Are fossils from the North Sea worth less than other areas?

[dcampbell07]

I'm curious about a company I bought a mammoth tusk from. I won't name them out right (if you want to know the name you can send me a message) but I am curious why the fossils they sell are SO much cheaper than other companies I've looked at. I feel like I might of bought a fake or something but if not why is this company selling them so much cheaper? I read an older thread on here saying fossils from the North Sea aren't as desirable as other areas but the company I bought my tusk from, their tusks and other bones look cool and fine to me but I'm a novice....

Thoughts?

[calhounensis]

There are several reasons North Sea fossils are cheaper than other localities. There is an abundance of new material being 'fished' out every day. Unfortunately, a lot of this material is of lesser quality than say Rhine River, or other localities in Europe. Starting with fossils from the North Sea, is a great way to start a collection. You can find cool fossils, for a much more affordable price. One problem I found with North Sea fossils, is that they need to be desalinated. Sometimes this process wasn't done correctly. Moisture in the air can cause the bones to disintegrate over time. Trustworthy dealers will normally not have this issue.

[jpc]

I imagine the desalination process is especially needed for tusks.

[paleoflor]

Regarding the desalination, do not submerge an already dried North Sea fossil in water, in an attempt to do this in hindsight. That's one of the surest ways to disintegrate/damage the fossil.

[Seaforth]

Indeed.

Fossils from North Sea are plentifull and therefor cheaper. Also because they tend to be in lesser shape which affects their price.

The North Sea is a rough see which also contributes to the shape of the fossils and the means of getting to these fossils (being caught in fishermans nets) also doesnt help in obtaining "mint" fossils.

Hope this helps

Pat

[Seaforth]

BTW if the fossil seller you mean is North Sea Fossils.dotcom then you shouldnt worry.

Its regarded a good & trustwortyh source for North Sea fossils.

[Pterosaur]

North Sea fossils can be pretty beat up, but they can also be incredibly well preserved. The low oxygen levels and temperature of the North Sea are a pretty good environment for fossil preservation. Although like someone said above, it is a rough sea after all, and if you take one home you'll likely be taking a barnacle or two with you. Just make sure they're desalinated as stated in previous replies.

[jpevahouse]

A couple of years ago I bought my brother a nice size mammoth molar from North Sea Fossils. The price was about half or less the price of similar teeth selling online today. We were both completely satisfied with the condition and stabilization they did. There have been no problems with cracking.

The way I see it as far as wanting an example of a fossil it doesn't matter where it came from as long as I receive what I expected.

Edited January 28, 2016 by jpevahouse

[LordTrilobite]

It is no longer correct that North Sea fossils are plentyfull. Yes there are still tons of fossils down there, and yes there probably are still a lot of fossils on the market.

BUT, there's a good chance North Sea fossils will become desirable in the coming years because due to new regulations, Fishermen don't get as many extra fossils during fishing trips. The fishermen used to use large nets that would drag along the bottom. These nets would disturb the semiment pretty dramatically, which is why they fished up so many fossils as well. These nets are no longer used as they were found to be harmful for the ecosystem. This has resulted in the source pretty much drying up on the commercial side.

And yes, due to the salt water either consolidation and/or desalination is required in almost all specimens. But it varies wildly in how stable the fossils are. Some can be fine for years without being treated in any way. Some can fall apart in a week. Some will show cracks even with a thick coat of glue on the outside. And I've even heard stories of fossils that are treated falling apart suddenly after 30 years.

Up until the change in regulations though, it was pretty much the most prolific Woolly Mammoth site in the world. All the bones are isolated and undamaged specimens are rare. But the amount of bones is just staggering. Anyway, the proverbial "well" is mostly dried up now.

Edited January 29, 2016 by LordTrilobite

[C.P. Sheridan]

I get fossils of the Pleistocene every so often dredged off the coast of NJ (mastodon, mammoth, walrus, etc.) by various shellfisheries and channel dredges. The stuff DOES tend to break down unless properly sealed and protected. Tooth crowns being more solid and stable than bone material. Any specific questions please give a shout. C.P. Sheridan

[jpevahouse]

I would rate North Sea fossils good compared to the equivalent Florida fossils frequently for sale on the Internet. Also NJ fossils recovered from the continental shelf are usually not in particularly good condition. Even easter Russian mammoth molars I see for sale aren't always in great condition either. It's unrealistic to expect bone deposited on the ocean floor subject to 10s of thousands of years of erosion to be in very good condition. Occasionally they are but not the average.

[Pterosaur]

I get fossils of the Pleistocene every so often dredged off the coast of NJ (mastodon, mammoth, walrus, etc.) by various shellfisheries and channel dredges. The stuff DOES tend to break down unless properly sealed and protected. Tooth crowns being more solid and stable than bone material. Any specific questions please give a shout. C.P. Sheridan

Learned this the hard way with a fossilized, lower walrus jaw dredged from New Jersey. Started flaking a couple months after I got it, but it's now very well consolidated lol

[rylawz]

Because they are common, cheap and look like crud!