Pebble Ammonite Fossil from the Cretaceous of Madagascar Genuine Natural Display Specimen COA

Authentic Pebble Ammonite – Cretaceous, Madagascar

This listing features a genuine pebble ammonite fossil from the Cretaceous Period, collected in Madagascar, a globally renowned source of beautifully preserved ammonites. The specimen has been carefully chosen for its natural form, completeness, and visual appeal. The photographs show the exact fossil you will receive, with full sizing details provided in the listing images. As with all our fossils, this piece is 100% genuine and supplied with a Certificate of Authenticity.

Geological Age and Setting – Cretaceous Marine Environments

The Cretaceous Period (approximately 145–66 million years ago) represents a time of extensive shallow seas and extraordinary marine biodiversity. During this era, Madagascar lay within warm tropical waters connected to the ancient Tethys Ocean. These seas supported abundant cephalopod life, including ammonites that evolved into a wide variety of forms and sizes.

Marine sediments accumulated steadily on the seabed, often burying ammonite shells shortly after death. Over millions of years, mineral-rich waters replaced the original shell material, preserving the coiled forms as fossils. The result is the robust, naturally rounded ammonite specimens commonly referred to as pebble ammonites, shaped by gentle transport and long-term geological processes.

Fossil Type – Pebble Ammonite

A pebble ammonite is a naturally smoothed ammonite fossil, where the original coiled shell remains visible but has been gently rounded by sedimentary movement and mineralisation. This natural tumbling process produces a compact, tactile fossil with softened edges while retaining key ammonite features.

Typical characteristics of pebble ammonites include:

• Clearly defined spiral coiling, visible across the fossil surface

• Smooth, rounded exterior, formed by natural geological abrasion

• Dense mineralisation, giving the fossil weight and durability

• Subtle shell patterning, often visible beneath the surface

• Natural finish, with no artificial shaping or enhancement

These features make pebble ammonites particularly appealing to collectors who value natural processes and organic fossil forms.

Madagascar – A World-Class Ammonite Locality

Madagascar is internationally recognised as one of the finest sources of Cretaceous ammonites. The island’s sedimentary basins have yielded countless high-quality specimens, many preserved in three dimensions and displaying excellent natural detail. Fossils from Madagascar are widely represented in museum collections and private displays around the world.

Pebble ammonites from this region are especially popular due to their durability, aesthetic appeal, and accessibility, making them suitable for both experienced collectors and those new to fossil collecting.

Scientific and Display Value

Ammonites are extinct marine cephalopods closely related to modern squid and nautiluses. Their rapid evolutionary rates and wide distribution make them essential index fossils for dating and correlating rock layers. Pebble ammonites, while naturally smoothed, still preserve the defining characteristics that make ammonites so important in palaeontology.

This specimen is ideal for:

• Fossil and natural history collections

• Educational displays and teaching collections

• Hands-on study and tactile exhibits

• Decorative displays inspired by natural history

Their compact form and smooth finish also make pebble ammonites easy to handle and display.

Your Genuine Fossil Specimen

• Fossil Type: Pebble ammonite

• Geological Age: Cretaceous Period

• Locality: Madagascar

• Authenticity: 100% genuine fossil with Certificate of Authenticity

• Condition: Naturally smoothed, well-preserved specimen

• Sizing: Full measurements shown in listing photographs

• Exact Specimen Shown: You will receive the fossil pictured

This Cretaceous pebble ammonite from Madagascar offers a timeless connection to ancient seas, combining geological authenticity with a naturally refined form. Its genuine provenance, durability, and understated beauty make it a versatile and meaningful addition to any fossil collection or display.