Pyritized Pleuroceras Ammonite - Germany

This is a heavily pyritized Pleuroceras ammonite fossil collected near Forcheim, Germany. It's Jurassic, Pliensbachian stage or approximately 185 million years old. You can feel the heft of the iron pyrite in the specimen when you hold it in your hand. These cluster pieces are really nice because there are generally other fossils that help make up the matrix.

Please note, that the ammonite has been brushed with a wire brush to give it a more golden brilliant shine. Despite being pyritized their natural color when found is much duller.

Ammonites are extinct mollusks that resembled a squid with a shell. These cephalopods had eyes, tentacles, and spiral shells. They were one of the dominant life forms in the ocean during the Mesozoic era but went extinct along with the dinosaurs 65 million years ago.