Natural History - Large Fossil Spinosaurus Dinosaur Tooth

Comprising fossilised wood, leaf fossils, a gastropod mollusc, sea urchin, nautilus shell, a bivalve, gastropods on a matrix, and a replica beetle on a matrix; all fossils with old labels. 1.62 kg total, 7.6-11.9 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. Each specimen accompanied by an original historic information card.

A cut slice of scarce achondrite from the diogenite group recorded as: Northwest Africa 5480; displayed in a Swiss membrane box. 11.7 grams, 48 mm (58 grams total, 99 x 75 including case)



From the Sahara, N.W. Africa. Ex Hupe collection, U.S.A. From a Leicestershire, UK, collection.

The total known mass of the meteorite found in Mali was 4.91 kg. Mineralogically, the diogenites are primarily composed of magnesium-rich orthopyroxene, with minor amounts of plagioclase and olivine. The pyroxenes are usually coarse-grained, suggesting a cumulate origin for the diogenites in magma chambers within the deeper regions of Vesta's crust. The achondrites of this group are named after a 5th century B.C. Greek philosopher Diogenes of Apollonia, who was the first to suggest that meteorites originate from outer space.

Displaying colourless square plates on a sandy-grey matrix, collection number 555; purchased for £68.50 from A.L.D. Milverton, Cheshire, in 1984. 18.7 grams, 55 mm



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.