Natural History - Historic Opal Mineral Specimen

The specimen with a large deep blue to blue-green tourmaline crystal embedded in a large quartz crystal, collection number 336. 3.02 kg, 14.5 cm



Acquired on the UK mineral and fossil market, since 1970. From the historic mineral collection of Richard Valentine Cain, London, UK, thence by descent. Accompanied by an original historic index file card.

A large Charonosaurus sp. hadrosaur egg retaining evidence of the original leathery surface. 3.4 kg, 16 cm



Acquired 1983-1990. Private collection, Hove, UK.

Hadrosaurs were large dinosaurs, growing up to 10 metres in length, belonging to the ‘Duck-Billed’ group of dinosaurs. They are considered the ‘herd animal’ of the Cretaceous, having been found buried together in their thousands. Dinosaur egg fossils are known from approximately two-hundred sites around the word, particularly in Asia. This nest comes from the Xixia Formation, Henan region of China, which produces some of the best preserved eggs in the world. These eggs can yield entire embryos within them, making them an essential tool for understanding the biology of these creatures.

Promicroceras planicosta with iron stained surface giving a beautiful contrast in colour, from the Lower Lias, Obtusum Zone. 42.53 grams, 67 mm



From Queen Camel, Somerset, UK, in 2008. From a Leicestershire, UK, collection. Accompanied by a copy of a previous illustrated catalogue page with reference no.AMM7149.