RARE Fossil Ammonite Tulites cadus – Fullers Earth Rock – Middle Bathonian, Jurassic – Dunkton, Bath, UK – Alice Purnell Collection

Description

RARE FOSSIL AMMONITE – Tulites cadus – FULLERS EARTH ROCK – MIDDLE BATHONIAN, JURASSIC – DUNKTON, BATH, UNITED KINGDOM

This is a rare and scientifically valuable specimen of the ammonite Tulites cadus, from the Middle Bathonian stage of the Jurassic period. The fossil comes from the well-known Fullers Earth Rock Formation, collected at Dunkton, near Bath, Somerset, UK—an area celebrated for its well-preserved Middle Jurassic marine fauna.

This specific fossil originates from the Alice Purnell Collection, ensuring a legacy of careful curation. Each fossil we sell is 100% genuine and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity. The image provided shows the actual fossil you will receive. A scale cube is included (1 cm squares) to give you precise size reference—please refer to the photo for full sizing.

GEOLOGICAL & TAXONOMIC INFORMATION:

• Species: Tulites cadus
• Geological Period: Jurassic
• Stage: Middle Bathonian (~168–166 million years ago)
• Formation: Fullers Earth Rock
• Biozone: Possibly Morrisi or Retrocostatum Zones (regionally dependent)
• Locality: Dunkton, near Bath, Somerset, England, UK
• Depositional Environment: Shallow marine, offshore shelf; predominantly silty clays and carbonates of the Fullers Earth indicating reduced energy, low-oxygen settings ideal for fossil preservation
• Family: Perisphinctidae
• Superfamily: Perisphinctoidea
• Order: Ammonitida
• Class: Cephalopoda
• Phylum: Mollusca

MORPHOLOGICAL FEATURES:

Tulites cadus is recognized by:

• Its compact, moderately evolute shell
• Rounded whorl sections
• Fine, often bifurcating ribs
• Strong keel development
• Subtle tuberculation in well-preserved examples
• These features assist in precise biozonal classification and regional correlation of the Bathonian marine sequences.

NOTABLE CONTEXT & SIGNIFICANCE:

• The Fullers Earth Rock Formation is an iconic unit within the Great Oolite Group and plays a critical role in interpreting Middle Jurassic palaeoenvironments in southern England.
• Tulites cadus is less commonly encountered than other perisphinctid ammonites of this stage and offers unique biostratigraphic insights.
• Fossils from this region are rare in the public domain, especially from historic collections like Alice Purnell’s.

SUMMARY:

• Species: Tulites cadus
• Age: Middle Bathonian (~168–166 Ma)
• Zone: Possibly Morrisi or Retrocostatum
• Formation: Fullers Earth Rock
• Location: Dunkton, Bath, Somerset, UK
• Preservation: Excellent, with fine ribbing and form
• Collection: Alice Purnell
• Authenticity: Certified Genuine Specimen
• Image: Actual item with 1cm scale cube

This is an excellent opportunity to own a documented and scientifically notable ammonite fossil with provenance. Suitable for serious collectors, researchers, and display in curated fossil collections.