Very Rare 6″ Radstockiceras complicatum Fossil Ammonite, Jurassic, Lower Pliensbachian, Radstock UK, Genuine with COA

Description

Offered here is a VERY RARE 6″ Fossil Ammonite of Radstockiceras complicatum from the Lower Pliensbachian Stage of the Jurassic Period, collected from Radstock, Somerset, United Kingdom. This striking and scientifically important ammonite is named after the locality and is a sought-after representative of early Jurassic cephalopod faunas.

The specimen in the photo is the exact one you will receive. It has been carefully selected and professionally cleaned to showcase its diagnostic features and overall preservation.

Scale Rule Squares / Cube = 1cm — refer to the photo for full sizing.

Key Geological and Scientific Information:

• Species: Radstockiceras complicatum
• Fossil Type: Ammonite (extinct marine cephalopod)
• Geological Period: Jurassic
• Geological Stage: Lower Pliensbachian (~190–188 million years ago)
• Location: Radstock, Somerset, England, UK
• Formation: Possibly Redcar Mudstone Formation or underlying Blue Lias Group
• Order: Ammonitida
• Superfamily: Eoderoceratoidea
• Family: Polymorphitidae
• Described By: S.S. Buckman, early 20th century

Morphology Features:

Radstockiceras complicatum is well known for its strongly ribbed, involute shell, with fine and complex ribbing patterns that often bifurcate or trifurcate along the flanks. The whorls are compressed with a deep umbilicus and the venter is usually rounded to weakly keeled. These features, combined with its size and rarity, make it a key taxon for early Jurassic ammonite studies.

This specimen displays the classic complicatum ornamentation, preserved in excellent detail — ideal for scientific reference or advanced collecting.

Depositional Environment:

This ammonite would have lived in calm offshore marine conditions within a low-energy epicontinental sea, part of the early Jurassic seaway system. The preservation of this specimen suggests rapid burial in fine-grained sediments, such as mudstone or marl, where oxygen levels were low enough to minimise decay and scavenging.

Stratigraphic Context & Biozone:

Radstockiceras complicatum is characteristic of the Lower Pliensbachian and is commonly associated with the Jamesoni Zone, an important regional biozone for early Jurassic ammonite stratigraphy in Britain and parts of Europe.

Scientific Importance:

This ammonite is of particular interest in the study of early Jurassic cephalopod radiation. Its distinct ornamentation, stratigraphic significance, and rarity — especially in this size — make it highly desirable for academic study and serious fossil collections. Named after the very region it was found in, Radstockiceras holds both historical and paleontological significance.

Authenticity Guarantee:

All of our fossils are 100% genuine specimens, responsibly sourced and expertly prepared. Each piece includes a Certificate of Authenticity, verifying the specimen’s species, age, and locality.

This Radstockiceras complicatum fossil ammonite is an extraordinary piece of early Jurassic heritage — a museum-quality specimen perfect for discerning collectors, educational displays, and paleontological study.