Somerset Polished Ammonite Fossil | Jurassic Beacon Limestone | Ilminster UK | Cut & Polished Display Specimen

Description

This listing features a beautifully cut and polished ammonite fossil from the Beacon Limestone Formation, discovered near Ilminster, Somerset, United Kingdom. A striking combination of natural history and craftsmanship, this piece showcases the intricate inner structure of a Jurassic cephalopod preserved in English limestone.

Geological & Stratigraphic Context:

• Location: Ilminster, Somerset, UK
• Formation: Beacon Limestone Formation (also known locally as the Ilminster Limestone)
• Geological Period: Jurassic
• Stage: Lower Jurassic (Pliensbachian–Toarcian boundary, ~190–174 million years ago)
• Depositional Environment: Shallow marine carbonate platform, with finely bedded limestones and calcareous mudstones indicative of low-energy, offshore sedimentation

Fossil Type & Classification:

• Type: Ammonite fossil (cut and polished half section)
• Phylum: Mollusca
• Class: Cephalopoda
• Order: Ammonitida
• Superfamily / Family: Typically Dactylioceratidae or Hildoceratidae (identification varies by form; exact genus varies unless specified)

Morphological Features:

• Classic planispiral coiling with well-defined internal chambers (septa)
• Polished surface reveals beautiful calcite and aragonite mineralisation infilling the shell
• Suture lines may be visible, highlighting the complex partitioning of ammonite shells

Notable Details:

• Ammonites are extinct marine molluscs and important index fossils for Jurassic stratigraphy
• The Beacon Limestone is one of the most famous Lower Jurassic fossil beds in the UK and regularly yields exquisitely preserved ammonites
• This specimen has been carefully prepared, cut, and polished to a high standard to reveal internal structural beauty
• Ideal for both fossil collectors and natural interior design or educational display

Biozone:

• Likely corresponds to ammonite zones within the Pliensbachian or early Toarcian intervals, though exact biozonation depends on locality and species

Specimen & Scale Information:

• Scale Rule Squares/Cube = 1cm — Please see photo for accurate dimensions
• The specimen shown is the exact one you will receive, selected for both aesthetic and scientific appeal

Certification & Authenticity: All of our fossils are 100% genuine specimens and are supplied with a Certificate of Authenticity. Ethically sourced and professionally prepared.

Bring the Jurassic seas of Somerset into your home or collection with this striking polished ammonite fossil from the historic Beacon Limestone Formation of Ilminster.