Crystal Filled Fossil Whelks & Bivalves in Matrix!

This is a very unique and beautiful fossil from Ruck's Pit, Florida. The matrix two fossil whelks of the species Busycon rucksorum as well many small bivalves. The whelks are filled with gorgeous, golden calcite crystals, like a fossil geode. One is broken open displaying it's beautiful crystal lining. The larger whelk is 3.8" tall and the total size of the matrix is 5x4x3 inches. Supposedly the calcite crystals from this location fluoresce under UV light.

It comes from "Ruck's Pit" in Florida. Ruck's Pit was a small cement quarry, which for several years in the early 2000's produced some amazing crystal filled fossils. The quarry has been long shut down and filled in with water for several years. Because of this it's difficult to acquire these remarkable crystal filled fossil shells, particularly ones of high quality such as this.

Welk's were predatory sea snails that fed mainly on bivalves.

A geological paper on they unique geology and fossil occurrences in Ruck's Pit can be found here.

Photos of the fossil extraction operation at Rucks Pit can be found Here