Sea Urchin Fossil Steinkern
Echinoidea indet. (likely regular echinoid steinkern) • Internal mold (steinkern), body fossil, invertebrate
Geological Period
Jurassic (Callovian to Oxfordian)
Estimated Age
163 to 157 million years ago
Preservation Type
Natural internal mold (steinkern) formed by sediment filling the interior cavity of the echinoid test and hardening
Condition Assessment
Fair to Good. The specimen is a heavily worn or weathered steinkern, missing fine surface details of the test, but maintaining its general three-dimensional shape
Taxonomic Classification
Phylum Echinodermata, Class Echinoidea, Order Regular echinoid, Family uncertain, Genus uncertain
Morphological Description
Smooth, rounded, somewhat dome-shaped or ovoid internal mold with faint traces of ambulacral and interambulacral column impressions. Lacks fine surface ornamentation due to being a steinkern where the original calcite test has worn away or dissolved.
Rock Matrix
Limestone and calcareous marl matrix consistent with the famous coastal formations of Normandy, France
Formation & Location
Vaches Noires cliffs (Falaises des Vaches Noires), Normandy, France
Size & Dimensions
Approximately 3 cm to 4 cm in height/length, falling within the normal size range for Jurassic regular echinoids from this region
Value & Rarity
Estimated Market Value
$5 to $15 USD
Auction Estimate
$10 to $25 USD
Rarity Assessment
Common. Echinoid steinkerns are frequently found weathered out of the Jurassic clays and limestones along the Vaches Noires cliffs.
Scientific Significance
Provides evidence of benthic marine invertebrate life in the shallow shelf seas that covered northwestern Europe during the Middle to Late Jurassic
Preparation Recommendations
No aggressive mechanical preparation needed. Gentle brushing with water and a soft toothbrush to remove loose clay. Store in a dry environment.
Notable Features
Collected from the renowned fossil-rich Vaches Noires cliffs in Normandy, preserving a classic Jurassic echinoid internal mold morphology shaped by coastal erosion
Notes
falaise des vaches noir