Description
Arnioceras Fossil Ammonite and Fossil Wood from Black Ven, Lyme Regis
This genuine Arnioceras fossil ammonite with associated fossil wood comes from the Black Ven Marls of the Lower Lias, collected from Black Ven, Lyme Regis, Dorset, on the famous Jurassic Coast of the UK. It is a carefully chosen fossil specimen, supplied with a Certificate of Authenticity lifetime guarantee generic card. Full sizing can be seen in the photo, and the image shows the actual specimen you will receive.
Your specimen was discovered by our own team members, Alister and Alison, and has been cleaned, prepped and treated by Alison. This makes it an appealing fossil for collectors who value genuine British material with known provenance. The combination of ammonite and fossil wood gives the piece extra scientific and display interest, preserving evidence of both marine life and plant material from the Early Jurassic environment.
Species and Scientific Interest
Arnioceras is a classic Lower Jurassic ammonite genus, recognised for its neat coiled shell, evolute form and strong, regular ribbing. Ammonites were extinct marine cephalopods, related to modern squid, cuttlefish and nautilus. They lived in ancient seas and are among the most important fossils used for dating Jurassic rocks, as many ammonite species evolved rapidly and had wide geographical ranges.
Arnioceras is generally associated with the Sinemurian Stage of the Lower Jurassic, making specimens from this setting approximately 190 to 199 million years old. The genus is commonly placed within the family Arietitidae, superfamily Psiloceratoidea, order Ammonitida. Its distinctive ribbed shell and open coiling make it a highly recognisable ammonite for collectors of British Jurassic fossils.
The fossil wood adds an interesting palaeoenvironmental element. Plant material found in marine Jurassic deposits was often washed from nearby land, rivers or coastal areas into the sea before becoming buried in fine sediment. Its association with an ammonite helps illustrate the mixed natural history recorded in the Black Ven Marls, where marine animals and transported plant remains could be preserved together.
Black Ven Marls and Lower Lias Geology
The Black Ven Marls form part of the Lower Lias sequence exposed around Lyme Regis and Charmouth on the Dorset coast. These beds are mainly composed of dark clays, marls and limestone horizons deposited in a shallow marine environment during the Early Jurassic. Fine sediment accumulated on the sea floor, helping to preserve ammonites, belemnites, bivalves, marine reptile remains, fossil wood and other organic material.
The Lower Lias is highly important in British palaeontology because of its rich fossil content and well-studied ammonite zones. Fossils such as Arnioceras are especially useful for biostratigraphy, allowing geologists to divide and correlate Jurassic rock layers. This makes the specimen valuable not only as a display fossil, but also as an example of a fossil group with strong scientific significance.
Locality: Black Ven, Lyme Regis, Dorset
Black Ven is one of the most famous fossil-bearing cliff and landslip systems on the Jurassic Coast, situated between Lyme Regis and Charmouth. It forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage Jurassic Coast, a coastline internationally recognised for its outstanding geological record. Natural erosion continually exposes Lower Jurassic strata, making the area one of Britain’s most productive and historic fossil localities.
The Lyme Regis area has a long association with fossil collecting and early palaeontology. It became world-famous through the discoveries of Mary Anning and remains a classic location for collectors seeking genuine British fossils. Specimens from Black Ven are especially desirable because they combine historic locality appeal, strong geological context and attractive natural preservation.
Morphology and Display Features
Arnioceras ammonites are admired for their regular ribbing, balanced coil and elegant shell form. The ribs formed part of the original shell ornamentation and would have strengthened the ammonite shell during life. Depending on preservation, specimens from the Black Ven Marls may show grey, cream, brown or iron-rich tones, natural matrix, raised rib detail and contrasting fossil surfaces.
The fossil wood association adds further display character, creating a specimen that records more than one part of the Jurassic environment. The ammonite represents the ancient marine ecosystem, while the wood indicates nearby terrestrial plant material that entered the marine setting before burial. This makes the piece particularly suitable for collectors who enjoy fossil associations, natural matrix specimens and educational examples of ancient environments.
Authenticity and Collector Appeal
This Arnioceras fossil ammonite with fossil wood is a genuine Lower Jurassic specimen from Black Ven, Lyme Regis, Dorset, UK. It includes a Certificate of Authenticity lifetime guarantee generic card, giving confidence to fossil collectors, geology enthusiasts, students and gift buyers.
With its classic Jurassic Coast provenance, distinctive Arnioceras ammonite, associated fossil wood and carefully prepared presentation, this fossil would make an excellent addition to a British fossil collection, ammonite display, Lower Jurassic fossil suite, educational geology collection or Lyme Regis fossil cabinet.
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