65MM Pygurus Marmonti Sea Urchin Fossil Sand Dollar Jurassic Age Madagascar

Location: Majanga, Madagascar

Weight: 3.6 Ounces

Dimensions: 65MM

The item pictured is the one you will receive.

The Pygurus Marmonti Sand Dollar, also known as the Fossil Sea Urchin, belongs to the Echinoid family. It lived during the Jurassic Age (approximately 145 to 200 million years ago) and features a distinctive five-ray star pattern. This polished fossil from Madagascar has been worked on the side of the specimen. A fossil Sand Dollar from Madagascar is an impression or mold of an ancient sea urchin that once inhabited the ocean floor sediments. These fossils are often found in sedimentary rocks and are highly prized by collectors and paleontologists for their intricate and unique designs. Fossilization begins when the sea urchin dies and settles on the ocean floor. Over time, sediments like sand, silt, and clay cover it, imprinting or molding its shape. As layers of sediment accumulate, pressure and chemical reactions cause the organic material to decay, leaving a cast of the original structure. Eventually, the sediments harden into rocks such as limestone or shale, trapping the fossil inside.

Please be aware of the nature of fossils:

Being buried under the ground for millions of years under tons of pressure tends to be rough. No fossil comes out of the ground whole and perfect. Most fossils have undergone some restoration, while others are altered by man simply to enhance their presentation in different ways. The workers in Madagascar do a very professional job of unearthing and preserving these natural treasures; however, natural cracks are visible on the surface. These are part of the natural beauty of the fossil and are not considered defects.