Two Hoploscaphities plenus Ammonites

This is a beautiful piece with two nicely preserved Hoploscaphities plenus from the Pierre Shale of SD. The larger ammonite is 2 inches wide. Both the ammonites have section of iridescent shell as well as areas that show the natural sutures. The matrix has been sculpted so that the piece stands on it's own and displays very aesthetically.

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.