Ammonite Fossil
Image: <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.flickr.com/people/47445767@N05">James St. John</a> (CC BY 2.0)
Mineral NameAmmonite Fossil
Chemical FormulaCaCO3
Mohs Hardness3
Crystal Systemtrigonal
Lusterdull
Streak Colorwhite
Cleavageperfect rhombohedral (of calcite, the primary mineral)
Fractureuneven
Specific Gravity2.71
Colorsbrown, grey, tan, white
Transparencyopaque
Type LocalitySolnhofen Limestone, Bavaria, Germany
Mineral GroupCarbonates
Usesscientific study, collector's item, decorative
Associated Mineralscalcite
Rarityuncommon
Description
A well-preserved, coiled ammonite fossil, exhibiting its shell structure and distinct aptychi, embedded in a light-colored, fine-grained limestone matrix.
Geological Context
This fossil originates from the Upper Jurassic Solnhofen Limestone, a famous lagoon deposit in Bavaria, Germany, renowned for its exceptional preservation of marine and marginal marine organisms.
