Lot 680
"Type" Set Of Three Differently-Shaped Ammonites. Ammonites are ancient cephalopods related to the present-day squid and octopus, but with hard shells protecting their tentacled bodies. This interesting lot has a type set of the three major shapes of ammonites and nautiloids.
Nautiloids started out with completely straight shells such as this 10 inch long, 100 million year old specimen of Baculites compressus from Montana. These delicate fossils are almost never found complete, but this sizeable specimen is missing only 3 to 4 inches of the portion that would taper to a point. Excellent suture patterns show along with some of the original mother-of-pearl which has remineralized to shades of tan with iridescent splashes of green still partially embedded in its original, very hard stone matrix.
A traditionally-shaped 5 inch diameter polished ammonite from Madagascar (Perisphinctes species). Over 150 million years old from the Jurassic period, it has been cut in half and polished to show the internal chambers. The individual chambers are defined and filled with calcite crystals. In life, each chamber was added one at a time, as the ammonite grew in age. The outer surface shows excellent sutures and flashes of red and green mother-of-pearl.
A 3¼ inch Heteromorphic ammonite (Ancyloceras) from Morocco. This 100 million year old dark brown ammonite has been artistically positioned on its stone matrix in a 3-D floating position. Heteromorphic ammonites started to spiral, straightened out, and then curved again. There is also a bonus 2 inch spiral ammonite on the back of this stone base. Total weight is 9 pounds.
Estimated Value $500 - 900.
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