Sea Urchin Fossil (Echinoid)
Echinoidea indet. (likely an irregular heart urchin given the rounded, slightly heart-shaped contour visible) • Body fossil, invertebrate echinoid preserved as an internal mold (steinkern)
Geological Period
Jurassic to Cretaceous (Late Jurassic / Oxfordian or Cretaceous depending on specific layer of the Vaches Noires cliffs)
Estimated Age
Approximately 160 to 90 million years old
Preservation Type
Natural internal mold (steinkern) with calcitic replacement and surface weathering
Condition Assessment
Fair condition; complete general shape with worn surface details and adhering matrix remnants
Taxonomic Classification
Phylum Echinodermata, Class Echinoidea, Order Spatangoida (or similar irregular echinoid)
Morphological Description
Rounded, inflated, heart-like or ovoid test shape with faintly visible ambulacral grooves radiating from an apical center. Surface is largely smoothed due to abrasion within the chalky matrix, preserving the general three-dimensional internal mold shape rather than fine detail of the plates.
Rock Matrix
Marly limestone and chalky matrix characteristic of the coastal deposits of Normandy
Formation & Location
Falaises des Vaches Noires, between Villers-sur-Mer and Houlgate, Normandy, France
Size & Dimensions
Approximately 3 to 4 cm in diameter, comparable in size to a standard 2-euro coin shown for scale
Value & Rarity
Estimated Market Value
5 to 15 USD
Auction Estimate
10 to 25 USD
Rarity Assessment
Common
Scientific Significance
Demonstrates the abundance of shallow marine invertebrate life in the Mesozoic epicontinental seas that covered northern France
Preparation Recommendations
Gentle mechanical cleaning with a soft brush or pneumatic pen under magnification to clear remaining matrix if desired; store in a dry environment
Notable Features
Collected from the famous fossil-rich Vaches Noires cliffs, showing classic preservation as a chalky steinkern alongside a modern coin for direct scale comparison
Notes
falaises des Vaches Noires