Eteoderoceras Golden Pyrite Ammonite Fossil Jurassic Dorset UK Black Ven Marls Lower Lias Stonebarrow Cliff Charmouth Lyme Regis

Description

Genuine Golden Pyrite Eteoderoceras Ammonite from the Jurassic Coast

Offered here is a beautifully preserved Eteoderoceras golden pyrite ammonite fossil, collected from the renowned Black Ven Marls at Stonebarrow Cliff, Charmouth, part of the world-famous Jurassic Coast at Lyme Regis, Dorset, UK. This is a carefully chosen, naturally preserved specimen, and the photographs show the exact fossil you will receive, with full sizing clearly visible in the images.

This fossil is supplied with a lifetime Certificate of Authenticity on a generic card, guaranteeing it as a genuine natural specimen. The ammonite has been professionally cleaned, prepared, and stabilised to enhance detail while retaining its original geological character.

Fossil Type and Species – Eteoderoceras

Eteoderoceras is a well-known ammonite genus from the Lower Jurassic (Lower Lias), belonging to the Order Ammonitida, Superfamily Eoderoceratoidea, and Family Eoderoceratidae. These ammonites lived during the Sinemurian Stage, approximately 195 million years ago, when warm, shallow seas covered much of southern Britain.

Eteoderoceras is an important genus in Early Jurassic biostratigraphy and is commonly associated with well-defined ammonite biozones within the Lower Lias. Specimens from Dorset are especially valued for their strong preservation and scientific relevance.

Morphology and Diagnostic Features

This specimen displays the classic characteristics of Eteoderoceras, including:

• A moderately evolute shell, with earlier whorls partially visible
• Strong, well-spaced radial ribbing across the flanks
• A rounded to slightly compressed whorl section
• Clear growth lines reflecting natural shell development

These features give Eteoderoceras a bold and balanced appearance, making it an attractive ammonite for both collectors and educational use.

Golden Pyrite Preservation

One of the most striking aspects of this fossil is its natural golden pyrite mineralisation. Pyrite formed when iron and sulphur combined under low-oxygen conditions within the fine marine sediments of the Jurassic seabed. Over millions of years, pyrite replaced or infilled the original shell material, preserving intricate surface detail while creating a metallic gold finish.

Golden pyrite ammonites from the Black Ven Marls are highly sought after, as they combine scientific significance with outstanding visual appeal. The reflective pyrite highlights ribbing and shell contours, making this specimen a standout display fossil.

Geological Context – Black Ven Marls, Lower Lias

The Black Ven Marls were deposited in a quiet offshore marine environment during the Early Jurassic. Fine-grained muds accumulated on the sea floor, allowing ammonites and other marine organisms to be rapidly buried and protected from decay and disturbance.

Stonebarrow Cliff and Charmouth lie within the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Jurassic Coast, one of the most important fossil regions in the world. Fossils from this locality have been collected and studied for over two centuries and continue to play a crucial role in understanding Jurassic marine ecosystems, sedimentology, and ammonite evolution.

Collector, Educational, and Display Value

Eteoderoceras ammonites are highly desirable for:

• Fossil and ammonite collectors
• Mineral collectors attracted to pyrite preservation
• Educational and teaching collections
• Display cabinets and curated fossil shelves

The combination of strong shell morphology and golden pyrite mineralisation makes this specimen both visually impressive and scientifically meaningful.

Authenticity and Provenance

• Fossil type: Eteoderoceras ammonite
• Preservation: natural golden pyrite
• Formation: Black Ven Marls, Lower Lias
• Geological age: Lower Jurassic, Sinemurian Stage
• Locality: Stonebarrow Cliff, Charmouth, Lyme Regis, Dorset, UK
• Certificate: Lifetime Certificate of Authenticity included

This fossil represents a genuine piece of Dorset’s Jurassic seabed, preserving a marine animal that lived nearly 200 million years ago, and offers a rare opportunity to own a beautifully preserved golden pyrite ammonite from one of the world’s most celebrated fossil localities.