3.2" Iridescent Ammonite w/ Fairburn Agate Stand - South Dakota

This is a 3.2" ammonite (Discoscaphites conradi) from the Fox Hills Formation of South Dakota. The iridescence of the fossil creates a colorful display in conjunction with the bumpy texture of the shell. This specimen has been meticulously prepped to expose it from the hard concretion it was found in.

It is accompanied by a custom display base made from a polished, Teepee Canyon (Fairburn) agate nodule from South Dakota. This is an awesome display piece that is a ton of fun!

About Ammonites

Ammonites were ancient marine cephalopods, similar to today's squids and octopuses, but with a defining feature: their distinctive, tightly coiled spiral shells. These shells, resembling those of modern nautiluses, served as both a protective home and a buoyancy aid, allowing ammonites to navigate the prehistoric seas with ease. First emerging around 240 million years ago in the Triassic Period, ammonites thrived for over 175 million years, adapting through numerous forms and sizes. As predatory creatures, they likely fed on smaller marine organisms, using their tentacles to capture prey. However, their long reign came to an end 65 million years ago at the close of the Cretaceous, coinciding with the mass extinction event that also eliminated the dinosaurs.

What an ammonite would have looked like while alive.
What an ammonite would have looked like while alive.

These 70 million year old ammonites lived when South Dakota was a shallow inland sea. They were found preserved in concretions when split open. They then had to be hand-prepared to remove the hard rock surrounding them from their shells, a very time consuming task.
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DETAILS
SPECIES
Discoscaphites gulosus
LOCATION
South Dakota
FORMATION
Fox Hills Formation - Trail City Member - Hoploscaphites nicolletti Zone
SIZE
Ammonite: 3.2" wide. Stand: 4.4 x 4.2 x 1.95"
ITEM
#209705
GUARANTEE
We guarantee the authenticity of all of our specimens.