Natural History - Cased Amethyst Crystal Points [6]

Polished oval-shaped specimen with insect inclusion. 0.60 grams, 16.63 mm



From a North American collection. Property of an East Sussex, UK, gentleman.

A large section of Charonosaurus sp. hadrosaur egg nest on matrix, including three eggs each retaining some of the original shell surface. 17.3 kg, 43 cm



From a collection acquired on the UK art market from various auction houses and collections mostly before 2000. From an important Cambridgeshire estate; thence by descent.

Dinosaur eggs are known from about 200 sites around the world, the majority in Asia and mostly in terrestrial (non-marine) rocks of the Cretaceous Period. It may be that thick calcite eggshells evolved during the Cretaceous (145 to 65 million years ago). Most dinosaur eggs have one of two forms of eggshell that are distinct from the shells of related modern animal groups, such as turtles or birds; however, some eggs closely resemble the type of shells seen in present day ostrich eggs.

Comprising three Douvilleiceras sp. (sometimes known as a goat horn) polished to reveal rich calcites and suture patterns. 120 grams total, 45-46 mm



From the North-East Coast of Madagascar in the jungles of Mahajanga. Acquired 1950s-1960s. From an old Bristol, UK, palaeontological collection.