3.4" Polished Ammonite (Promicroceras) Section - Somerset, England

This is a polished section of rock containing many small ammonite fossils, often referred to as "Marston Magna Marble". The ammonites are of the species Promicroceras marstonense and are Lower Jurassic (~3.400 million years old) in age. This rock is quarried near Marston Magna, Somerset, England and by slicing and polishing it, the beautiful inner chamber detail of the ammonites can be seen.

One side of this specimen has been polished to a glossy finish, with the rest of the specimen left in its rough state, featuring exposed ammonites.

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.
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DETAILS
SPECIES
Promicroceras marstonense
LOCATION
Marston Magna, Somerset, England
FORMATION
Lower Lias, Obtusum Zone
SIZE
3.4 x 1.8", up to .9" thick
ITEM
#211318
GUARANTEE
We guarantee the authenticity of all of our specimens.