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

Description

Genuine Golden Pyrite Microderoceras Ammonite from the Jurassic Coast

Presented here is a beautifully preserved Microderoceras golden pyrite ammonite fossil, collected from the famous Black Ven Marls at Stonebarrow Cliff, Charmouth, on the internationally recognised 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 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 maintaining its natural geological integrity.

Fossil Type and Species – Microderoceras

Microderoceras is a distinctive 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.

Microderoceras is particularly valued for its elegant shell form and evolutionary significance within Early Jurassic ammonite lineages. Specimens from the Dorset coast are especially sought after due to their excellent preservation and importance in British Jurassic stratigraphy.

Morphology and Diagnostic Features

This specimen displays the classic characteristics of Microderoceras, including:

• A moderately evolute shell, with earlier whorls visible
• Strong, evenly spaced radial ribs extending across the flanks
• A slightly compressed whorl section with clear definition
• Distinct growth lines reflecting natural shell development

The balance between ribbing strength and shell compression gives Microderoceras a refined and visually appealing appearance, making it an attractive ammonite for both display and study.

Golden Pyrite Preservation

One of the most striking features of this fossil is its natural golden pyrite mineralisation. Pyrite, often referred to as “fool’s gold,” 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 details while creating a metallic gold finish.

Golden pyrite ammonites from the Black Ven Marls are highly desirable, as they combine strong scientific value with exceptional 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 fossilised under conditions favourable for pyrite formation.

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 vital role in understanding Jurassic marine ecosystems, sedimentology, and ammonite evolution.

Collector, Educational, and Display Value

Microderoceras 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 elegant shell form and golden pyrite mineralisation makes this specimen both visually impressive and scientifically meaningful.

Authenticity and Provenance

• Fossil type: Microderoceras 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.