Pair Cretaceous Cleoniceras Ammonite Fossils Madagascar 14 cm +Display  Stands

A pair of polished half matching ammonites of the genus Cleoniceras, dating from the Cretaceous Period (approx. 120–110 million years old). The fossils displays a rich rustic brown colour, polished to reveal its crystalline chambers and natural spiral form.

Each supplied a clip and twist adjustable display stand and small pictorial ID card shown in pictures. An attractive display piece, educational specimen, or unusual gift—ideal for collectors, weddings, engagements, anniversaries, or twins. The concept of the ammonites being a matching cut pair, laying dormant in the ground for millions of years until discovered and prepared, symbolising eternity and deep time,  make them particularly appealing as a very unusual wedding, anniversary or engagement  gift or for twins .

Origin: Madagascar
Size: Approx.15 cm x 12.7 cm when put together.  
Weight: Approx. 894 gm
Condition: Excellent detail and preservation
Code: 100-1055

What is a Fossil?

Fossils give fascinating prehistorical evidence of past life on our planet.

Usually, fossilization starts once the animal or plant has died. Most animals and plants are eaten or simply recycled back into the earth. The best fossils occur when this process happens rapidly, shortly after death has occurred. Conditions have to be exactly right for a fossil to be produced. Most commonly, this is below water. Decay and deterioration are slowed down because the specimen is covered or entombed in either sediment, muds, sands or volcanic ash or other material, layer upon layer, and over a period that is hard to imagine, usually thousands to millions of years.

Preservation takes place very gradually, as it compacts, it slowly turns to rock. Over time, the plant or animal is replaced by minerals and with chemical changes, leaving an extraordinary replica of the original. In some cases, the pressure and temperature increase, caused by sedimentation, can result in the release of hydrogen and oxygen, leaving a carbon impression of the specimen in sedimentary rock. This process is called carbonization.

Fossils can become preserved in various different ways. For example, wood can become petrified by a process of minerals seeping into the saturated wood, resulting in a gradual process of the wood becoming hard, and resembling stone, often with extraordinary colours. In perimineralization or petrification, after the soft structures have decayed, the hard parts, in particular bones, remain. In some cases, the other minerals completely replace the original specimen. Generally, most fossils represent the hard parts such as bones, shells, leaves, seeds or woody parts of plants.

Fossils can be internal or external moulds of the original specimen. They can also be the some of the original matter, impregnated with chemicals such as silica or calcite.

Fossils can also be indirect, such as in animal foot prints or burrows. These are known as trace fossils.