth. Because of their apparent inconsistency with human bones, such fossils were often considered evidence of various anthropoid mythical creatures mentioned in the Bible, such as giants and demons. In other cultures, the discovered skeletons of Neanderthals gave rise to legends about the Yeti and other hominid creatures.

The world around us is filled with things and objects, without which it is impossible for humanity to exist. But in the bustle of everyday life, people rarely think about the fact that we owe all the benefits of modern life to natural resources.

Our achievements are breathtaking, aren't they? Man is the pinnacle of evolution, the most perfect creation on Earth! Now let’s think for a moment why we achieved all these benefits, what forces should we thank, what and to whom do people owe for all their benefits?

Having carefully looked at all the objects around us, many of us for the first time realize the simple truth that man is not the king of nature, but only one of its constituent parts.

Since people owe most modern goods natural resources extracted from the bowels of the Earth

Modern life on our planet is not possible without the use of natural resources. Some of them are more valuable, others less, and without some, humanity cannot exist at this stage of its development.

We use them to heat and light our homes and quickly get from one continent to another. Maintaining our health depends on others (for example, it can be mineral waters). The list of minerals valuable to humans is huge, but we can try to identify the ten most important natural elements, without which it is difficult to imagine the further development of our civilization.

1.Oil is the “black gold” of the Earth

It is not for nothing that it is called “black gold”, because with the development of the transport industry, the life of human society began to directly depend on its production and distribution. Scientists believe that oil is a product of the decomposition of organic residues. It consists of hydrocarbons. Not many people realize that oil is part of the most common and necessary things for us.

In addition to being the basis of fuel for most types of transport, it is widely used in medicine, perfumery and the chemical industry. For example, oil is used to produce polyethylene and various types of plastic. In medicine, oil is used to produce petroleum jelly and aspirin, which is essential in many cases. The most surprising use of oil for many of us is that it is involved in the production of chewing gum. Solar batteries, which are indispensable in the space industry, are also produced with the addition of petroleum. It is difficult to imagine the modern textile industry without the production of nylon, which is also made from oil. The largest oil deposits are located in Russia, Mexico, Libya, Algeria, USA, and Venezuela.

2. Natural gas is the source of heat on the planet

The significance of this mineral is difficult to overestimate. Most natural gas fields are closely related to oil deposits. Gas is used as an inexpensive fuel for heating homes and businesses. The value of natural gas lies in the fact that it is an environmentally friendly fuel. The chemical industry uses natural gas to produce plastics, alcohol, rubber, and acid. Natural gas deposits can reach hundreds of billions of cubic meters.

3. Coal - energy of light and heat

This is a combustible rock with high heat transfer during combustion and a carbon content of up to 98%. Coal is used as fuel for power plants and boiler houses, and metallurgy. This fossil mineral is also used in the chemical industry as a raw material for the manufacture of:

• plastics;
• medicines;
• spirits;
• various dyes.

4.Asphalt is a universal fossil resin

The role of this fossil resin in the development of the modern transport industry is invaluable. In addition, asphalt is used in the production of electrical equipment, rubber and various varnishes used for waterproofing. Widely used in the construction and chemical industries. Mined in France, Jordan, Israel, Russia.

5. Aluminum ore (bauxite, nepheline, alunite)

Bauxite- the main source of aluminum oxide. Mined in Russia and Australia.

Alunites– are used not only for the production of aluminum, but also in the production of sulfuric acid and fertilizers.

Nephelines– contain a large amount of aluminum. This mineral is used to create reliable alloys used in mechanical engineering.

6.Iron ores - the metallic heart of the Earth

They differ in iron content and chemical composition. Iron ore deposits are found in many countries around the world. Iron plays a significant role in the development of civilization. Iron ore is the main component for the production of cast iron. The following industries are in dire need of iron ore derivatives:

• metalworking and mechanical engineering;
• space and military industries;
• automotive and shipbuilding industry;
• light and food industries;

The leaders in iron ore production are Russia, China, and the USA.

In nature, it is found mainly in the form of nuggets (the largest was discovered in Australia and weighed about 70 kg). It also occurs in the form of placers. The main consumer of gold (after the jewelry industry) is the electronics industry (gold is widely used in microcircuits and various electronic components for computer technology). Gold is widely used in dentistry for the manufacture of dentures and crowns. Since gold practically does not oxidize and does not corrode, it is also used in the chemical industry. It is mined in South Africa, Australia, Russia, and Canada.

8. Diamond is one of the hardest materials

It is widely used in jewelry (a cut diamond is called a diamond); in addition, due to its hardness, diamonds are used for processing metals, glass and stones. Diamonds are widely used in the instrument-making, electrical and electronic sectors of the national economy. Diamond chips are an excellent abrasive raw material for the production of grinding pastes and powders. Diamonds are mined in Africa (98%) and Russia.

9.Platinum is the most valuable precious metal

Widely used in the field of electrical engineering. It is also used in the jewelry industry and the space industry. Platinum is used to produce:

• special mirrors for laser technology;
• in the automotive industry for exhaust gas purification;
• for corrosion protection of submarine hulls;
• Surgical instruments are made from platinum and its alloys;
• high-precision glass instruments.

10. Uranium-radium ores - dangerous energy

They are of great importance in the modern world, as they are used as fuel in nuclear power plants. These ores are mined in South Africa, Russia, Congo and a number of other countries.

It’s scary to imagine what could happen if, at this stage of its development, humanity loses access to the listed natural resources. In addition, not all countries have equal access to the Earth's natural resources. Natural resource deposits are not evenly distributed. Often it is because of this circumstance that conflicts arise between states. In fact, the entire history of modern civilization is a constant struggle for the possession of valuable resources of the planet.

1. Rhodium- a noble and very rare metal of silvery-white color. Used in jewelry, in nuclear reactors and as a catalyst in chemical reactions. The price of such metal is about $30 per gram.

2. Painite. This crystal is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the rarest mineral in the world. Until 2005, fewer than 25 painite crystals had been found. It is difficult to talk about the price of this mineral. It's easier to say that it is priceless.

3. Diamond is a mineral that is widely used in microelectronics, the nuclear and watch industries, jewelry and other industries. A cut diamond can reach a price of up to $300,000 per carat.

4. Black opal- another rare stone of amazing beauty. It has become the national stone of Australia, where more than 95% of the world's total is collected. The average cost is $2,350 per 1 carat.

5. Platinum is a noble metal that is widely used in medicine, jewelry and a variety of technical industries. The main deposits of platinum are located in Russia and South Africa. The price of platinum today is $32 per gram.

6. Gold. Gold has become the most popular metal in jewelry. Perhaps the secret is that the characteristic color of the metal makes it easy to declare a certain luxury. But, let’s say, not everyone can distinguish platinum from inexpensive silver. For 1 gram of gold you will have to pay $43.

7. Rubies. People have been mining these minerals for more than 2,000 years. Rubies are considered an exceptional luxury item and are quite rare even in jewelry stores. High quality crystals can cost up to $13,000 per carat.

8. Jade- a rare green mineral. It is curious that the imperial variety is used in jewelry, but low-quality block jadeite is used in heaters for saunas and baths. Expensive specimens can cost $20,000 per carat.

9. Pomegranate- a group of minerals having different shades and colors. This is where the price comes from: blue garnet is found in single copies, and is considered the most expensive. In 2006, a 4.2-carat blue garnet was sold for $6,800,000.

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Group of organic stones

Geologists, collectors and jewelers evaluate and classify stones in different ways. For jewelers, transparency and brilliance are important; for mineralogy, the chemical composition of the nugget is important. Collectors look at the cost of the mineral and the rarity of its occurrence in nature. Thus, in different years, different classifications were used, according to which stones were assigned to one group or another.

In 1896, Max Bauer proposed dividing all gems into three types: precious stones, semi-precious stones, and stones of organic origin. It is the third group that we will talk about in this article.

Organic stones were formed mainly as a result of the petrification of living nature. These include corals, amber, pearls, jet and others. The mesmerizing beauty of these specimens has delighted people for several millennia. They are used to create jewelry; large samples with unique colors or sizes are sold at auctions or placed in the best museums in the world. Thanks to such finds, historians can clearly see what living creatures inhabited our planet in ancient times.

Types of organic stones

Why do some types of organic matter become fossilized? What processes occur in this case? There are several types of organic fossils, each of which has its own characteristics during formation, and also differs in external characteristics. Let's look at the most popular formations in this group:

• Ivory;
• Nacre;
• Coral;
• Amber;
• Pearl;
• Jet;
• Petrified wood;

The stones listed above are radically different from each other. At first glance, it is even difficult to imagine why they were combined into one group. Some of them were formed from plants, which, due to external factors over several millennia, formed amazing nuggets. Others were formed in a much shorter time by separating organic substances from living mollusks.

Organic formations from shellfish

Hundreds of millions of years ago, during the time of dinosaurs, molluscs called ammonites lived in the ocean. Their amazing shells, curled with a ram's horn, have been preserved to this day. However, geologists sometimes find them far from water. This is due to the fact that in past eras the seas were located in other places. Some samples of whole ammonites are gigantic in size - the largest of them weighs more than 3 tons, its diameter is 1.5 meters. The most valuable are fossilized ammonites with remains of nacre on the surface. Jewelers often use these fossils in various types of jewelry. Some types are processed in such a way that the mother of pearl covering the inside of the shell favorably emphasizes the beauty of the nugget. In other specimens, on the contrary, the emphasis is on the beauty of the patterns formed from limescale.

Belemnite mollusks also lived in the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. Visually, they are similar to squids, but they had a shell that consisted of the following parts: phragmocone, proostracum and rostrum. The last part was the strongest and looked like a pointed cylinder. It is this part of the shell that has survived to this day and is one of the types of organic fossils. Looking at the shape of the fossil, belemnite got its middle name - devil's finger. The average length of the rostrum is 20 cm, some finds measure 50 cm.

Nacre

An organic formation called mother-of-pearl is also incredibly beautiful and durable. It represents the inside of the shell in which the pearl is formed. That is why the stone received such a name - in German “Perl Mutter” means “mother of pearls”. A distinctive feature of the nugget is its variety of shades and incredible shine. Creating jewelry from mother-of-pearl requires high professionalism of the craftsman. The gem consists of calcium carbonate, water and organic compounds secreted by shellfish.

Pearl

Despite the variety of marine fossils, it is safe to say that pearls are the most valuable and unique. It can form in some types of shells - marine or freshwater. When a foreign body gets inside, the mollusk begins to secrete secretions, with the help of which it protects itself from “uninvited guests.” The coated layers have a delightful pearlescent sheen. Different types of pearl oysters have different secretions that differ in color. Thus, the most expensive is considered to be black pearls, which are created by oysters of the species Pinctada margaritifera; they live in the Hawaiian Islands - Figure 1.

Given the enormous popularity of pearls, experts have created entire farms that grow organic stone. They independently implant small grains of sand into the shell, after which the work of the mollusk begins. It takes about 10 years to create an average-sized pearl.

Fossils of living organisms

Coral

The warm waters of the world's oceans are home to huge coral reefs and entire islands. They consist of polyps - living marine invertebrate organisms. Their varied colors and unusual shapes have captivated millions of people. Corals are composed of calcium carbonate with the addition of various impurities. Collectors prefer to have complete skeletons of marine fossils. Jewelers use them to form magnificent ornamental stones, which they use to create jewelry.

Coral fossils have also been found in the Devonian system of Siberia, rocks formed more than 350 million years ago. Their shapes and colors are not as vibrant as organisms living in the modern period, but these findings are important for scientists.

Ivory

The remains of mammoths, elephants, hippopotamus teeth or walrus tusks can be found in the habitats of these animals. Their surface has a characteristic white-yellow color and a wavy pattern. Large finds are used as material for integral crafts of various interior items, smaller ones are split and small stones or beads are created for the further production of jewelry. Chinese craftsmen have learned to create incredible works of art from ivory.

Organic fossils from ancient plants

Plants appeared on earth much earlier than all other living organisms. Most of the first trees are long gone from the modern world. This is due to multiple climate changes, which created the necessary conditions for the creation of organic formations from plant remains.

Amber

Amber is a resin extracted from coniferous trees. In the Cretaceous period, such forests were common in the area of ​​​​the modern Baltic Sea. Humid air and very high temperatures did their job - resin literally oozed from the trees, which, under the influence of changing weather conditions, solidified, and over the next millions of years turned into a fossil. Some specimens are unique in that inside such a stone you can find an insect or a twig of an ancient plant. Such unique samples help scientists obtain news from the distant past - Figure 3.

Jet

Jet is a type of coal formed from the wood of coniferous trees. This change in material is associated with the immersion of the tree in sea mud. After this, numerous changes in temperature and pressure contributed to the abolition of the rotting stage. After some time, the substance exposed to air turned into a fossil. All these processes occurred very slowly; it takes millions of years to form jet. Today, the main deposits of the nugget are Russia, Germany, England, France and the USA.

petrified wood

After a tree has lived its life, it dries out and falls - over the course of thousands of years, its entire surface is under a thick layer of soil. It is at this moment that the formation of the gem begins. The inner and outer parts of the plant are overgrown with quartz, chalcedony or opal minerals. At the same time, the wood pattern and even the annual rings are often preserved. As a result, a stone is born, inside of which a tree is visualized. Such processes are typical for volcanic zones. In these places, the necessary external conditions were created for crystal growth.

Ecology

When we find common fossils of ancient shells on the beach, they are very easy to recognize. However, there are fossils of very ancient living creatures that are difficult to recognize even for specialists.

The problem also lies in the fact that many of them are poorly preserved or have come to us in incomplete form. It's not surprising that until better specimens are found, fossils of long-extinct creatures will often be mistaken for completely different species. We invite you to learn about these mysterious fossils, which have been mistaken for mysterious things at various times.

1) Ammonites

Ammonites are common in fossils, but have been misidentified for a long time. Even in Ancient Greece they believed that these were ram horns. They were named after the Egyptian god Amon, who wore such horns. In ancient China they were called horn-stones for the same reason. In Nepal, they were considered as holy relics left by the god Vishnu. The Vikings believed that ammonites were the sacred offspring of the serpent Jormungandr, who turned into stone.

In the Middle Ages in Europe they were called snake stones, were believed to be the fossilized bodies of coiled snakes that were turned into stones by Christian saints. Some enterprising traders even carved snake heads from ammonite fossils and sold them as souvenirs.

Today we know that these are just fossilized shells of squid-like creatures that lived on our planet 400 million years ago and lived until the death of the dinosaurs. More complex fossils include more than just shells. Fossil shells can be found along with protruding tentacles and misshapen heads that resemble modern nautilus mollusks.

2) Fish teeth

The fossilized remains of fish teeth have been interpreted in different ways. Some ancient fish had hard, flat molars that allowed them to crush mollusk shells. In Greece and later in Europe, these fossils were considered magical jewelry and were often called toad stones, since people believed that large toads wore them as decorations on their heads. The teeth were used to make talismans; it was believed that they could cure epilepsy and poisoning.

In Japan, fossils of flat shark teeth have been identified as claws shed by the terrible Tengu monsters. In Europe, shark teeth were seen as hardened tongues of the devil.

It was only in the 17th century that the Danish anatomist Niels Stensen seriously studied these fossils and concluded that most of the "devil's tongues" found were just shark teeth. He also realized that fossils did not appear spontaneously in the earth and that they were located next to the remains of ancient animals long dead.

3) Trees

Lepidodendron- an ancient tree-like plant with bark resembling a pine cone, which has long been extinct. The leaves of this plant looked like grass stems and lepidodendron was still closer to herbs than to modern trees. Most of the European coal deposits are the remains of these ancient plants. Lepidodendron fossils are very interesting. Long tree trunks were often preserved entirely in fossils; such a trunk could reach 30 meters in height and about a meter in width.

At fairgrounds in the 19th century, these fossils were often displayed as the bodies of scaly snakes and dragons. People could pay a small fee to admire the ancient "monsters" and listen to fictional tales of their dramatic fate. Various Christian saints could also appear in the stories. More complete fossils might include not only trunks, but also branches, roots, leaves and cones, which provided evidence that these were once trees and not mysterious fairy-tale creatures.

4) Foraminifera

On the Pacific coast of southern Japan you can sometimes find unusual grains of sand. Many of them are shaped like tiny stars, less than 1 millimeter in size. Local legends say that these are the remains of unfortunate children from the divine union of two stars. These “children” died because they fell to Earth or were killed by sea monsters living off the coast of the Japanese island of Okinawa. Their fragile skeletons wash up on the shore, and this is all that remains of the poor creatures.

In fact, these are the remains of various forms of earthly life, creatures similar to amoebas, which are called foraminifera. These creatures and their modern descendants are single-celled creatures that build themselves a protective shell. When they die, their needle-like shells remain, and if you look through a microscope, you can see the tiny chambers and structures in great detail.

5) Protoceratops

Dinosaurs called protoceratops were relatives of more famous Triceratops. They walked on 4 legs and were comparable in size to a large dog, although they were somewhat heavier. They definitely had a large skull with a bird's beak, in the back of which there was a bony outgrowth with holes.

Protoceratops lived in large herds, so they left behind a large number of fossils. For many people who were not yet familiar with dinosaurs, the found skulls seemed like the remains of fantastic and strange creatures. Because of their size, it was believed that Protoceratops were small lions. However, the distinctive feature of the skulls of these animals suggested that they were lions with curved beaks, like those of eagles. The animals' feet resembled the paws of eagles with claws rather than the paws of lions. People thought the creature was a mixture of a lion and an eagle. Apparently, legends about these creatures most likely appeared after people found fossils of Protoceratops.

6) Belemnites

Belemnites are extinct ancient animals that resemble modern squids. Unlike squids, belemnites had 10 “arms” of equal length, which were covered with tiny hooks, and, remarkably, these sea creatures had a skeleton. Belemnites lived during the age of dinosaurs and are well preserved in fossils.

The most commonly found fossilized remains of their skeletons are cylindrical objects with a tapered end without any structures such as tentacles. These fossilized skeletons are shaped like a bullet.

In Europe, they were believed to be "thunderbolts" - objects that fell to earth from the heavens, producing the sound of thunder when they struck the surface of the earth. They were associated with various thunder gods. Many people kept them in different parts of their homes in order to divert lightning. Others believed that belemnites were associated with elves, not gods. They believed that these were the fingers of elves. People used them in various superstitious medicinal practices, such as to treat snake bites or relieve headaches. They applied the fossils to the affected area of ​​the body and cast various spells.

7) Ankisaurs

Ankysaurs were one of the groups of early dinosaurs. These herbivores had long necks and tails and were relatives of the more familiar ones brontosaurus And diplodocus. Ankysaurs were smaller in size than their later ancestors and grew no more than 2 meters in length. They evolved from bipedal ancestors and did not stand entirely on 4 legs, although their front legs were well adapted for locomotion. They reared up on their hind legs when needed and used their front paws to grasp things.

Ankysaurs have attracted particular interest because they were initially misidentified. They were confused with the creature that would seem to be the least like a dinosaur: a human. Strangely, the long neck and tail, lizard-like body, reptile-like skull, and other features were simply ignored! Just the fact that the creature was the size of a man helped make everyone believe that these were the remains of our ancestor.

After other fossils of these creatures were found over several decades, the name "dinosaur" was coined and people recognized that these fossils were not of humans at all, but of reptiles. The fact that you can confuse a lizard with a person shows how people can be mistaken.

8) Mastodons and mammoths

Just a few thousand years ago, mastodons and mammoths roamed the icy land. They looked like elephants, but had warm fur and tusks several meters long. Mass species extinction, climate change and hunting have led to their extinction. Like modern elephants, these animals had very strong muscles in their trunks that were stronger than other muscles in their body.

The trunk of mammoths and mastodons required that there be a hole in the middle of the animal's skull. Modern elephants have the same feature. People who live in areas where elephants live have seen animal skulls more than once, so they know this feature. Others who found skulls of ancient relatives of elephants with giant holes in the middle imagined this creature as a huge humanoid giant with one eye socket. The legend of the Cyclops seems to have its roots in a time when people found skulls of ancient animals outside of Africa.

9) Sea urchins

Sea urchins are spiny, round-shaped creatures whose fossils are commonly found off the coast. They belong to a group of animals called echinoderms. These creatures have lived on our planet for hundreds of millions of years, and their distant ancestors left behind a lot of fossils. Although ancient sea urchins have many similarities with modern species, their fossils have long been mistaken for completely different creatures.

In England, they were believed to be supernatural crowns, loaves of sacred bread, or magical snake eggs. In Denmark, they were believed to be “thunderstorm” stones: it was believed that they began to release moisture before storms, which helped people predict inclement weather.

The five lines found on many sea urchin fossils were considered a good omen and were kept as a good luck charm in India. The magical powers associated with sea urchins reflected how each culture interpreted them. They were believed to be able to cure snake bites, help prepare bread, protect against storms, and bring good luck.

10) Hominids

Many of man's relatives, the apes, left behind fossils. These fossils were often misinterpreted before people began to think about human evolution. Fossils that were found in Europe and America sometimes “proved” the existence of various mythical characters mentioned in the same Bible, such as giants or demons. Others said that these were the ancestors of apes, although modern apes have very different features.

Some are sure that these skeletons belong to aliens, and not fairy-tale monsters. Apparently, fossils found in Asia inspired people to create legends about the Yeti. Some believe that some hominids could have coexisted with humans, so the creators of the legends were inspired not by their fossils, but by these living creatures themselves.