1.6" Iridescent Discoscaphites Ammonite - South Dakota

This is a displayable 1.6" wide Discoscaphites conradi ammonite specimen from the Fox Hills Formation of South Dakota. It's been wonderfully prepared from the hard concretion it was found in which also contains many clam fossils. The ammonite has a wonderful iridescent shell which shines with vibrant red and green hues. Still embedded in the rock are other small micro fossils such as clams and small gastopods. The rock has been cut flat to allow for aesthetic presentation.

These 70 million year old ammonites lived when South Dakota was a shallow inland sea. It was found preserved in a concretion that was split open. It then had to be hand prepared to remove the hard rock surrounding it from the shell, a very time consuming task.