Can anyone tell me if this is a real or fake Ammonite?

[curiousfossildude]

Was recently in AZ and went to the 22nd street fossil and gem show. Found an ammonite unlike any other I have ever seen so I decided to grab it. Just curious whether or not it's a real sample or well dressed eye candy fake. Was told it was from Morocco not Madagascar. Any thoughts? 

[Rockwood]

I'm not sure I'd call it fake, but that has to be art work, and not a real fossil.

[Doctor Mud]

Looks real to me, there is still matrix on the outside in one of the first photos. 

This is an internal mold of a nautiloid, not an ammonite because the suture lines are simple and not complex. 
Can we see an end on view to see if there is a hole for the siphuncular tube? 

Edited February 20, 2023 by Doctor Mud

[Doctor Mud]

Looks like an Eocene Aturia from Boujdour

 

Heres a conference poster on them:

 

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Stijn-Goolaerts/publication/324439363_GoolaertsSteurbautPosterAturiaBoujdour/data/5acde14b0f7e9b1896569f90/PosterAturiafinal-lowres.pdf
 

[Rockwood]

I think I see now. Wear has made it appear as if there is an outer whorl that is not part of the main body ?

Edit: Oops. Spoke too soon.

Edited February 20, 2023 by Rockwood

[Doctor Mud]

There could be other sites producing Aturia in Morocco too? @Tidgy's Dad might know

[curiousfossildude]

Unfortunately you can't see the hole. I'm assuming they used a rock polymer for filler to hold it together?

[Doctor Mud]

2 hours ago, curiousfossildude said:

Unfortunately you can't see the hole.

I'm assuming they used a rock polymer for filler to hold it together?

 

 

 

Thanks for the additional photos. Maybe it’s just covered by matrix or the host rock that the fossil came from. That looks like what the white stuff is to me. 
They might have used a consolidant? Or some sort of liquid that penetrates the fossil and hardens to protect it. It’s very common and accepted practice to preserve fossils. 
 

It’s a nice fossil anyway I’d be happy with that purchase. I hadn’t seen the Moroccan Aturia before. 

 

[curiousfossildude]

1 minute ago, Doctor Mud said:

Thanks for the additional photos. Maybe it’s just covered by matrix or the host rock that the fossil came from. That looks like what the white stuff is to me. 
They might have used a consolidant? Or some sort of liquid that penetrates the fossil and hardens to protect it. It’s very common and accepted practice to preserve fossils. 
 

It’s a nice fossil anyway I’d be happy with that purchase. I hadn’t seen the Moroccan Aturia before. 

 

I had never seen one until the day I grab this one. The seller had three on display. But I started to get weary of my purchase because they also were selling a product they labeled as lonsdaleite meteor so I was concerned on authenticity. I also have 5 "lonsdaleite" stones if anyone would want to critique those and verify if they're ceramic tumbler stones.

[Tidgy's Dad]

1 hour ago, Doctor Mud said:

There could be other sites producing Aturia in Morocco too? @Tidgy's Dad might know

I don't know, I'm afraid. I have seen them in places like Erfoud and Agadir, but I can't remember where they originated. Moroccan Sahara in the South West of the country is most likely. 

 

This latest batch of photos seems to show some cobbling together and filler, but it may be matrix and odd preservation. 

Edited February 20, 2023 by Tidgy's Dad

[curiousfossildude]

1 minute ago, Tidgy's Dad said:

I don't know, I'm afraid. I have seen them in places like Erfoud, but I can't remember where they originated. Moroccan Sahara in the South West of the country is most likely. 

 

This latest batch of photos seems to show some cobbling together and filler, but it may be matrix and odd preservation. 

If you'd like I can take close up pics of different areas if that would help for verification?

[Tidgy's Dad]

1 hour ago, curiousfossildude said:

If you'd like I can take close up pics of different areas if that would help for verification?

Not really my area of expertise, but further photos might be useful for other members.  

[curiousfossildude]

Here are close ups of other parts. The green specs are splashed wax from a project close to the specimen

[RJB]

I'm just gunna sound smart and say,  'What Doctor Mud said". 

 

RB

[hadrosauridae]

I think that its definitely "real", but it does have some filled, sculpted areas to make it look better (which it seems almost everything out of morocco has).  Its definitely unusual and I think its very cool.  I hadnt seen one before today, so thank you for posting.