Jeletzkytes nodosus Iridescent Ammonite Fossil Pierre Shale South Dakota USA COA – Genuine Maastrichtian Cretaceous Collectible

Description

Jeletzkytes nodosus Iridescent Ammonite Fossil

Maastrichtian Fossil from the Upper Cretaceous

This genuine Jeletzkytes nodosus iridescent ammonite fossil comes from South Dakota, USA. It was found in the Pierre Shale and dates to the Maastrichtian Stage of the Upper Cretaceous Period. With a named species, distinctive iridescent preservation, documented formation and state locality, it is an eye-catching natural history specimen for ammonite collectors, geology students, palaeontology enthusiasts and anyone building a cabinet of authentic prehistoric objects.

The photographs show the actual fossil you will receive. Its individual form, iridescent colours, preservation, matrix and visible shell detail belong to this exact specimen, so both images should be examined carefully when considering its character and condition.

The Jeletzkytes nodosus Ammonite

Jeletzkytes is an extinct ammonite genus. Ammonites were marine cephalopods with coiled shells divided internally into chambers. During growth, the animal occupied the enlarged outer living chamber while earlier chambers remained behind within the coil. Their diversity and changing shell forms make ammonites among the most recognisable and scientifically useful fossils of Mesozoic marine rocks.

This specimen is identified as Jeletzkytes nodosus. Features considered when studying ammonites can include the expansion and overlap of the whorls, the breadth and profile of the shell, the form of the opening and the pattern of ribs, nodes or other ornament. Please use the photographs as the definitive visual guide to the exact morphology and preservation shown by this individual fossil.

Iridescent Fossil Preservation

The iridescent appearance is a particularly attractive feature of this specimen. Iridescence can occur where preserved shell material or mineralised layers interact with light, producing colours that shift with the viewing angle. The strength and range of colour can therefore vary under different lighting and when the specimen is turned.

This optical effect is part of the fossil’s natural preservation rather than an applied modern finish. The listing photographs show the actual piece and provide the best guide to the visible colour, but collectors may notice additional variation when viewing it in hand.

Pierre Shale Geology

The Pierre Shale is an extensive Upper Cretaceous marine rock unit of the western interior of North America. Its sediments accumulated in the Western Interior Seaway, a broad body of water that covered much of the central continent during the Late Cretaceous. Fine marine muds buried shells and other remains on the sea floor, later becoming shale and preserving a varied fossil record.

The Maastrichtian is the final stage of the Cretaceous Period. A Jeletzkytes nodosus ammonite from this interval represents marine life from near the close of the Mesozoic Era. The supplied locality of South Dakota, USA, provides clear geographical context alongside the formation and geological stage.

Natural Condition and Display

Fossils are natural geological objects rather than manufactured ornaments. Variations in surface texture, incomplete areas, mineral deposits, attached matrix and differences in iridescence may reflect burial, fossilisation, weathering and preparation. These characteristics are part of the specimen’s history and help make every genuine fossil unique.

This iridescent ammonite is suitable for a fossil cabinet, natural history collection, classroom, office, study set or geology-themed display. It may also make a thoughtful gift for a fossil collector, amateur palaeontologist, geology student or admirer of prehistoric marine life.

For full sizing, please refer to the photographs. The pictured fossil is the actual carefully chosen specimen supplied, not a representative example. Both images provide the best guide to its dimensions, iridescent surface, shell form, matrix and overall preservation.

Authenticity and Certificate

This is a genuine fossil specimen. It includes a generic Certificate of Authenticity lifetime guarantee card, providing an enduring authenticity assurance for the collector. The card will accompany the fossil.

You will receive one Jeletzkytes nodosus iridescent ammonite fossil from the Maastrichtian Upper Cretaceous Pierre Shale of South Dakota, USA, together with its Certificate of Authenticity card. The exact fossil shown in the listing photographs is the specimen that will be sent.