Description
This listing showcases a RARE 9.5-inch fossil ammonite, Lewesiceras mantelii, from the Turonian Stage of the Cretaceous Period, discovered in the chalk cliffs near Eastbourne, Sussex, United Kingdom. This well-preserved and scientifically significant specimen is part of the prestigious Alice Purnell Collection, renowned for its collector-grade and authenticated fossils.
Geological Details:
- Locality: Eastbourne, Sussex, United Kingdom
- Geological Period: Cretaceous
- Geological Stage: Turonian (~93.9 to 89.8 million years ago)
- Depositional Environment: Shallow marine chalk sea, with fine carbonate sedimentation from plankton-rich waters
- Formation: Upper Chalk Formation, White Chalk Subgroup (southern England)
Paleontological Context: Lewesiceras mantelii is one of the largest and most recognisable ammonites from the Pachydiscidae Family, serving as a key biostratigraphic marker for the Turonian Stage. Its global distribution and distinctive morphology make it valuable for regional and international stratigraphic correlation.
- Order: Ammonitida
- Superfamily: Desmoceratoidea
- Family: Pachydiscidae
- Genus: Lewesiceras
- Species: mantelii
- Biozone: Lewesiceras peramplum Zone (Middle–Upper Turonian)
- Formally Described by: J. Sowerby, 1817
Morphological Features:
- Strong, involute coiling with broad whorls
- Coarse, prominent ribbing across the flanks
- Deep umbilicus and thick shell profile
- Chalk preservation typical of the Eastbourne cliffs, with light cream matrix and natural patina
Notable Characteristics:
- Impressive size (9.5″) and high-quality preservation
- From a classic UK chalk fossil locality
- Sourced from the well-regarded Alice Purnell Collection, offering scientific and collector confidence
Authenticity & Presentation:
- 100% genuine fossil, not a reproduction
- Includes a Certificate of Authenticity
- Photo shows the actual specimen you will receive
- Scale cube = 1cm included in photo for reference
Additional Notes: This large and classic British ammonite is a prime example of Lewesiceras mantelii, combining beauty, stratigraphic significance, and provenance. A museum-worthy addition for collectors, educators, and institutions with an interest in the Upper Cretaceous of Europe.
All of our Fossils are 100% Genuine Specimens & come with a Certificate of Authenticity.
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