Iridescent Hoploscaphites Ammonite from Fox Hills

Description: These beautiful ammonites coming from the famous Fox Hills Formation are collected from concretions that weather from stream channels and hillsides. Upon being cracked, if the collector is lucky, a wonderful prize ammonite awaits. The ammonites from this locality are prized for their retention of shell during fossilization. Moreover, the shells are opalized, consisting of a mineral called ammolite (mother of pearl) in the trade that refracts spectrum of beautiful iridescent colors.

Ammonites of the family Scaphitidae, called schaphites, have a simple body design exhibiting the shape of the letter J. Scaphites also often present complex ornamentation, including tubercles, sutures, keels, and ribs.

Note the tightly grouped ribbing and rich amber color of this specimen.

During the Upper Cretaceous, a huge shallow inland sea stretching from the now Gulf of Mexico up into Canada existed. Ammonites were among the animals that abounded in this sea teeming with life while the hugest of dinosaurs roamed the land above.