Natural History - Amber with Insect Inclusions

Embedded in laminated limestone and showing some good detail of the insect. 193 grams, 97 mm



From the Santana Formation, Brazil. Acquired 1950s-1960s. From an old Bristol, UK, paleontological collection.

Nickel iron meteorite (1AB), cleaned. 3.5 grams, 31 mm



Found Nantan, Nandan County, Guangzi Region, China. Property of a Sussex, UK, teacher. Accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from Silver Moon Crystals, Southport, UK.

The Nantan meteorite fell in 1516, as recorded in ancient Chinese texts; the fall exploded during descent which resulted in a shower of many individual iron meteorites over an area some 28km x 8km in Nantan County, Guangxi, China. Classified as an iron meteorite; 111CD Course Octohedrite, the composition is approximately 92% iron, 6% nickel and contains more than ten other minerals including kamacite, taenite, dominate, plessite, schreibersite, triolite, graphite and others. In 2000, pieces of the Nantan meteorite were incorporated into an art installation for The Bull Ring Shopping Centre in Birmingham, England. Today, a plaque commemorates the occasion.

In a rectangular matrix. 385 grams, 16.5 x 13.5 cm

Fine condition. Scarce.

Lincolnshire, UK, collection.

Seasonally, some 56 million years ago, in the Green River Region of Wyoming, torrential rains fell on the mountains. The rain flowed down the mountain sides, forming wide shallow lakes in the valley below. During the dry season, these lakes evaporated (similar to certain parts of Africa today). Millions of fish died in this short period of time. This climatic cycle happened over a 20-thousand-year period. Layer upon layer of mud was deposited over these years, entombing huge numbers of fish. At a much later date volcanic activity uplifted this area to expose their fossils.