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LAST MONTH'S NEWSLETTER ITEMS
Ammonite with Ammolite Inlay
Moroccan ammonites inlaid with brilliant Canadian ammolite. Two sizes:
2 1/2” $250
2 1/2”. $250
2” $200
2”. $200
British Polished Ammonite Pairs
All of these ammonites measure approximately 2 inches in diameter and will have some damage. You will receive one similar to those pictured.
Rabbit Foot Keychain Pack
Sold out
The classic good-luck rabbit foot on a handy keychain.
Covid 19 Microbe Keychain
Make it easy to find keys in your pocket or purse and carry a piece of pandemic history—without the symptoms! The COVID-19 Microbe Keychain turns the infamous virus into a soft, spiky, and surprisingly adorable plush. This palm-sized plush comes with a sturdy keyring, perfect for backpacks, keys, or lab coats.
With its signature crown-like “spikes” and an irresistibly round eyes, it’s a fun, educational, and conversation-starting way to mark a moment that changed the world. Includes a fact tag explaining the science behind SARS-CoV-2 and its global impact.
Lighten the mood, spark a conversation, and never forget the science.
MOTHER MAY I HAVE A FOSSIL?
Ammonites Galore!
British Polished Ammonite Pairs
All of these ammonites measure approximately 2 inches in diameter and will have some damage. You will receive one similar to those pictured.
DRILLED AMMONITES "TEAR DROP" SHAPE Bag of 5
*Color and size will vary slightly as these are natural fossils and no two are alike.
Rough Uncut Ammonite
That is a fossilized Ammonite, an extinct marine mollusk that lived during the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods.
Given its size—roughly 2 to 3 inches in diameter—this is a very common and well-preserved specimen. These creatures were cephalopods, more closely related to modern-day octopuses and squids than the snails they resemble.
Golden Ammonite
It is almost certainly a Pyritized Ammonite (specifically from the genus Pleuroceras or Amaltheus). The "gold" you see isn't real gold, but Iron Pyrite (Fool's Gold) that has replaced the original shell material over millions of years.
Why It Is "Golden"
This happened through a rare process called pyritization. When the ammonite died and sank into an environment with very little oxygen (like deep-sea mud), bacteria reacted with iron and sulfur in the water. This created pyrite, which filled in the tiny chambers of the shell before they could be crushed or rot away.
Key Facts
- Origin: Most of these "Golden Ammonites" come from the Jurassic Coast in the UK (specifically Dorset) or the Franconian Jura in Germany.
- Age: These date back to the Early Jurassic Period, roughly 180 to 185 million years ago.
- The Matrix: The dark, crumbly-looking rock it is sitting in is likely oil shale or a dark clay-limestone.
- Texture: Notice the "ribs" radiating from the center. These are much more prominent and "spiky" than the smooth Moroccan Goniatites you have.
Care Instructions (Important!)
Because these are made of pyrite, they are sensitive to humidity.
- Pyrite Disease: If they get too damp, the pyrite can react with moisture and oxygen to form sulfuric acid, which causes the fossil to "bloom" with white powder and eventually crumble.
- Tip: Keep this one in a dry place. Some collectors even store them with a small silica gel packet or give them a light coating of clear archival sealant to keep the "gold" from tarnishing.
Pyritized Ammonite bag of 10
These are more examples of Pyritized Ammonites, similar to your "Golden" specimen, but these have been prepped and hollowed out to reveal the stunning internal anatomy.
In the fossil trade, these are often called "Double-Sided Pyrite Ammonites" or "Filigree" specimens.
Why They Look Different
Unlike the previous specimen that was still stuck in the dark rock (matrix), these have been carefully cleaned—likely using a specialized air-abrasive tool or a mild acid bath—to remove the surrounding shale.
- The "Hollow" Look: You can see into the individual camerae (chambers). In life, these were filled with gas and liquid to help the animal float. During fossilization, the pyrite coated the walls of these chambers but didn't always fill them solid, leaving that beautiful, skeletal appearance.
- The Suture Lines: Notice the complex, wavy "frills" on the edges of the cut specimens. These are ammonitic sutures. They acted like internal structural bracing, allowing the shell to withstand the high pressure of deep water.
Specific Details
- Origin: These most commonly come from the Ryazan region of Russia or Germany. The Russian specimens are particularly famous for this bright, brassy "filigree" style.
- Age: These are typically from the Cretaceous or Jurassic periods (roughly 110 to 160 million years ago).
- Metal Luster: The metallic sheen is Iron Pyrite ($FeS_2$). If you look at the larger ones toward the top, you can see how the pyrite has formed a "crust" that mimics the original shell's shape perfectly.
Ammonite in Limestone Matrix
This one is a classic Solnhofen Limestone ammonite from Bavaria, Germany. It is a very different type of preservation compared to your polished or pyritized specimens.
Why It Is Unique
- Lithographic Limestone: This ammonite is preserved in extremely fine-grained limestone. This is the same stone that yielded the famous Archaeopteryx (the feathered dinosaur). Because the mud was so fine, it captured incredible detail without the shell necessarily turning into metal or crystal.
- The Impression: This is often an impression or a flattened "compression" fossil. Over millions of years, the weight of the sediment flattened the shell.
- The Genus: Based on the ribbing and the locality, this is likely a Perisphinctes or a Subplanites from the Upper Jurassic (roughly 150 million years ago).
Key Features
- Color: Notice the creamy, buttery yellow-tan color. This is the signature look of the Solnhofen quarries.
- The Cut: It has been cut into a neat rectangle. In the fossil trade, these are often "quarried" as tiles. If you look closely at the edges, you can see the natural layers of the limestone (lamination).
- Dendrites: Sometimes these slabs have dark, tree-like patterns on them called manganese dendrites. It doesn’t look like this one has many, but it's a common "bonus" feature for these German slabs.
Rough Uncut Ammonite Field Quality
These specimens represent a much more "raw" and "as-found" look compared to the polished slices you've shared. These are partially prepped ammonites, likely from Europe (possibly the UK or Germany).
They give a great look at how these fossils actually sit inside the rock before a lab technician gets a hold of them.
The key to life is probably attached to a really cool keychain...
Rabbit Foot Keychain Pack
Sold out
The classic good-luck rabbit foot on a handy keychain.
Covid 19 Microbe Keychain
Make it easy to find keys in your pocket or purse and carry a piece of pandemic history—without the symptoms! The COVID-19 Microbe Keychain turns the infamous virus into a soft, spiky, and surprisingly adorable plush. This palm-sized plush comes with a sturdy keyring, perfect for backpacks, keys, or lab coats.
With its signature crown-like “spikes” and an irresistibly round eyes, it’s a fun, educational, and conversation-starting way to mark a moment that changed the world. Includes a fact tag explaining the science behind SARS-CoV-2 and its global impact.
Lighten the mood, spark a conversation, and never forget the science.
Little Armed Ones:
Never a Bad Time to Get Mother a Gift:
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May the fourth be with you, May the odds be ever in your favor, May the best man win, and come what MAY!
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