Ancient Seas, Russia, Saratov, Jurassic period, 201.3 to 145 million years ago; North America, Late Cretaceous period, 100.5 to 66 million years ago. A lovely pair of stone matrixes containing fossilized shells of ammonites and other sea creatures. The first display contains 3 quenstedtoceras ammonites, known for their tightly closed spirals and ribbed shells, which are wonderfully exemplified here! The shells have also opalized to a red and pink iridescent glimmer. Their shell openings have been coated with flecks of pyrite to enhance these radiant fossils. The larger display features 4 ammonites and fragments of orthoceras shells in a matrix. Projecting from the side is a large column from a baculite, a heteromorph ammonite with a straight rather than spiraling shell. The baculite retains much of the nacre (mother of pearl) outer layers and has interesting fern like suture patterns near the base. Size of smaller display: 2.5" L x 2.3" W x 2.675" H (6.4 cm x 5.8 cm x 6.8 cm); larger: 4.6" L x 3" W x 7.75" H (11.7 cm x 7.6 cm x 19.7 cm)
Provenance: ex-Stein collection, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, USA, acquired prior to 2010
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#165938
Condition
Both are professionally prepared. Smaller display has some chips and nicks to high pointed areas. All three ammonites have been posed and stabilized on a matrix. Pyrite is added with adhesive to cover shell openings and areas of adhesive where shells attach to matrix. Small area of modern material infill on verso of largest ammonite. The larger display is repaired with break lines encircling baculite shell in three places and loss along the lines. Baculite has been attached with adhesive to stone matrix. Chips to nacre layers. Stable fissures from fossilization. Ammonite shells are well preserved on both displays.