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 famous Black Ven Marls at Stonebarrow Cliff, Charmouth, within the world-renowned Jurassic Coast at Lyme Regis, Dorset, UK. This is a carefully chosen natural specimen, and the photographs show the exact fossil you will receive, with full sizing clearly visible in the images.

This fossil includes 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 preserving its original geological integrity.

Fossil Type and Species – Eteoderoceras

Eteoderoceras is a classic 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 within Early Jurassic ammonite successions and is valued by collectors for its bold shell ornamentation and scientific relevance. Dorset specimens are especially prized due to the exceptional preservation found within the Black Ven Marls.

Morphology and Diagnostic Features

This specimen displays the defining characteristics of Eteoderoceras, including:

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

The balanced ribbing and robust form give Eteoderoceras an attractive appearance, making it an excellent fossil for both display and study.

Golden Pyrite Preservation

One of the most striking features 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 delicate surface detail while creating a shimmering metallic gold finish.

Golden pyrite ammonites from the Black Ven Marls are especially sought after because they combine scientific value with exceptional aesthetic appeal. The reflective pyrite enhances the ribbing and shell contours, making this specimen a standout display piece.

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 settled on the sea floor, allowing ammonites and other marine organisms to be rapidly buried and fossilised under conditions favourable for mineral replacement.

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 remain central to 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 bold 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.