JMUFossil Posted August 24, 2018 Share Posted August 24, 2018 Hey All, Up to this point I have mostly been personally hunting for megs and whatever other fossils Calvert Cliffs will offer. However recently I have been searching online to purchase a few larger megs that are not possible for me to find. One thing I noticed is there seems to be a growing number of megs "inlaid with pyrite". It gives the fossil a gold/silver/ appearance. on the enamel. These megs are not typically cheap or small. There are many 5 and 6 inch megs with pyrite and I see some selling for $1,000 USD +. My question is: nothing about the "inlaid with pyrite" is natural, right? It is essentially "restoration", like polishing? And second, to each their own, but are people paying a premium for this "look"? Or is it mainly a way to restore/disguise damaged teeth? If the megs are selling then good for the vendors however I understand restoring or even polishing teeth (as long as the vendor is upfront). But I just found the pyrite be an odd practice in the world of megs. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted August 24, 2018 Share Posted August 24, 2018 I don't think you can inlay pyrite into shark teeth. You may be able to polish attached/agglutinated pyrite, or polish to a layer showing pyrite. Tim - VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER VFOTM --- APRIL - 2015 __________________________________________________ "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." John Muir ~ ~ ~ ~ ><))))( *> About Me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caldigger Posted August 24, 2018 Share Posted August 24, 2018 Never seen this before, do you have any pictures of such? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobby Rico Posted August 24, 2018 Share Posted August 24, 2018 I spotted this don’t know if it is what we are talking about Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted August 24, 2018 Share Posted August 24, 2018 21 minutes ago, caldigger said: Never seen this before, do you have any pictures of such? I suppose there could be some gold-leaf application involved here. Tim - VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER VFOTM --- APRIL - 2015 __________________________________________________ "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." John Muir ~ ~ ~ ~ ><))))( *> About Me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snolly50 Posted August 24, 2018 Share Posted August 24, 2018 It is my impression that this is not a natural pyrite occurrence. I see these offered for sale and described as "inlayed" (sic). While that language is not absolutely precise, I read it as man-made. The teeth are also obviously polished. 1 Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, also are remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so. - Douglas Adams, Last Chance to See Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goatinformationist Posted August 24, 2018 Share Posted August 24, 2018 That just don't look right. Good teeth ruined. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobby Rico Posted August 24, 2018 Share Posted August 24, 2018 What a waste of a nice tooth. Maybe if you are really into your fossils and hip hop it is a real beauty. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMUFossil Posted August 24, 2018 Author Share Posted August 24, 2018 The pictures above are what I was referencing - thanks for posting them. One more is attached to this post for good measure. In my opinion, I do not think it is good practice for them to use the word "inlay" and leave it at that. Inlaid during the fossilization process or after the fact? Although perhaps obvious to many on this forum, I do not think they are being upfront that the tooth is modified. Just my two cents. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miocene_Mason Posted August 24, 2018 Share Posted August 24, 2018 I bet they use it to cover up damage. I’d rather have a broken meg, these don’t look good to me. “...whilst this planet has gone cycling on according to the fixed law of gravity, from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been and are being evolved.” ~ Charles Darwin Happy hunting, Mason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ynot Posted August 24, 2018 Share Posted August 24, 2018 They went from a poor fossil to a bad piece of art. Darwin said: " Man sprang from monkeys." Will Rogers said: " Some of them didn't spring far enough." My Fossil collection - My Mineral collection My favorite thread on TFF. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caldigger Posted August 24, 2018 Share Posted August 24, 2018 Someone's buying them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMUFossil Posted August 24, 2018 Author Share Posted August 24, 2018 51 minutes ago, ynot said: They went from a poor fossil to a bad piece of art. Lol well said. I appreciate the dinged and worn large megs because at least I can afford them! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobby Rico Posted August 24, 2018 Share Posted August 24, 2018 I am in the minority here I think because I don’t have a Meg but a small one would be nice without the pyrite disease of course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caldigger Posted August 24, 2018 Share Posted August 24, 2018 1 hour ago, Bobby Rico said: I am in the minority here I think because I don’t have a Meg but a small one would be nice without the pyrite disease of course. You might have to wait till Christmas young man! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siteseer Posted August 28, 2018 Share Posted August 28, 2018 I think a more accurate term would be "pyrite-infiltrated" or "infiltrated by pyrite." I have heard of teeth showing pyrite in the cracks of the enameloid. It appears some enterprising individuals are grinding into teeth with damaged lingual crown faces to attempt to make the "bug" a "feature" instead. By exposing the pyrite and polishing it you get a tooth with a different and cleaner look - a new way to sell a beat-up tooth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brett Breakin' Rocks Posted August 28, 2018 Share Posted August 28, 2018 28 minutes ago, siteseer said: I think a more accurate term would be "pyrite-infiltrated" or "infiltrated by pyrite." I have heard of teeth showing pyrite in the cracks of the enameloid. It appears some enterprising individuals are grinding into teeth with damaged lingual crown faces to attempt to make the "bug" a "feature" instead. By exposing the pyrite and polishing it you get a tooth with a different and cleaner look - a new way to sell a beat-up tooth. On 8/24/2018 at 2:39 PM, JMUFossil said: The pictures above are what I was referencing - thanks for posting them. One more is attached to this post for good measure. In my opinion, I do not think it is good practice for them to use the word "inlay" and leave it at that. Inlaid during the fossilization process or after the fact? Although perhaps obvious to many on this forum, I do not think they are being upfront that the tooth is modified. Just my two cents. Hi There, I've bought many times from this seller referenced in the image provided and he is 100% up front about the process. In my mind the first time I read the description I understood this was created by an artist for a specific buyer that thinks this is attractive. Not my cup of tea at all and wicked expensive, but I wouldn't misrepresent what is being sold or described. The listing makes that clear in my opinion. I'd have to take out a second mortgage on my house to afford one .... but I like my teeth untouched .. if possible. To Quote" 100% Real Megalodon Shark Tooth with a polished blade to increase visual appeal that some collectors desire with gold pyrite inlay. I only get a handful of these a year and they are usually quick sellers. The inlay is done by an artist who sells most of her work on the Beverly hills high end auction houses. You can see these selling there from time to time for high end money….much more than I am asking. 100% REAL Megalodon Tooth….and this one is sure to stand out. ie. This table has an 'Inlay' of crushed Turquoise .. which I believe is a similar process used above. Cheers, Brett Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brett Breakin' Rocks Posted August 28, 2018 Share Posted August 28, 2018 ... and personally ... if I'd go with anything from Beverly Hills it would be instead the "Black Shark Tooth Pendant" .. with white gold, black diamonds, and a real shark tooth ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobby Rico Posted August 28, 2018 Share Posted August 28, 2018 Just now, Brett Breakin' Rocks said: ... and personally ... if I'd go with anything from Beverly Hills it would be instead the "Black Shark Tooth Pendant" .. with white gold, black diamonds, and a real shark tooth ! The little black shark tooth times classic. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walt Posted August 28, 2018 Share Posted August 28, 2018 2 minutes ago, Brett Breakin' Rocks said: ... and personally ... if I'd go with anything from Beverly Hills it would be instead the "Black Shark Tooth Pendant" .. with white gold, black diamonds, and a real shark tooth ! Yeah! Pyrite is soooo 2010 2 Everything is generated through your own will power ~ Ray Bradbury Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brett Breakin' Rocks Posted August 28, 2018 Share Posted August 28, 2018 High fashion indeed .... mainstream even !! haha I need to get in on this action ...... I bet those things are cheap. 3 minutes ago, Walt said: Yeah! Pyrite is soooo 2010 4 minutes ago, Bobby Rico said: The little black shark tooth times classic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walt Posted August 28, 2018 Share Posted August 28, 2018 They look so thrilled to be modeling them.. Everything is generated through your own will power ~ Ray Bradbury Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts