Mantelliceras saxbii Ammonite Fossil Lower Chalk Cretaceous UK COA Card - Cenomanian West Sussex Collector Specimen
£ 36.00
Mantelliceras saxbii Ammonite Fossil from West SussexThis is a genuine Mantelliceras saxbii ammonite fossil from the Lower Chalk,
dating to the Lower Cenomanian stage of the Upper Cretaceous, collected from Adur Valley, St Botolph’s, West Sussex, UK. This carefully chosen fossil is a desirable British Cretaceous marine cephalopod specimen, selected for its natural character, scientific interest, and display appeal. It is supplied with a Certificate of Authenticity lifetime guarantee generic card, making it a trusted addition to an ammonite collection, fossil cabinet, educational geology display, natural history collection, or prehistoric gift selection.The photograph shows the actual fossil specimen you will receive. Full sizing and scale can be seen in the photo.Geological Age and FormationThis ammonite comes from the Lower Chalk, part of the famous Chalk Group that forms many of the classic Cretaceous landscapes of southern England. It dates to the Lower Cenomanian, an early stage of the Late Cretaceous, approximately 100 million years old. During this period, much of Britain was covered by warm, shallow epicontinental seas, where fine carbonate sediment accumulated on the sea floor.The Chalk was largely formed from microscopic calcareous plates produced by marine algae known as coccolithophores. Over millions of years, these tiny remains settled through the water column and built up thick chalk deposits. Within these ancient marine sediments, fossils such as ammonites, bivalves, echinoids, sponges, fish remains, and other sea life were preserved. Fossils from the Lower Chalk are especially collectable because they represent the early development of the great Late Cretaceous chalk seas.Location: Adur Valley, St Botolph’s, West SussexThis specimen was collected from Adur Valley, St Botolph’s, West Sussex, an area associated with the classic chalk geology of southern England. During the Lower Cenomanian, this region lay beneath a warm marine sea connected to the wider European chalk sea. Fine carbonate mud, shell debris, and marine remains accumulated in low-energy offshore conditions, creating an environment where ammonites could be preserved.West Sussex fossils from the Lower Chalk are attractive to collectors because they combine strong British locality interest with genuine Cretaceous age. A fossil from this region offers a direct connection to the ancient marine world that existed long before the modern South Downs and Adur Valley landscape formed.Fossil Type and SpeciesThis specimen is identified as Mantelliceras saxbii, an extinct ammonite species from the Lower Cenomanian. Mantelliceras is a well-known Cretaceous ammonite genus and is widely associated with early Cenomanian marine deposits. Ammonites such as Mantelliceras are important fossils for geological dating because they evolved rapidly and were distributed across broad marine areas.Ammonites were marine molluscs related to modern squid, cuttlefish, octopus, and nautilus. They had coiled external shells divided into internal chambers. The living animal occupied the outer body chamber, while earlier chambers helped regulate buoyancy, allowing the ammonite to move through the water column. Their distinctive shells make them among the most recognisable and collectable fossils from the age of dinosaurs.Morphology and Notable FeaturesMantelliceras ammonites are recognised for their strongly ornamented, coiled shells. Typical features include visible whorls, a defined umbilical area, prominent ribbing, and a robust Cretaceous ammonite form. The ribs often extend across the flanks of the shell and may continue over the venter, giving the fossil a textured and highly decorative appearance.The shell structure records the growth of the animal through life, with each whorl representing a later stage of development. Internal chamber walls, known as septa, divided the shell, and the lines where these walls met the outer shell formed suture patterns. These features are scientifically important and help make ammonites valuable for both study and collection.As a genuine fossil, this specimen may show natural chalk matrix, fossil shell texture, mineralisation, colour variation, weathering, small chips, cracks, or areas of natural wear caused by fossilisation and geological history. These features are normal for authentic fossils and add to the individuality of the piece. The photo shows the exact fossil being offered, allowing the buyer to view its condition, preservation, size, and display quality before purchase.Cretaceous Marine EnvironmentThis Mantelliceras saxbii ammonite lived in the warm Cretaceous seas that covered southern Britain during the Lower Cenomanian. These marine environments supported a diverse ecosystem of ammonites, bivalves, belemnites, brachiopods, echinoids, sponges, fish, and marine reptiles. Ammonites were active swimming or drifting animals, likely feeding on small prey in the water column using tentacles.After death, the ammonite shell could settle onto the sea floor and become buried by carbonate mud. Over millions of years, compaction, mineralisation, and geological change transformed the remains into fossil-bearing chalk. This specimen is a direct link to the ancient chalk sea of southern England, when dinosaurs lived on land and ammonites thrived in the oceans.Authenticity and CollectabilityThis Mantelliceras saxbii ammonite fossil is a genuine specimen from Adur Valley, St Botolph’s, West Sussex, UK, dating to the Lower Cenomanian of the Upper Cretaceous within the Lower Chalk. It is suitable for collectors of British fossils, West Sussex fossils, Cretaceous ammonites, Lower Chalk fossils, marine cephalopods, natural history specimens, educational geology pieces, and display fossils.This carefully selected fossil includes a Certificate of Authenticity lifetime guarantee generic card, and the fossil shown in the photo is the actual specimen you will receive.
dating to the Lower Cenomanian stage of the Upper Cretaceous, collected from Adur Valley, St Botolph’s, West Sussex, UK. This carefully chosen fossil is a desirable British Cretaceous marine cephalopod specimen, selected for its natural character, scientific interest, and display appeal. It is supplied with a Certificate of Authenticity lifetime guarantee generic card, making it a trusted addition to an ammonite collection, fossil cabinet, educational geology display, natural history collection, or prehistoric gift selection.The photograph shows the actual fossil specimen you will receive. Full sizing and scale can be seen in the photo.Geological Age and FormationThis ammonite comes from the Lower Chalk, part of the famous Chalk Group that forms many of the classic Cretaceous landscapes of southern England. It dates to the Lower Cenomanian, an early stage of the Late Cretaceous, approximately 100 million years old. During this period, much of Britain was covered by warm, shallow epicontinental seas, where fine carbonate sediment accumulated on the sea floor.The Chalk was largely formed from microscopic calcareous plates produced by marine algae known as coccolithophores. Over millions of years, these tiny remains settled through the water column and built up thick chalk deposits. Within these ancient marine sediments, fossils such as ammonites, bivalves, echinoids, sponges, fish remains, and other sea life were preserved. Fossils from the Lower Chalk are especially collectable because they represent the early development of the great Late Cretaceous chalk seas.Location: Adur Valley, St Botolph’s, West SussexThis specimen was collected from Adur Valley, St Botolph’s, West Sussex, an area associated with the classic chalk geology of southern England. During the Lower Cenomanian, this region lay beneath a warm marine sea connected to the wider European chalk sea. Fine carbonate mud, shell debris, and marine remains accumulated in low-energy offshore conditions, creating an environment where ammonites could be preserved.West Sussex fossils from the Lower Chalk are attractive to collectors because they combine strong British locality interest with genuine Cretaceous age. A fossil from this region offers a direct connection to the ancient marine world that existed long before the modern South Downs and Adur Valley landscape formed.Fossil Type and SpeciesThis specimen is identified as Mantelliceras saxbii, an extinct ammonite species from the Lower Cenomanian. Mantelliceras is a well-known Cretaceous ammonite genus and is widely associated with early Cenomanian marine deposits. Ammonites such as Mantelliceras are important fossils for geological dating because they evolved rapidly and were distributed across broad marine areas.Ammonites were marine molluscs related to modern squid, cuttlefish, octopus, and nautilus. They had coiled external shells divided into internal chambers. The living animal occupied the outer body chamber, while earlier chambers helped regulate buoyancy, allowing the ammonite to move through the water column. Their distinctive shells make them among the most recognisable and collectable fossils from the age of dinosaurs.Morphology and Notable FeaturesMantelliceras ammonites are recognised for their strongly ornamented, coiled shells. Typical features include visible whorls, a defined umbilical area, prominent ribbing, and a robust Cretaceous ammonite form. The ribs often extend across the flanks of the shell and may continue over the venter, giving the fossil a textured and highly decorative appearance.The shell structure records the growth of the animal through life, with each whorl representing a later stage of development. Internal chamber walls, known as septa, divided the shell, and the lines where these walls met the outer shell formed suture patterns. These features are scientifically important and help make ammonites valuable for both study and collection.As a genuine fossil, this specimen may show natural chalk matrix, fossil shell texture, mineralisation, colour variation, weathering, small chips, cracks, or areas of natural wear caused by fossilisation and geological history. These features are normal for authentic fossils and add to the individuality of the piece. The photo shows the exact fossil being offered, allowing the buyer to view its condition, preservation, size, and display quality before purchase.Cretaceous Marine EnvironmentThis Mantelliceras saxbii ammonite lived in the warm Cretaceous seas that covered southern Britain during the Lower Cenomanian. These marine environments supported a diverse ecosystem of ammonites, bivalves, belemnites, brachiopods, echinoids, sponges, fish, and marine reptiles. Ammonites were active swimming or drifting animals, likely feeding on small prey in the water column using tentacles.After death, the ammonite shell could settle onto the sea floor and become buried by carbonate mud. Over millions of years, compaction, mineralisation, and geological change transformed the remains into fossil-bearing chalk. This specimen is a direct link to the ancient chalk sea of southern England, when dinosaurs lived on land and ammonites thrived in the oceans.Authenticity and CollectabilityThis Mantelliceras saxbii ammonite fossil is a genuine specimen from Adur Valley, St Botolph’s, West Sussex, UK, dating to the Lower Cenomanian of the Upper Cretaceous within the Lower Chalk. It is suitable for collectors of British fossils, West Sussex fossils, Cretaceous ammonites, Lower Chalk fossils, marine cephalopods, natural history specimens, educational geology pieces, and display fossils.This carefully selected fossil includes a Certificate of Authenticity lifetime guarantee generic card, and the fossil shown in the photo is the actual specimen you will receive.
