In those same areas of Michigan, complete fossilized coral colony heads can be found in the source rocks for the Petoskey stones.

[1] When dry, the stone resembles ordinary limestone but when wet or polished using lapidary techniques, it reveals the distinctive mottled pattern of the six-sided coral fossils.

According to legend, Petosegay was a descendant of French nobleman and fur trader Antoine Carre and an Ottawa daughter of a chief.

Building on his father's start and his place among the Ottawa, Petosegay became a wealthy fur trader who also acquired much land in the region, gaining acclaim for himself and his band.

[4] The type of coral that forms the basis of Petoskey Stones is also present in the fossil records of Iowa, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, New York and locations in Canada, Germany, England, and Asia.