Cretaceous Fossil Sponge Dorset UK White Nothe Chalk Specimen Genuine

Overview & Authenticity

Offered here is a genuine Cretaceous fossil sponge collected from the famous Grey Chalk Subgroup at White Nothe, Ringstead Bay, Dorset, UK. This is a carefully chosen British marine fossil specimen, selected for preservation quality, natural form, and strong geological provenance. The photographs show the actual specimen you will receive, ensuring complete transparency and confidence when purchasing.
Every fossil is supplied with a Certificate of Authenticity, including a lifetime guarantee of genuineness, provided on a generic authenticity card.

This specimen was personally discovered by our own experienced team members Alister and Alison on 18 January 2024 and has been professionally cleaned, prepared, and treated by Alison, ensuring it is stabilised and ready for long-term collection or display.

Geological Setting – Grey Chalk Subgroup, White Nothe

White Nothe is one of Dorset’s most spectacular coastal exposures and forms part of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site. Despite its name, White Nothe is famous not only for Jurassic strata but also for beautifully preserved Cretaceous chalk deposits.
The Grey Chalk Subgroup was deposited approximately 100–94 million years ago during the early Late Cretaceous, when southern England lay beneath a warm, shallow epicontinental sea. Chalk formed from the slow accumulation of microscopic planktonic algae (coccolithophores), creating a fine carbonate mud seafloor that was ideal for preserving delicate marine life.

Fossil Type & Biological Origin

Sponges are ancient marine animals belonging to the phylum Porifera, among the earliest complex life forms on Earth. Cretaceous seas were rich in sponge communities, particularly in clear, nutrient-balanced waters where they thrived on the seabed as filter feeders.
Fossil sponges are valued for their unusual morphology and importance in understanding ancient marine reef and carbonate ecosystems. Many chalk sponges belong to groups with rigid skeletal frameworks, allowing them to fossilise in three-dimensional form.

Morphology & Notable Features

This specimen preserves the characteristic external structure of a marine sponge, often showing an irregular to symmetrical body shape with visible surface texture. Fossil sponges from the chalk may display subtle pore patterns, growth forms, and natural sculpturing created by the organism’s filtering architecture.
The surrounding chalk matrix provides an attractive contrast, highlighting the sponge fossil’s shape and making it ideal for display. Alison’s careful preparation ensures the fossil’s details are revealed while maintaining the integrity of the specimen.

Depositional Environment & Fossilisation

During the Cretaceous, White Nothe was located beneath a calm, shallow sea with clear waters and minimal sediment influx. Sponges lived attached to the seabed, filtering seawater for nutrients.
After death, the sponge structure was buried within fine carbonate mud. Over millions of years, mineral replacement and lithification transformed the organism into stone while preserving its external form. Chalk environments are particularly important for preserving marine fossils due to their gentle depositional conditions.

Collecting & Display Value

British chalk fossils from Dorset are highly sought after for their scientific significance, provenance, and aesthetic appeal. A fossil sponge from White Nothe represents a remarkable piece of Cretaceous marine history and a tangible connection to the seas that covered Britain during the age of dinosaurs.
Full sizing details are provided in the photographs. As a team-collected, expertly prepared specimen supplied with a Certificate of Authenticity and lifetime guarantee, this fossil sponge is ideal for collectors, educational collections, or museum-style display.